(eileen) wrote in message om...
Miguel Cruz wrote in message ...
devil wrote:
On Tue, 01 Jun 2004 02:17:22 +0200, Mxsmanic wrote:
Most people in the world wouldn't even recognize a Canadian flag, much less accord its wearer any special kindnesses. . .

Whether or not everyone outside North America recognizes a Canadian
flag is not the point of the original question, I think. The question
was does wearing one differentiate people from loud and rude
Americans, who are not liked by hoteliers, restaurant owners and the
like, anywhere in the world.

Any loud and rude people from any country are not liked anywhere in
the world. Americans certainly don't have a monopoly on loud and rude
people. I've traveled all over the world; stayed at many, many
hostels, eaten at all sorts of restaurants (and talked with the
owners) etc. and have see and met loud rude Canadians, Australians,
Europeans. I've heard many complaints about other nationalites for
being rude.
I, as an American, have heard a lot of stories and comments about
Canadians too. They don't just talk about "rude yanks".
I think it's human nature to focus on the negative. Talking about the
"rude yank" is much more entertaining than talking about the nice,
normal, considerate one.

There are lots of great Americans
travelling the globe, I'm sure. But as a Canadian who has travelled
widely for years, I can tell you with certainty that wearing a
Canadian pin or flag and behaving politely and with consideration to
those who are your hosts does indeed make a difference, a big one.

Did you go for a time with out wearing the flag are were treated
differently? Regardless of your nationality or your flag if you act
well of course people will respond well to you. I have traveled all
over the world over the past 15 years. People everywhere would ask
me, "Are you Canadian?". After replying, "No, I'm American". They
would usually say something like, "I always ask that otherwise it
offends the Canadians. They're so sensitive and make a big deal about
not being American". And, some would add, "it's ridiculous always
wearing their flag". Many Europeans have told me how silly they are
for always wearing their flag and have made fun of some Canadian's
attitudes. I was told once in Europe, "They must issue those things
(flags) out as they're leaving the country".
I've met many Canadias that didn't wear a flag while traveling and
they basically said it's no big deal. A few had done both, traveled
with and without a flag, and they said it didn't make a difference at
all.

Any traveler who acts rudely etc will not be liked regardless of where
they are from. That includes Canadians, Australians and Europeans as
well as Americans.

Ask an identified Canadian what Europeans in particular have told them
about "rude yanks."

I, as an American, have heard a lot of stories and comments about
Canadians. And, I have noticed is that in knowing I'm an American
people do tend to talk with me about "rude yanks" and "typical
Americans" and we have discussions about other travelers etc. I
believe I know what is said by Europeans about Americans, I don't need
to ask a Canadian. Most Europeans have no problem with telling
Americans what they think or how they feel. They are more than happy
to do so. But, I wonder if they are so honest with Canadians.

Obviously, wearing a Canadian flag doesn't solve
all problems or preclude bad treatment, it just opens a lot of doors
that are closed to a certain type of American. It's also worth noting
that there are obnoxious Canadians. It's just that there is also a
swaggering, do-my-bidding stereotype of Americans that this whole
thread is addressing. And no, there isn't a western flag in the world
that protects you completely from harm in war zones.