About That Canadian Flag on my Backpack

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  12.12.07 | 5:03 AM ET

backpackPhoto by Eva Holland.

I have a confession to make: There is a Canadian flag on my backpack. It’s not one of those postage stamp or business card-sized ones, either. As you can see in the photo, it’s closer to a large index card, or even a compact paperback. I super-glued it into place on my new pack when I was 20 years old, for no greater reason than that everyone else was doing it, and until recently I’ve never thought twice about it. Now, though, the times—and travel trends—are a-changing.

With Samuel Johnson’s famous definition of patriotism as “the last refuge of a scoundrel” ringing in my ears, I shame-facedly lean my pack face-first against walls in train stations. I pull the drawstrings down tight so the flag is obscured. I nod and smile in hostel common rooms while my bunkmates agree, less eloquently than Johnson, that patriotic gestures—and flags on backpacks, in particular—are totally lame.

In retrospect, in fact, it may never have been cool to put a maple leaf on your backpack. Rocker Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragically Hip and arbiter of all things both Canadian and cool, was calling flags on backpacks “nationalism gone astray” as early as 1993. He recently gained an ally in Jason Wilson, the series editor of the Best American Travel Writing anthologies. In this year’s foreword, Wilson calls the practice “sad.”

In my case, the most embarrassing thing about the situation is my own embarrassment. I don’t have any particular attachment to the flags-on-backpacks school of thought, so I don’t defend the practice. But on the other hand, I don’t have anything against it either, so I’m not going to risk defacing my pack trying to get the patch off. Meanwhile, my backpack has a lifetime warranty and isn’t showing any sign of slowing down after six years of steady use. I suppose this is one travel trend I’ll just have to try and ride out.


Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


18 Comments for About That Canadian Flag on my Backpack

Kelsey 12.12.07 | 9:41 AM ET

Are you Canadian?  I take it you are because you are quoting Canadian rockers that I’ve never heard of.  Anyhow, the fact that you are Canadian should make this whole thing somewhat less embarrassing than if you were a non-Canadian traveling under the Maple Leaf. 

I appreciate the confession - very brave. But I’m not buying it.

For some reason your dilemma reminds me of 30-year old mothers with lower back tattoos, although, in a somewhat less permanent way.  But if tattoos can be removed, I’m guessing that your Maple Leaf can be removed, too. 

I suspect that deep down you are proud of your flag and while you publicly curse it, you privately love it.

You might need therapy.

Olivebeard 12.12.07 | 11:37 AM ET

When we start looking to rock stars—especially Canadian ones—for our political and moral compass, we’ve truly found the path to Armageddon. No offense, <A >Serj Tankian</A> (System of a Down).

I think the only thing worse than that was the American trend that many of my brethren followed: not putting an American flag on their bag out of “fear”. When I first went to Europe, everyone said I should call myself Canadian if anyone asked about my nationality. Apparently, Europeans were randomly beating/killing/mugging American backpackers because of their President. Can’t say I blame them.

I say, wear that Maple Leaf proudly! If for no other reason, than in blatant defiance of travel-fear mongers.

Where’s Canada again?

grizzly mom 12.12.07 | 2:49 PM ET

Who care’s what Samual Johnson thinks?  Think for yourself.  If you are a proud Canadian wear your flag.  I think its friendly to do so because its a conversation starter, and can impart comaraderie.  In the U.S. its considered disrepsectful to wear the flag as clothing, but I’m not sure it that includes placing it on backpacks.

Eva Holland 12.12.07 | 2:53 PM ET

Kelsey - you’re onto me. I do love my flag, but I’ve always been a sucker for peer pressure. I remember being taught lots of “say no and still be cool” strategies for resistance in junior high (“the only thing I smoke is bacon!”) but none of them dealt with hostel bullying.

Olivebeard - I always thought the whole Americans-posing-as-Canadians-in-Europe thing was made up by Canadians, as fodder for our feelings of (polite) smugness and (modest) superiority. Do people really do that?

craig of travelvice.com 12.12.07 | 3:14 PM ET

I constantly lie about being an American to people that don’t need to know what my nationality is—specifically, taxi drivers, hotel owners, and generally anyone I’m buying a good or service from. To say this, says “he’s got money”, even when I don’t.

Instead, I’m often Argentine or Costa Rican, or anything else I want to be—because in the long run, who cares. It’s all good fun, and makes my life more stress free because they think I’m traveling from one Second World country into another, or because it’s a country they’ve never heard of, and have a harder time stereotyping me because of it.

Jerry Haines 12.12.07 | 6:38 PM ET

We (2 yanks from the Washington, DC area) went to Jordan and Syria less than a month after 9/11.  I considered identifying ourselves as Canadian; then I thought,  “What would I say if someone challenged me with ‘Oh yeah?  What’s the capital of Saskatchewan’?” 

