by arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
July 7, 2004
Canadians are used to the left wing media taking every opportunity that they can to criticize americans and the United States. But even publications that are to the right of centre are not immune from what is undoubtedly Canada’s favourite pastime.
Under the headline, "Yanks ring in July 4 in T.O." Toronto Sun reporter Himani Ediriweera wrote about the approximate 300 americans, including U.S. Consul General antoinette Martwiz, that attended an Independence Day celebration in Toronto. Edirweera wrote,
"While the party may have been held on Canadian soil, there wasn’t a red-and-white flag bearing the maple leaf anywhere in sight."
It may seem appropriate that citizens of other countries or Canadian citizens with ties to other countries fly the Canadian flag as well as the flag of their homeland when celebrating non-Canadian holidays and events. But this is just another case of holding americans to a different standard than other immigrants are held to.
On the same day that americans were celebrating their national holiday, Greece defeated Portugal to win the Euro 2004 soccer championship. The Toronto Sun, as did other media outlets, gave a lot of coverage in their non-sports news to the joys of victory and the agony of defeat in the Greek and Portuguese communities in Toronto. Pictures were shown of the sea of blue and white flags that engulfed the Danforth after Greece proved victorious. Much like Ediriweera found at the american celebration, there wasn’t a Canadian flag in site. Yet absolutely no mention was made in the media, specifically the Toronto Sun about the absence of Canadian flags although this later became the subject on radio call-in shows. Yet when it comes to americans, the fact that "there wasn’t a red-and-white flag bearing the maple leaf anywhere in sight" seemed worthy of comment.
Himani Ediriweera’s column is a perfect example of how the media holds americans to different standards than those who come to Canada from other countries.