Flag-jacking. (French: prise de drapeau) the act
of travelers wearing a foreign flag on their clothing or backpack in an attempt
to disguise their country of origin.
Flag-jacking was rampant during the 1960s and 70s, during the
lengthy Vietnam War, November 1955 until April 1975. Riding on a wave of civil
rights awareness, anti-war protests, the rise of feminism, and economic prosperity,
students and university graduates from all countries backpacked their way
across Europe on grand adventures that their parents could only have dreamed
about in their youth. Many American travelers plastered the Canadian flag on
backpacks, and jackets in hopes they would receive friendlier treatment or
service.
When Lawrie and I traveled extensively in Europe during the first
Gulf War, we encountered only a handful of Americans. In January 1991 the State
Department issued a travel advisory for all Americans, telling them to stay
home! The few that we met were flag-jacking our Canadian maple leaf.
The term flag-jacking gained additional popularity after an
article entitled "How to Spot Flag-Jacking Frauds Abroad" was
published on 1 July 2013 by The Huffington Post. The article stated that flag-jacking is a
transitory act involving a person's use of a country's flag to create the false
impression of being a citizen of a favored nation. Pretending to be Canadian by
wearing our maple leaf still gets Americans better service when they’re abroad,
provided they’re able to act the part, too.
For their 2013 article, The Huffington Post commissioned body
language expert and author Mark Bowden of TruthPlane Inc. to demonstrate how to
pass for a Canadian.
Here are a few of Bowden’s tips.
The Maple-o-gy: A Canadian gesture showing submission by
raising the shoulders in an apologetic motion, presenting oneself as
nonthreatening. It’s similar to the shrug, practiced by French nationals.
The Canuck Crinkle: Showing the creases around your eyes
when smiling – indicates genuine friendliness.
The Toque Tilt: Slight tilting of the head when smiling, shows courtesy and congeniality.
Personally, I don’t mind if our American neighbours flag-jack our maple leaf, as long as they are polite, kind, considerate, and leave the combative MAGA perspective in the USA.
Wishing everyone a peaceful day, one without additional proclamations from Trump and Company, in his economic war to destroy our country.
To, in his words, “bring Canada to its knees" because he wants to take our natural resources.
Lynda
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