U.S. Citizens...Travel Safe, Pose As Canadian!

[Commie Girl]

A U$ Company has come up with a way to make their citizens feel safe abroad....Become a Canadian Poser!


Albuquerque, N.M. — A U.S. T-shirt company has a solution for fellow citizens who want to vacation in Europe without having to answer questions about U.S. politics: Pose as Canadians.

For $24.95 US (about $30 Canadian), T-shirtKing.com offers the “Go Canadian” package, full of just the kind of things an American needs to leave home and politics behind.

There is a Canadian flag T-shirt, a Canadian flag lapel pin and a Canadian patch for luggage or a backpack. There's also a quick reference guide – How to Speak Canadian, Eh? – on answering questions about Canada.

It is the brainchild of employees at the company in Mountainair, N.M., known for novelty T-shirts.

The Go Canadian idea sprouted after one of company president Bill Broadbent's colleagues heard of someone being harassed about U.S. politics during a recent overseas trip.

Some people might not mind, but others “just want to be on vacation,” Mr. Broadbent said. “So we were joking that they could just go as Canadians, and that just kind of evolved.”

The package went up on the company website Nov. 12, and sold a couple hundred within weeks.

Sylvia Dawson's boyfriend has been joking that she needed to find him a Canadian flag for a coming trip to Spain. That was after his daughter, who is studying there, warned that he might be questioned about politics when he comes to visit.

So she bought a package.

“I said, ‘What are you going to do if someone asks you about the prime minister of Canada?' And he said, ‘I'll study up,' ” Mr. Dawson said.

Such questions are the reason for the package's quick reference guide, which offers tips in case an American in disguise gets quizzed on Canada.

When it comes to sports, the guide suggests: “This is easy to remember. There is only one real sport in Canada and it is called hockey. Regardless of any trivia question, the answer is Wayne Gretzky.

If a Canadian says he had to “deke out of a meeting,” it means he avoided the meeting. If someone is headed to “Hogtown,” that's Canadian for Toronto. A trip to “Cowtown” means the person is going to Calgary.

And in all cases, the guide advises: “If your vacation is to be stress free, leave those heavy politics behind and travel with a light heart and quick wit, Canadian style.”

Source (http://http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041207.wedit1207/BNStory/Front)

[redstar2000]

Most important: avoid talking to any real Canadians...you will be spotted as a "hoser-poser" instantly. :lol:

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net)
A site about communist ideas

[Latifa]

If you can't afford the 'Go Canadian' pack you could alternatively not go draped in an AmeriKKKan flag as I have seen a few too many tourists try.

[cormacobear]

Yah I was pretty livid when I saw that on CBC news.

I don't think my response would be altogether polite and peace-loving if I ran into an American overseas posing as a Canadian. I don't want a bunch of brash tourists destroy any hard earned good will Canadians may have gained.

[Sabocat]

Have no fear. When Martin finishes polishing GW's ass, Canada will be in Iraq as well as anyplace else the U.S. wants you to be. We'll see after that, how far that Maple Leaf tee shirt will get you.

I don't think the Afghani's like either the U.S. or Canada.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Don't you need to show these people your passport before you travel abroad?

[ComradeChris]

I've always heard of U.S. citizens doing that. If you're a Canadian and travel to places like France, in areas where Canadian troops liberated in WWII, you're treated very well.

[Discarded Wobbly Pop]

It's wierd this is all over the news lately! :huh:

I always thought this was well known.

[Osman Ghazi]

like France, in areas where Canadian troops liberated in WWII

Not many of those.

Canadians were more invlolved in Belgium and Holland than France, though obviously there was still Juno beach, Falaise, etc.

[cormacobear]

You only show your passport to the guy at the airport, and when you check into a hotel, beyond that if you have a great big Canadian flag on your bacpack or jacket people will just take it for granted that you are Canadian. Yes this has been going on for decades, it pissed me off then and pisses me off now. I assume that it has gotten more coverage lately because this is happening more and more as anti american sentiment around the globe escalates.

It upsets me that you can allow your government to kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people, oppress millions and then travel the globe unaccosted, because you posed as a citizen of a country that has actually worked for peace.