Turned out to be a moot issue.  Everyone we met was gracious and sympathetic.

Michael 12.13.07 | 9:09 AM ET

An example of Banal Nationalism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banal_Nationalism

Eva Holland 12.13.07 | 10:18 AM ET

Hey Craig, I had forgotten this until you mentioned it, but in India we used to say we were from Moldova - because it left the touts at a complete loss for a reply. (If we said Canada, they said “TorontoVancouverMontreal! French or English? Bonjour!”)

Jerry - I agree, most people are sensible and friendly regardless of your country of origin, and as for the ones that aren’t - quite frankly, they probably won’t make a distinction between Americans and Canadians and Brits and whoever else at this point.

Michael - That article makes my flag sound so sinister! A source for political violence? Ouch. I see the flags-on-backpacks thing as patriotic rather than nationalistic:

“Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By ‘patriotism’ I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power.”

-George Orwell

TambourineMan 12.14.07 | 3:55 AM ET

Eva wrote: “I’ve always been a sucker for peer pressure.”

Eva, lose the Maple Leaf and sew a Che Guevara patch on that pack. ALL the cool kids are doing it.

Kanji 01.06.08 | 8:34 PM ET

I am a Canadian of Asian decent. I cannot believe that someone still try to be a Canadian for own sake. I wonder how old you are now. It is totally old fashonned to do. If you are not Canadian, get rid of it.

Grizzly Mom 01.09.08 | 6:46 PM ET

Kanji, some people wear the Canadian flag because they are afraid terrorists will blow them up if they are obviously American.  Perhaps being of Asian decent (?brown haired and eyed?) it doesn’t occur to you that if terrorists were looking for westerners they might seek out blonde haired blue eye people.  Unless they are disrespecting a symbol, I’m fine with anyone wearing one.  Maybe once they are out traveling they will realize that its safer than they feared, and that they don’t need to hide under the Maple Leaf or the Union Jack.

Pinoy Money Talk 02.21.08 | 3:13 AM ET

I have an aunt which lives in Canada where she married a Canadian citizen. All O the pics that i have seen are mostly with Canadian flags. I thought is as a patriotism as well.

Alec 03.04.08 | 9:08 PM ET

I am from Canada, and ironically most people I met with a maple leaf on their pack were actually Americans trying not to be seen as Americans. They would always say people would “treat them alot better”. I personally don’t rock the flag on my pack, I just think it is kind of lame. Who really gives a fuck if you show everyone you are Canadian?

kathie 05.25.08 | 11:18 PM ET

I am getting a Canadian Flag tattoo because I want to.  I could care less about a quote from Samuel L Jackson in a movie or what some dude from the Tragically Hip say’s.  He should be grateful that Canadians are buying his CD’s.

To me, Canada is the #1 country in the world.  I am extremely proud to be Canadian and want everyone to know it, no matter where I travel. 
The flag itself is beautiful.
If you don’t want to have a permanent flag on your body, go buy some clothes from Roots.

Mind Body Shop 08.11.08 | 9:28 PM ET

When you focus on bigger things.. Bigger than you and your life, you can find peace

Canuck 5-0 09.18.08 | 11:18 PM ET

I actually have two ML flags on my backpack and found this site while looking for Canadian flag tattoos. I also have a flag of every other country Ive travelled to on my pack. Ive often wondered if its too much, but to be honest, I like the way it looks and it is definitely a conversation starter. I plan on keeping my flag^^

I have to agree with Eva’s comments on “our feelings of (polite) smugness and (modest) superiority.” We all need to watch out for that. I often find myself reverting to off the cuff jokes at the expense of American travellers (sometimes its too easy though^^)Have met some great Americans out there…and some jerk Canadians.

Anyways, safe travels everyone!

luggageguy 09.24.08 | 1:47 AM ET

Who cares about others’ opinion? Samuel johnson, your bunkmates, or Downie? Their words matter nothing! Think independently and just do what you want. Look at Kathie. she is proud of her Canadian Flag tattoo. And you should do the same. If you feel comfortable of that, do that. If you feel uncomfortable of that backpack (definitely not because of others’ words), drop it.    I always believe sometimes people are just trying to explain and understand simple things in a far more complicated way. Maybe human beings are social animals, but we are also individuals, right?

business cards 09.28.08 | 5:22 PM ET

Of all the country flags that are safe to plaster all over the place it would be the Canada flag. I mean, who has anything against Canada?  It’s one of the only countries that consistantly keeps under the radar. And who doesn’t like movie strange brew?

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