Americans Pretending to Be Canadian While Traveling
One Canadian radio host remarked,
“It’s like clockwork. The world gets mad at America, and Americans go, ‘Oh no, quick! To the maple leaves!’”
This phenomenon, known as flag-jacking, has existed for decades. It occurs when Americans, facing global disapproval of their country's politics, disguise themselves by displaying Canadian flags on their backpacks or luggage. The goal is to avoid negative attention or mistreatment abroad by appearing Canadian.
History of Flag-Jacking
The practice dates back to the Vietnam War era, when young American backpackers sewed Canadian flag patches onto their bags and clothing while traveling through Europe. Flag-jacking resurfaced prominently during the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly during the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War.
Pop Culture Reference
In a 2005 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson explains flag-jacking to her brother Bart while arriving in Italy:
“Well, some people in Europe have the impression that America has made some stupid choices in the past, oh, five years. So, for the next week, I’m from Canada.”
Modern Resurgence
With recent global criticism of the Trump administration, travelers from the United States are again buying red maple leaf patches and stickers to blend in as Canadians during their international trips.
Flag-jacking illustrates how some Americans adapt to changing perceptions abroad by adopting a Canadian identity to escape political backlash.
Author's summary: Americans often impersonate Canadians while traveling to avoid political backlash overseas, a tactic that has reemerged during recent conflicts and political climates.