A signifigant proportion of the royal air force was Canadian , thus acted everywhere. Canadians also Fought to liberate Normandy, Italy, and at the Battle of Dieppe in France. Canadian soldiers just got sent wherever they were needed, often divided up and used to fill in, in areas that had suffered English Losses. And while Americans tend to forget that they waited till the war had been raging for two years before they got involved, Europe and Canada haven't forgotten. In the last year I've heard a number of American politicians and journalists give themselves credit for 'winning the war' 'saveing our asses' etc. , any historian worth their stripes will tell you that while it would have taken much longer to win without the States, the Allies were at the time of the U.S. declaration of war, already the likely winners of WW2.

However a great deal of the good treatment Candians receive abroad, is because of our peacekeeping, our leadership on such issues as banning landmines and pushing for nuclear disarmament, and because we make an effort to be polite, and respectfull, are generally considered articulate and have a reasonable average level of education. These last four sentiments are not generally associated with American tourists, and an increase in Americans posing as Canadians while behaving like Americans, has the potential to greatly harm the world veiw of Canada and Canadians.

[Sabocat]

It upsets me that you can allow your government to kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people, oppress millions and then travel the globe unaccosted, because you posed as a citizen of a country that has actually worked for peace.

We can ALLOW our government? LOL. Yes, I should personally be held responsible for attrocities committed by my government while travelling abroad. :rolleyes:

I travel abroad quite a bit. I have never "posed" as a Canadian and never will. I have never been treated badly or confronted about the actions of my country. Generally, people treat people on the merits of their own actions and demeanor.

I have friends (U.S. residents) who are nearing completion of a circumnavigation on their sailboat. They have never hidden their identity from anyone. They aren't arrogant about being from the U.S. , just good travellers, and guess which country they had the most trouble with anti-American sentiment? Australia.

They cruised up the Red Sea (this spring/summer) enroute to the Med and made multiple stops, have called on Turkey, Egypt, Croatia, Greece, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain etc, etc, and have never been treated with anything other than friendliness.

But I do find it amusing how altruistic the Canadians on this board find their army. When Canada is in Croatia they're peacekeepers, when Canada is in Afghanistan, they're peacekeepers, when they go into Iraq, they'll be peacekeepers. Did the U.S. and French thank you as well for your "peacekeeping" efforts after the overthrow of the elected leader (Aristide) in Haiti was completed?

[Osman Ghazi]

Too true. Canada may be better than the US, but it is far from good. The thing with the Canadian Army is that it is totally irrelevant. At a mere 56,000 troops, it is one of the smallest in the developed world. But it still used for the same purposes. Canadians commit the same crimes as Americans, they just aren't as good at it.

[ComradeChris]

Originally posted by Osman [email protected] 9 2004, 06:40 AM

like France, in areas where Canadian troops liberated in WWII

Not many of those.

Canadians were more invlolved in Belgium and Holland than France, though obviously there was still Juno beach, Falaise, etc.
Yeah it was just one example. Canadian's also played a large role in liberating Italy too. We sent over 100,000 troops according to the paper. I think also thefact that most Canadians tend to be more liberal than Americans ehlps, because most Europeans also tend to be more liberal (I use liberal as a liftist ideology; there's some discrepancy over that term sometimes)

[Sabocat]

I think also thefact that most Canadians tend to be more liberal than Americans

Whereas Canada has a population of what? About 30 million? And the U.S. has a population of 294 million, I would say that the statement that Canadians are more "liberal" than Americans is pure conjecture. I would venture a guess that more than 10% of the U.S. population is "liberal".

[Osman Ghazi]

Are you trying to prove that there are more liberals in the US than Canada? Because I think that's kind of obvious. There's more of everything in the US. But I do believe that Canadians are more liberal than Americans in the traditional sense of the word. Alberta being the exception, of course, but I consider them on par with Texas.

[Sabocat]

No, not trying to prove anything. Just trying to dispel the notion that Canada is some kind of leftist utopia and that the U.S. is made up completely by pistol packing conservatives. :lol:

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

Cormacobear, you're sentiments against this practice don't make sense, because it's not actually "our" government.

[ahhh_money_is_comfort]

Originally posted by Commie [email protected] 7 2004, 08:24 PM
A U$ Company has come up with a way to make their citizens feel safe abroad....Become a Canadian Poser!


Albuquerque, N.M. — A U.S. T-shirt company has a solution for fellow citizens who want to vacation in Europe without having to answer questions about U.S. politics: Pose as Canadians.

