Lack of respect for America

[yountto]

Wondering what our friends up north think about this...

MONTREAL -- Fans booed during the playing of the U.S. national anthem before the New York Islanders' 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.

The sellout crowd of 21,273 at Bell Centre was asked to "show your support and respect for two great nations'' before the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems.

But a significant portion of the crowd booed throughout "The Star-Spangled Banner'' in an apparent display of their displeasure with the U.S.-led war against Iraq. More than 200,000 people turned out for an anti-war demonstration in Montreal last Saturday.

Mark Parrish, a native of Bloomington, Minn., was upset hearing the boos.

"I came to the game pretty pumped up, but once I heard that it really got me going,'' Parrish said. "So I guess I can thank them a little bit for getting me more pumped up.

Parrish later added on The Sports Network of Canada: "If it wasn't for America, who knows what language I'd be speaking now."

Another anti-war protest took place earlier in the day along St. Catherine's Street as protestors chanted "No Blood for Oil" in both French and English. The Canadian government is opposed to the war in Iraq.

"I'm sure there are a lot of people against the war, but some things people can't control,'' said New York's Alexei Yashin, who is from Russia. "They were probably showing what they feel about it.''

Defenseman Mike Komisarek, who is from Islip Terrace, N.Y. and is the only American-born player on the Montreal roster, was asked about his feelings on the war.

"I'd rather not comment on that," he told Newsday. "Just my prayers are with the troops in the Middle East and hope they come home soon and safe to their families."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[copo9566aa]

The only flag I have in my house is the US Flag. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[Keith Tedford]

With a son and son-in-law in the Canadian Army and a daughter joining, It isn't hard to see where our sentiments are. In reality, our government is supporting the US effort a lot more than is made public. We've had soldiers in the gulf region for quite some time. I prefer to speak English. Wasn't very good in French in high school and never took German. I guess we should thank, in part,the good old US of A. Of course Canada had about 400,000 troops fighting in world war II. We have to salute them also.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Well said friends from Canada! At least the Canadian motorheads realize what has to be done here, Thanks [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[Jeff H]

It just amazes me what these people are protesting about. They have no idea of how repressed the Iraqi people are. Iraqis are already starting to celebrate as our troops start securing areas of Iraq. What are they protesting? The fact that we're helping set these people free? We should have done this 12 years ago.

[68z302]

Last night's (same night) Hockey game between the Vancouver Canucks & Nashville Predators both Anthems were played.
The Visitors Anthem, which was the US, was played after the home teams Canadian.
There was a HUGE "standing O" after the US was played. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

People at a Montreal game [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img] don't speak for everyone North of the border.
Don't know what's wrong with the Government though. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[COPO PETE]

For the record.... I never voted for our prime minister. I support the US troops 100%. People are all worked up about this war. This is just part of the battle. The war started on Sept 11th, and not by our or the US's choice. I wish them luck and hope all come home safe, although I'm told at least two have unfortunately died! Good luck soldiers, My thought are with you!!!!
Peter [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[ZL1O2IL]

I would like to put my two cents in - to my Canadian brothers - I have the high respect for Canadians - A number of years ago I attended a Firefighter convention in Toronto
which we had the Canadian Iran Ambassador as a guest who
had smuggled the American Embassey people into the Canadian
Embassy and kept them hidden from the Iranian military. When
the Ambassador came into the auditorium, there was a five minute standing ovation by 950 firefighters from United States and Canada and over 450 guests. He saved this people at great risk to himself and other Canadians at their Embassy. There was a movie made about it. I can tell you as
Canadians you have a friend from the United States and there are many more. God bless. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]

[Jeff Murphy]

Ken Taylor. Brave guy. My family was in Iran then too. My Pop had to organize a Canadian Forces Hercules to come in from Turkey to get all his people out of northern Iran. Scary times...

[Jeff Murphy]

Canada has long been a country torn between its English and French past and its American future. Risking the wrath of my Quebecois friends, Montreal has been more French than anything else for a long time, in fact refusing to use English despite there being a requirement to do so by law (French and English are both legal national languages). I'm from British Columbia originally so I suppose that's the expected response. Seems like the locals are expressing the same cultural bias you might find if the US Soccer or Rugby teams went to play a match in Stade de France in Paris right now.

Oh and there was that one time during the World Series between the Jays and Braves when the Color Guard had the Canadian flag upside down... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

In the UK they had another big march today. London feels like an Islamic country sometimes. Blair clearly rolled the dice by committing to go ahead in the way that the good guys have. I think he'll be vindicated in the end, but the guy certainly has much bigger balls than Chretien (the Canadian PM of French descent).
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif[/img]