No Booz pleaz

No

Hockey Night in Canada

Those of a certain age may remember the 1999 movie which ushered a cartoon that hit the airwaves in 1997, to the big screen. “South Park”, a firmly ensconced television staple of a particular humor gave birth to the film, “South Park, Bigger, Longer & Uncut”. Its anthemic song, which became wildly popular, is one of the best takes on the Canada/America divide ever to grace the screen. Incisive, satirical, a bit political and downright funny, “Blame Canada” was nominated for ‘Best Original Song’ at the 2000 Oscars. Its lyrics have stood the test of time, moreso than ever now in light of the burgeoning tariff war between America and its northern neighbor. Not only does the song poke fun at both countries, but it thrust the typically reticent Canada definitively into the limelight.

Just a few of the lyrics, tongue-in-cheek every one of them:

Blame Canada!

Blame Canada!

With all their hockey-hullabaloo

And that bitch Anne Murray too

Blame Canada!

Blame Canada!

All I can say is, "Oy gevalt - it's Canada's fault!"

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Shame on Canada, foooor...

The smut we must cut

The trash we must bash

The laughter and fun must all be undone!

We must blame them and cause a fuss

Before somebody thinks

Of blaming uuuuuuuuuuus!

And Canadians loved it!

I'm not a native-born Canadian but, having lived here most of my life, I’ve come to have a definite soft spot for the place. Patriotic? Not so much, really…

Until now!

Since D.J. Trump announced impending tariffs on Canadian goods, the population, never known for its fervor or combative reactions, suddenly went berserk. Nothing previous in our history has elicited the same passion with which Canadians are leaving no stone unturned in devising ways to counter the grandiose liar down south. We have come together as one fighting unit, and the energy is palpable everywhere. I’ve never seen or expected anything like the pride now evinced by every Canadian old enough to read or watch the news.

‘Product of the U.S.’ items have been ‘yank’ed from store shelves as Canadian substitutes are being given prime position. Plans have come quickly into place for a kick start to construction that will improve our current infrastructure. Canadian ‘snowbirds’ by the droves are selling winter homes in Florida or Arizona or California, while many, if not most, of those planning vacations in the U.S. have perfunctorily cancelled their plans, opting to take their money elsewhere.

And whose fault is this impending drain on American finance? Certainly not the rank and file of our neighbor’s 300 million population, the average American citizen. No, he and she and they play no hand in the extortionist’s depraved folly, yet will be negatively affected by the movement afoot in the country to their north. While it’s correct to say that the 48.6% of the 2024 U.S. voters who cast their ballot for Vice President Harris cannot be blamed, it can, ergo, be contended that the 49.97% who voted for ‘the other candidate’ may share some culpability in the grave error committed last November 5.

Land of the brave, yes. Home of the naïve. In some ways, also yes.

With tensions and patriotism running so high among Canadians, it’s perhaps not surprising that some of the animus might be directed toward all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Human nature being what it is, it was bound to happen. But booing the American national anthem is decidedly inappropriate and unfair.

In evidence: At the 4 Nations Face-Off game between Canada and the U.S. in Montreal on February 15, Canadian hockey fans loudly booed “The Star-Spangled Banner”, then launched passionately into “O Canada”.

This is where things begin to go off the rails.

Canadians certainly aren’t known for booing. It plays against type. Regarded as eternally polite, apologetic, even a bit feckless at times – not to mention maple syrup, Mounted Police, beavers and polar bears – such behavior was demeaning to the goodness and grace of Canada. It was unsportsmanlike and showed an uncharacteristic disregard for the sentiments of others.

“Maple Leaf Forever”? Yeah, that’s all well and good but, in the display witnessed last week, the maple leaf appeared to falling off the tree during a windstorm.

What does booing accomplish? Nothing but anger and resentment among our longtime allies and friends. Even it were only for the good of the Canadian economy, we need to join forces with our southern neighbors – those who will be most affected and possibly bankrupted by the evil doings being perpetrated willy nilly – if we hope to counter and defend against the impending financial devastation the everyday person may face.

From decimating social assistance to the opprobrium currently being visited on proud and sovereign nations, that convicted and felonious miscreant and his sidekick will, if not stopped, contaminate the entire world many times over. He is, in every sense, a scourge upon humanity. His actions are viscerally those of a corrupt and immoral degenerate.

We don’t need booing. We need to support our friends in battling this contamination. Cross border alliances among the people, if not the policies that will wreak devastation on the U.S. (and, to a lesser degree, Canada and beyond). He’s leaving a stain on us all.