For $24.95 US (about $30 Canadian), T-shirtKing.com offers the “Go Canadian” package, full of just the kind of things an American needs to leave home and politics behind.

There is a Canadian flag T-shirt, a Canadian flag lapel pin and a Canadian patch for luggage or a backpack. There's also a quick reference guide – How to Speak Canadian, Eh? – on answering questions about Canada.

It is the brainchild of employees at the company in Mountainair, N.M., known for novelty T-shirts.

The Go Canadian idea sprouted after one of company president Bill Broadbent's colleagues heard of someone being harassed about U.S. politics during a recent overseas trip.

Some people might not mind, but others “just want to be on vacation,” Mr. Broadbent said. “So we were joking that they could just go as Canadians, and that just kind of evolved.”

The package went up on the company website Nov. 12, and sold a couple hundred within weeks.

Sylvia Dawson's boyfriend has been joking that she needed to find him a Canadian flag for a coming trip to Spain. That was after his daughter, who is studying there, warned that he might be questioned about politics when he comes to visit.

So she bought a package.

“I said, ‘What are you going to do if someone asks you about the prime minister of Canada?' And he said, ‘I'll study up,' ” Mr. Dawson said.

Such questions are the reason for the package's quick reference guide, which offers tips in case an American in disguise gets quizzed on Canada.

When it comes to sports, the guide suggests: “This is easy to remember. There is only one real sport in Canada and it is called hockey. Regardless of any trivia question, the answer is Wayne Gretzky.

If a Canadian says he had to “deke out of a meeting,” it means he avoided the meeting. If someone is headed to “Hogtown,” that's Canadian for Toronto. A trip to “Cowtown” means the person is going to Calgary.

And in all cases, the guide advises: “If your vacation is to be stress free, leave those heavy politics behind and travel with a light heart and quick wit, Canadian style.”

Source (http://http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041207.wedit1207/BNStory/Front)
That won't stop your head from getting cut off in Iraq. They are slitting throats, cutting off arms and leggs, of British Social Workers with Iraq citizenship.

[cormacobear]

The last Canadian soldiers accused of war crimes were tried and convicted, their entire Unit was disbanded, and military law was changed to meake obeying an order that violates international law a crime in of itself. But if you'd like to compare accusations of war crimes against our two armies in the last 50 years I would me more than happy to participate.

And it's true that Canadian citizens have been held hostage in Iraq, however a Canadian Journalist is to date the only hostage to be released.

It is your government I sympathize with the nearly fifty percent of Americans that didn't vote to re-elect a war criminal. However untill you give up your citizenship it is your government.

The policies of our Conservative party is compareable to your Demacrats, however our Liberals, are farther left than your Demacrats, and we have a number of NDP representatives, and they are substantialy farther left than any party with members holding public office.

Our Prime Minister just told President Bush in person that we will not be sending troops to Iraq.

We were thanked by the Haitians for the hundreds of police officers sent to Haiti, remeber it wasn't our government accused of kidnapping Aristide. I don't recall ever suggesting that the Canadian army in Afghanistan were acting as peacekeepers, but if you can find a quote where I suggested that I will be happy acknowledge it.

[Osman Ghazi]

And it's true that Canadian citizens have been held hostage in Iraq, however a Canadian Journalist is to date the only hostage to be released.


That's odd. Because today, I saw an article entitled 'S Asian Hostage Released in Iraq'. Then of course, there were the two French journalists who were released.

[dopediana]

the only people to actually subscribe to that crap would be apolitical americans. of which there are far too many of. conservatives go out with pride and poor style. and more left-wing americans generally do well.

[Anti-Capitalist1]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2004, 09:42 AM
We can ALLOW our government? LOL. Yes, I should personally be held responsible for attrocities committed by my government while travelling abroad. :rolleyes:

While you are not responsible personally, a basic truth I believe is that the amount of corruption and corruption that occurs in anyone country is either due to:

The people not knowing their own power

or

The people are apathetic. Essentially, the government only gets away with as much as the people as a whole allows.

[Anti-Capitalist1]

This reminds me of something ellse. I've heard that, fairly frequently, Americans use fake Canadian id's to take advantage of their socialized medicine system.

