[Thorn]

Y'know, just in case that guy with the Canadian flag is actually an American.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/12/07/canada.tshirts.ap/index.html

Company lets U.S. travelers 'Go Canadian'

Tuesday, December 7, 2004 Posted: 6:09 AM EST (1109 GMT)

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) -- An American T-shirt company has a solution for their fellow citizens who want to vacation in Europe without having to answer questions about U.S. politics -- pose as Canadians.

For $24.95, T-shirtKing.com offers the "Go Canadian" package, full of just the kind of things an American traveler needs to leave their country and its politics behind.

There's 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's the brainchild of employees at the Mountainair, New Mexico-based company known for novelty T-shirts it sells worldwide on the Internet.

"It's not meant as a slight against the United States or Canada," explained T-shirtKing.com President Bill Broadbent. "It was meant as something Republicans could give their Democrat friends to say 'C'est la vie.' ... But maybe not c'est la vie because that's a French word."

The "Go Canadian" idea sprouted after one of 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," Broadbent said. "So we were joking that they could just go as Canadians, and that just kind of evolved."

The package went up on T-shirtKing.com's Web site November 12 and the company had sold a couple hundred in the first two weeks or so. Many of the out-of-state buyers were in Michigan, Illinois, and the Seattle area, Broadbent said.

When lifelong Democrat Dani Delaney saw the package, she was immediately sold. After the general election, she said, "if I could move to Canada, I would."

"I admire their liberal, progressive stand on things," said the 57-year-old, part-time writing instructor at the University of New Mexico. "And I thought, 'Well, that's a good way to peacefully protest.'"

Sylvia Dawson's boyfriend has been joking that she needed to find him a Canadian flag for an upcoming trip to Spain. That's 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,"' 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."

[WMCoolmon]

For some reason, I'm somewhat sickened by the idea of an American studying up on Canadian politics just so they can come off as NOT American.

On the other hand, maybe the people who buy these will, in learning about another country, realize that there are indeed other countries in the world. Unfortunately, I doubt the people who most need to learn the lesson will.

But yeesh, if they don't want to be an American, they should move. (Although I doubt you guys up north want 'em either. )

If they're so worried about people's response in other countries, they could always wear a Kerry t-shirt or something. (Anyone who hates America's current administration's policies but thinks he's president probably isn't worth talking to anyway.)

[karajorma]

Predicts that Canada's worldwide standing will go down if this idea becomes popular.

[aldo_14]

Ah...... so this is how the anti-missile defence works; get them to bomb Canada instead.

[Sandwich]

It'll never work. I've been trying for over a decade to successfully impersonate the accent of my myriad Canadian friends here, to no avail. There's just something elusive aboat that aboot, eh?

Oh, and of course, if Americans like making fun of the Canadian accent, Canadians LOOOVE making fun of Americans doing bad Canadian accents.

[Janos]

Well that's it, everyone who speaks at least some English is now target of my Personal JihadPod Experience.

Sorry.

[Flipside]

Yes, but the English themselves can't tell the difference between an American and a Canadian accent, at least most of them can't.

Much the same way that many Americans can't tell a cockney accent from an a Australian one

[IceFire]

They so want to be Canadian's...I think its absolutely hilarious...

They will have to answer pop quizes about Canadian politics soon.  Better start studying!

Pop quiz: What is the sponsorship scandal?  Which Liberal MP was booted out of the party for stepping on a Bush doll?  Etc.

[Flipside]

I have a couple of Canadian friends and theres nothing they hate more than people asking them if they are American

[Inquisitor]

Posing as Canadians has been the "underground" way of avoiding trouble while travelling in Europe for 30 years.

Just in case any of you thought this was new

[Flipside]

LOL Well, I doubt Americans would get torn apart by angry crowds or even grilled on their politics in the UK, such a thing would be considered 'Bad Form', and believe it or not, most British do still think like that

Theres a very strong feeling in the UK at least that your politics are your own, we will discuss politics if it is bought up, but asking what party somebody supports is sort of along the same lines of asking them how much they earn, it's not really considered 'Good Manners'

[Janos]

Of course, the entire point is just bull****, because if you are a loud-mouthed ignorant ****wad who knows nothing about local culture, it doesn't really matter whether you're from America, Canada or Picopico Atolls. You could just act nicely and no one would give a **** about where you are from, except in places where you propably shouldn't even go (Teheran ghettos, Jalalabad by night).

[Flipside]

Exactly right Janos, well said, assholes are assholes, you don't need any special qualification

[Thrilla]

It's funny, but if people are being serious then that is pretty sad.  If you are REALLY trying to pose as some other nationality then just move there.  Then you don't have to lie.

[Thrilla]

It's funny, but if people are being serious then that is pretty sad.  If you are REALLY trying to pose as some other nationality then just move there.  Then you don't have to lie.

[Thrilla]

It's funny, but if people are being serious then that is pretty sad.  If you are REALLY trying to pose as some other nationality then just move there.  Then you don't have to lie.

[Flipside]

Oh dear, another MMMmmultipost

[ionia23]

Color me retarded, but I don't dig on picking on my neighbors up north.  They have to put up with enough **** from us as it is.

That goes DOUBLE for talking smack about Mexico.

[Ford Prefect]

I prefer to pose as a travelling journalist from another region of the galaxy, writing an update for the Guide entry about Earth.

[Janos]

Originally posted by ionia23
Color me retarded, but I don't dig on picking on my neighbors up north.  They have to put up with enough **** from us as it is.

That goes DOUBLE for talking smack about Mexico.

I'd love to see Canada put up some heat on US.

You know, they control quite a bit of northern State's electricity.