Have you ever been told to put a Canadian flag on your luggage when travelling? It’s a fairly common practice when heading to the airport as many people believe Americans get subpar luggage service when compared to Canadians. Moreover, Canadians are also encouraged to display a Canadian flag on a hat, their clothes, or some article on their person when out and about in a foreign country– for fear of being mistaken as an American.
But what happens when an American is sick and tired of being treated like an American? Well, that’s when flag jacking happens.
WHAT IS “FLAG JACKING”?
The term reportedly gained popularity back in 2013 from an article by The Huntington Post, with the title “How to Spot Flag-Jacking Frauds Abroad”. Simply put, flag jacking is the practice of adopting a foreign flag in order to disguise one’s own nationality. Much of the media presence on flag jacking is from Americans pretending to be Canadians.
Think of an American with a little Canadian flag patch on their backpack. Without speaking to them, you wouldn’t ever realize they aren’t from the north.
Although a situational practice, there have been many online conversations about flag jacking and its usage. A recent CNN article notes that some American travellers have been using the Canadian flag in order to avoid being identified as a U.S. citizen. This is primarily due to the Trump administration. Americans thus feel the need to hide beneath the maple leaf to avoid the vitriol that Canadians don’t face.
One Reddit user accounts the time their parents encountered some Americans on a trip back from Spain. “My parents just got back from Spain, the Americans they encountered (a few different couples) were utilizing the Canadian flag, when asked about it they said that it was to avoid discrimination as Americans in Europe, but also to show solidarity with Canadians.”
With Canadian patriotism at an all-time high, it wouldn’t be surprising to hear that some Canadians are quite angry at the idea of Americans hiding underneath a national symbol that doesn’t belong to them. Although, there is quite a different sentiment online.
ANGRY OR JUST ANNOYED?
Some folks are definitely incensed by the practice. Although, most online conversations around the topic are more toned-down– which is a very Canadian response. One Reddit user says that, “Canadians don’t care [about flag jacking], we’re just happy we’re not Americans.”
Another user notes, “If anything, we’re probably a bit flattered as it reaffirms our belief that we’re more well liked around the world than Americans.”
“America sucks. But not every American does. As a Canadian, I have no qualms with good Americans borrowing our flag to have a beer in peace.”
Still, plenty of Canadians encourage fellow Canadians to don a flag to avoid being mistaken as American. Although, that can sometimes have the opposite desired effect, as suddenly you may be identified as a flag jacker instead.
The best advice that folks have is to simply act Canadian. Be polite, be respectful, and be aware of the country’s culture. That way, no one can mistake you for anything else.