[Sabocat]

We were thanked by the Haitians for the hundreds of police officers sent to Haiti

Which Haitians though...that's the question. Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue's Haitians? How long do you think this character would last without this "police force"?



remeber it wasn't our government accused of kidnapping Aristide

Have you ever heard the word accomplice? In most countries if you aid a killer, you're an accomplice and subject to equally harsh punishment.


I sympathize with the nearly fifty percent of Americans that didn't vote to re-elect a war criminal

Remember. It was only nearly 50% of those that actually voted. That number ignores the fact that only approximately 120 million people actually voted out of a population eligible to vote in the neighborhood of 210 million. That means that approximately 90 million people for whatever reason decided that either there was no choice, or voting would change nothing. To say only 50% of the population was against re-electing a war criminal, is a misrepresetation.


While you are not responsible personally, a basic truth I believe is that the amount of corruption and corruption that occurs in anyone country is either due to:

The people not knowing their own power

or

The people are apathetic.

How about when 90% of the population of Spain was against going into Iraq, but Aznar committed them anyway? You're obviously missing the point that in a ruling class politics, there is very little actual control by the masses.


Essentially, the government only gets away with as much as the people as a whole allows.

Complete naivete.

[New.Art.Riot]

yum Patriotism.

Wrong is wrong, no matter who is doing it. Don't be such a patriot that you can't see it when it's commited by your own govt.

[cormacobear]

I stand corected I'd not read those articles. The release of the Canadian journalist was aprox. a month and a half ago.

no I've heard no comment by the gov't of Haiti on the Canadian presence, however comments by a number of people interveiwed on the streets of Port au Prince did thank us for the police presence.

Wrong is wrong no matter who's doing it.

Doing what?

[Malleus Malificarum]

Originally posted by [email protected] 10 2004, 02:43 PM
yum Patriotism.

Wrong is wrong, no matter who is doing it. Don't be such a patriot that you can't see it when it's commited by your own govt.
American patriotism has little to do with allegiance to a government.

[Osman Ghazi]

American patriotism has little to do with allegiance to a government.

And yet, if you criticize the government, you are 'unpatriotic'. Hmm...

By the by, is the quote in your sig from 'Democracy in America'?

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

http://img93.exs.cx/img93/8967/1kissme.jpg

[Latifa]

Love the shirt!

[Capitalist Imperial]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2004, 05:48 AM
I've always heard of U.S. citizens doing that. If you're a Canadian and travel to places like France, in areas where Canadian troops liberated in WWII, you're treated very well.
What about places where American troops liberated France, aren't we treated well too? Shit, Patton's Army led the charge into France.

[Capitalist Imperial]

Why in the hell would I want to pose as a Canadian? That would be like taking my gold medal off and putting on a bronze one (or, actually, more like a dimimutive "honorable mention" ribbon).

You pukes are amazing.

However, at the same time I'm not surprized that a leftist would suggest such a pussy-fied approach to dealing with such situations. If you are so spineless as to actually pose as a citizen of another nation because you don't have nuts large enough to even acklowledge and defend your citizenship, then maybe you should apply for citizenship to France. You'll fit in well there.

Again, this type of soft stance is typical of much of the left. You have no foundation, no real values (I'm not talking religion or fundamentalisn here, I'm an atheist and socially moderate. I'm just talking plain character). This is one of a myriad of reasons that you were left staring stupidly at each other as you lost another election.

Basically, this article suggests that you hide from who you are to appease a bunch of strangers that you are incidentally benefitting with your tourist dollars anyway...

Bullshit, ladies and gentlemen

Bullshit.

[FatFreeMilk]

Yeah, an American posing as a Canadian is pretty pathetic.

I've never had to defend myself while out of the country or been treated diferently for my citizenship. I have also never walked around with any type of red, white and blue fashion statement either (kinda cramps my style anyways).

People ask me where I'm from and I'll just be like "california" and that's the end of it. I don't go "USA A-OK!". People who get all cocky about being American deserve a hard time. If you're mellow and not all in-your-face, like any decent person should be, you should be "fine". Although, I heard Germans and Spaniards hate us even if you're nice.

[redstar2000]

Originally posted by Capitalist Imperial
However, at the same time I'm not surprised that a leftist would suggest such a pussy-fied approach to dealing with such situations. If you are so spineless as to actually pose as a citizen of another nation because you don't have nuts large enough to even acknowledge and defend your citizenship, then maybe you should apply for citizenship to France. You'll fit in well there.

