Tim Horton's and Identity Theft
In a recent Tim Horton's television commerical, a young Canadian lad backpacking in Europe writes home to his proud parents about a peculiar phenomenon: He finds that his Tim Horton's travel mug allows him to hook up with other Canadians also touring Europe. Our young hero cavorts with beautiful young Canadians on the Eurorail, under the Eiffel tower, and in the London underground, his mug swinging from a Candian flag-festooned backpack all the while.
The intention of the advertisement is clear: they want people to associate Tim Horton's with national pride in the same way Molson's "I AM CANADIAN" campaign does.
Why, you may ask, aren't his fellow Canadians attracted to him due to the Canadian flag patch on his backpack?
The reason is because the proud Canadian flag has been expropriated by Americans. It's nothing less than national identity theft. In the past seven years, I've lived in Turkey, Korea, and Nigeria, and travelled to many other nations. In practially every country, I've encountered at least one American who confidentially admits to hiding their national identity behind the maple leaf. Even the iconic American fast food establishment, McDonald's, does its best to distance itself from its American identity. In Canada, they plant a maple leaf in the golden arches, in Korea, they offer an Asian-styled menu and offer Pokemon pogs in happy meals, and in cow-loving India, you won't be able to buy the signature McDonald's hamburger.
To me, this seems like a cowardly facade. What's next? Placing maple leaf decals on the bombs dropped on Fallujah?
Fortunately for Canada, the world has caught on. In the spice bazars of Istanbul and the malls of Seoul, it's common knowledge that any rude, obnoxious, backpacker with a maple leaf patch is actually an undercover American.
If Americans want to present an appealing image to the rest of the world, I would suggest a fundamental shift in strategies. First, stop selling weapons to every Tom, Dick, and Mohommed; every petty dictator from Azerbaijan to Uraguay. Secondly, start viewing warfare as the last resort to setting disputes rather than as a default strategy. Bombs arent bread; they don't have expiration dates printed on the package. Finally, if you can't take criticism, leave the rest of the world alone. Rather than visiting the Eiffel Tower, visit South Dakota's famed Corn Palace or the World's Largest Ball of Twine in Slayton, Minnesota. If you don't respect the rest of the world, you shouldn't expect to be welcomed in it.
The intention of the advertisement is clear: they want people to associate Tim Horton's with national pride in the same way Molson's "I AM CANADIAN" campaign does.
Why, you may ask, aren't his fellow Canadians attracted to him due to the Canadian flag patch on his backpack?
The reason is because the proud Canadian flag has been expropriated by Americans. It's nothing less than national identity theft. In the past seven years, I've lived in Turkey, Korea, and Nigeria, and travelled to many other nations. In practially every country, I've encountered at least one American who confidentially admits to hiding their national identity behind the maple leaf. Even the iconic American fast food establishment, McDonald's, does its best to distance itself from its American identity. In Canada, they plant a maple leaf in the golden arches, in Korea, they offer an Asian-styled menu and offer Pokemon pogs in happy meals, and in cow-loving India, you won't be able to buy the signature McDonald's hamburger.
To me, this seems like a cowardly facade. What's next? Placing maple leaf decals on the bombs dropped on Fallujah?
Fortunately for Canada, the world has caught on. In the spice bazars of Istanbul and the malls of Seoul, it's common knowledge that any rude, obnoxious, backpacker with a maple leaf patch is actually an undercover American.
If Americans want to present an appealing image to the rest of the world, I would suggest a fundamental shift in strategies. First, stop selling weapons to every Tom, Dick, and Mohommed; every petty dictator from Azerbaijan to Uraguay. Secondly, start viewing warfare as the last resort to setting disputes rather than as a default strategy. Bombs arent bread; they don't have expiration dates printed on the package. Finally, if you can't take criticism, leave the rest of the world alone. Rather than visiting the Eiffel Tower, visit South Dakota's famed Corn Palace or the World's Largest Ball of Twine in Slayton, Minnesota. If you don't respect the rest of the world, you shouldn't expect to be welcomed in it.
