What has led to the rise in Canadian jingoism?

Question

I was in Canada recently to watch a hockey game, and my has it changed since my last trip there in the 80s. Crime has skyrocketed and extreme patriotism is all the rage. I can't tell you how many people stopped to tell me how much better their country was than someone elses. All I kept hearing is how Canada is the greatest nation on earth, the most diverse, tolerant, and how racism doesn't exist there. It seems that everyone has now started to fall in line and sing the government-approved song about how perfect the country is. Nobody questions anything anymore and racism against minorities is ignored by the white population. Towns claim to be "diverse" if they have white people from different european backgrounds. I was at a hockey game where everyone wore red and swayed in motion during the Canadian national anthem. It was like I was in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. What has made Canada because so nationalistic and ignore it's problems? Frankly, I found the place frightening.

Answer 1

You went to a hockey game, that's why all the patriotic freaks were out.  After a over a decade of Liberal rule hockey is the only politically correct patriotic thing left.  The "saint" of the Liberal party Peire Trudeau was originally a Communist and was banned from entering the US until he became prime minister.  He is largely responsible for the direction the country took.  The rise in patriotism can be blamed on a beer commercial as few years back.

Were you in Calgary?  Flames fans are kinda scary.  A few weeks they beat up a guy wearing an Edmonton jersy for commenting on how they lost.

Answer 2

Where did you go? Ontario? I wouldn't find it strange to visit another country and find people who love their country - else why would they stay there?

Hockey games bring out the best/worst in people - the more you put into it the more fun you have!

Answer 3

The place is frightning, nationlism is rampant. Soon Canada will be throwing acorns at other nations.

Answer 4

Are you sure you were in Canada?  I have lived in Canada all of my life and I have never witnessed anything like that.

Answer 5

Good, its about time.

Now if only it were true.

You went to a hockey game... Seriously, thats where all of the people you're talking about go.

Ha-ha, Up the Empire.

Answer 6

That's ironic, because you're from the States, right? Gee where would we get a concept of excessive patriotism. I'm certain you were hallucinating because large groups of people in Canada do not wear the same colour and sway in motion, ever.

You do have a point though. Twenty years ago, it was hard to get people to even stand up for the national anthem. We had a case of national low self esteem which I personally found very tedious. I'm glad the fashion has swung in the other direction. You're right that Canadians shouldn't ignore our problems, but I don't think most people do. I don't see that. We can be patriotic and angry at our politicians at the same time. We do have less racism then the States. Yes it's silly for towns to call themselves diverse because they have different kinds of white people, but there are people from all over the world in our large cities- and in smaller places too, just not as many. For the most part, people get along and race is not a major issue.