Calm down, CI. It wasn't a "leftist" who suggested this...it is an American business that suggests that Americans who travel abroad and who are not political pose as Canadians and sell kits to help you do that.

Why should that upset you? Do you think every American who goes abroad becomes an unpaid official representative of the Bush regime? Why?

Also, expressions like "pussy-fied" and "don't have large nuts" do nothing to strengthen your argument; are you suggesting that women "cannot" be hyper-patriotic supporters of U.S. imperialism? You'd better be careful -- you might earn some time in the dungeon with Mistress Rice. :lol:


Again, this type of soft stance is typical of much of the left. You have no foundation, no real values (I'm not talking religion or fundamentalism here, I'm an atheist and socially moderate. I'm just talking plain character).

Because we "won't stand up" for what we don't believe in?

Why the hell should we? And how would inviting flak from people in other countries for a regime that we don't support demonstrate "character"? Or "real values"?

In Samuel Johnson's day, patriotism was the "last refuge of a scoundrel".

Today, it's the first!

Especially in the United States.

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net)
A site about communist ideas

[Regicidal Insomniac]

... remeber it wasn't our government accused of kidnapping Aristide.

Canadian officials initiated (http://www.haiti-progres.com/2003/sm030305/eng03-05.html) planning for the coup. Don't be fooled, the Martin government is fully complicit (http://www.rabble.ca/news_full_story.shtml?x=35846) in the suffering of Haiti.

[Capitalist Imperial]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2004, 05:39 AM
Yeah, an American posing as a Canadian is pretty pathetic.

I've never had to defend myself while out of the country or been treated diferently for my citizenship. I have also never walked around with any type of red, white and blue fashion statement either (kinda cramps my style anyways).

People ask me where I'm from and I'll just be like "california" and that's the end of it. I don't go "USA A-OK!". People who get all cocky about being American deserve a hard time. If you're mellow and not all in-your-face, like any decent person should be, you should be "fine". Although, I heard Germans and Spaniards hate us even if you're nice.
There are individuals in every nation that will hate you due to the simple fact that you are American. That is their problem.

There are also people in every nation that happen to like American style and culture, and will appreciate an American for their bold style and sense of humor, and that's cool too. As FFM said, no need to be obnoxious no matter what your nationality is.

Hey, believe me, I've met many exchange students from Europe who coud easily be seen as obnoxious or inappropriate.

Whether action or reaction, it really comes down to the individual.

And by the way, Spaniards or Krauts that don't like me because I'm a Yank can eat a fat one.

[Capitalist Imperial]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2004, 02:30 PM




Calm down, CI. It wasn't a "leftist" who suggested this...it is an American business that suggests that Americans who travel abroad and who are not political pose as Canadians and sell kits to help you do that.

Well, you're right, but I just think that stating you are not political or that you don't necessarily agreee with your current administration should be enough. By the way, a leftist on this board was singing it's praises, it seems.'



Why should that upset you? Do you think every American who goes abroad becomes an unpaid official representative of the Bush regime? Why?

Absolutely not, but they shouldn't have to hide their identity. Isn't it the European individual's problem for assuming an American tourist supports the Bush Admin or US foreign policy and creating a hostile environment?


Also, expressions like "pussy-fied" and "don't have large nuts" do nothing to strengthen your argument; are you suggesting that women "cannot" be hyper-patriotic supporters of U.S. imperialism?
You'd better be careful -- you might earn some time in the dungeon with Mistress Rice. :lol:

Come on, stop splitting hairs on my euphemsms. As for Ms. Rice, one can only hope. :P


Why the hell should we? And how would inviting flak from people in other countries for a regime that we don't support demonstrate "character"? Or "real values"?

I'm not asking for a true political stance here, I'm just suggesting that you don't encourage people to hide from who they are, or suggest that they need to (not you specifically, RS, but those who support this).



In Samuel Johnson's day, patriotism was the "last refuge of a scoundrel".

Today, it's the first!

Especially in the United States.

That sounds good, RS, and it was a good close. However, we both know that "patriotism" is much too broad and subjective of a concept to be defined as inherently good or bad. It is all about the application.

[Ian]

hey ci do that 'cutie pie' thing you do

that was hilaarious

[Ian]

OMG NOE IT CHANGED CO MI IE P U KE TO cutie pie