US Journalists in Iraq become Faux Canadians when in trouble

[Iceburg]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/04/07/leaving/index.html

Feeling Baghda by Jen Banbury

<snip>
...In my final weeks in Baghdad, I started feeling constantly on edge. The gunfire that I had become so accustomed to hearing as part of Baghdad's background noise was suddenly sending my stomach into my throat. Getting stuck in traffic no longer felt like a petty annoyance; it felt like a trap. When I visited a university to interview some students, I encountered a much more hostile reception than I had at the same university last fall. Pretty much all the American journalists I knew began saying they were Canadian (much to the chagrin of the actual Canadian journalists). Certain news reporters started "covering" stories about events in Iraq by recycling what they read on the Web and watching CNN instead of actually going to the scene.
<snip> --------------

I find that disturbing -- Proud to be a warring American when winning, ready to switch sides (to a peace loving nation) when endangered. As much as I love the liberal Americans, I don't think Canada's skirt is big enough for all the Americans (liberal or republican) seeking cover.

I feel deeply for the innocent young men/women serving and dying in Iraq and Afghanastan, and the 1000's of innocent civilian lives lost in this illegal war ignited and fanned by the conjoined twins -- Bush Administration and the stupified US media.

[AlinPA]

1. When I think about how Rove's idea to start the war to make Bush*

a "wartime president" and to sieze "patriotism" as a rallying cry for elections, I get more sick.

[apnu]

2. This is not an unusual travel strategy

I've heard and read a number of stories about Americans traveling around with Canadian Flag stickers on their luggage, and when registering in hotels abroad, they list their nationality as Canadian to avoid harassment and lack-luster service from locals.

This is because, Americans who travel abroad often know that we have a bad international rap as being belligerent and insensitive to the local culture that we are visiting.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard from people from other countries who complain about Americans abroad bitching in restaurants that menus aren't in "American" (English to the rest of the world)

We are a funny people to the rest of the world, and it's clear that we vex them (other cultures).

That, and when push comes to shove, people will do and say anything to preserve their lives. When confronted with death, people will often "switch sides" in a plea to live. This doesn't surprise me, and it also proves that all this blustering about how great we are as a nation is one big fallacy when our hot air is put on the table and challenged.

[Iceburg]

4. Faux canadians should be outed

I find it ironic that these cowardly Americans find more comfort & safety in adorning themselves with Canadian pins and flags -- has the baptist cross lost its magical power? Where is the faith?

[apnu]

6. heh

you said "outed" LOL.

But you are right, there's a good point there. We made this bed and now we should lay in it. When I travel, (rarely), I always apologize to the local culture when the subject of American rudeness (and messed up foreign policy) comes up in conversation. And you know what happens? Usually the locals are cool with that. Show them a little respect and validation for their culture and they love you again. How hard is that to do?

That's why this foreign policy and war on terrorism by way of giving everybody the middle finger doesn't work, and will never work.

[Iceburg]

9. Good for you -- for showing the world

the other face and heart of America.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Great. Then they start distrusting real Canadians. (nt)

[apnu]

7. Huh? What?

Canadians are cool! Why should Canada pay the price for US a**holes? I hope you were being sarcastic.

[truthspeaker]

10. I think he was saying that American trying to pass will reflect badly on

real Canadians.

If people know Americans are pretending to be Canadian, they will start to suspect real Canadians of being Americans in disguise.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Egg-zaktly (nt)

[Lisa]

14. and we have enough problems trying to figure out our national identity!

Remember, in Canada we haven't even got a proper Constitution, because we haven't been able to agree on one. (It's been more than 130 years since we became a country, too.) Every decade or so we disassemble our laws, government procedures, cultural ideals, etc., spread them out all over the floor, and stand around arguing about whether they're really Canadian or not.

So if we have Americans (and for all we know, British and Australians) saying they're Canadian, it'll confuse us all over again.

[DAGDA56]

5. Can you imagine a scenario where an insurgent...

...asks a captured "Canadian" journalist..."Who won the Lady Bing Trophy in 2003?

[Iceburg]

8. ROTFL --- add to it

that $64,000 question -- What current national leader (non-Canadian) served as one of the paul bearers at former prime-minister Trudeau's funeral?

[Iceburg]

11. And the aswer is ...

on
http://alternativeapproaches.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=14&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

[DAGDA56]

12. "Trudeau is dead?"...

...is definately the wrong answer.