In the US there's an American flag on every house, all year round. Why don't Canadians do it as well?

Question

The minute I cross the border to visit my grandmother in Syracuse, NY, I know I'm in America right away. It's not just the street signs on the highway saying "60", or the blatantly obvious New York license plates. No, it's the sea of stars and stripes all around me; the flag waving from every house and business that I can see.

Strolling down the streets of Toronto today, I saw a ton of flags everywhere in my neighbourhood. They weren't there yesterday and they won't be there tomorrow. What gives?

Answer 1

Those flags you see on the U.S. side of the border were (mainly) not there on September 10, 2001. They only came out to be waved, posted and flown after the attack on America. I have been flying a U.S. flag in front of my current residence since November of 1985 when I moved in to this house. I'm a retired U.S. Navy officer and a flag in front of my home has been my routine since my first residence after I was married.  But, in a subdivision of over 200 homes where I currently live, I could count the others who did it on the fingers of two hands.

Please don't confuse the public posturing of the "Petey Patriot Platoon" with any deep-felt strain of patriotism or "support the troops" belief. On September 10, 2001 most of them would not have even given the time of day to a man or woman in uniform.

I also have a framed color photo of the Peace Keepers' Monument in Ottawa on the wall of my patio. I served on maneuvers many years ago with your Second Princess Patricia Regiment (2PP), which I believe is one of your most decorated units. Canada has a much-deserved record of participating in every UN peacekeeping and peace enforcement mission, along with being stalwarts in NATO's current mission in Afghanistan. Take pride in that. Celebrate that. But, avoid lock-step patriotism and its symbols. They add nothing to that record and that history.

Answer 2

Agreed. Canadians can fly US flags all the time too ;)

Answer 3

Yeah, nice to see, isn't it?