The red maple leaf during the Olympics would usually symbolize unity and pride in the performance of the nation\u0027s athletes.
This was during the Pinochet dictatorship and many Chileans had fled to safety in Canada. From time to time, those who could returned home to anxious families. The Chilean people were living under a repressive regime and any political action was suspect. The meeting I attended could not be considered political, so it was billed as a gathering of artisans and campesinos .
Chile is a beautiful country with a Mediterranean climate. The people I met were welcoming and happy to meet a group from Canada. They were suffering under the yoke of a dangerous authoritarian regime, but they maintained their humanity. I have seen the Canadian flag flying at international embassies, stuck on backpacks, and commercial airliners. It’s a symbol of home and one of the freest countries in the world. The red maple leaf is on the shoulder flashes of Canadian soldiers doing peacekeeping throughout the world; it’s seen on bags of famine relief.Article content
This comes from the American right-wing playbook; they wrap themselves in the flag to fake legitimacy. They sing the national anthem to drown out dissent. They appropriate words and phrases such as freedom and democracy defining them in their own warped context. Over the years, Canada has welcomed refugees and displaced people from all around the world. Internationally, Pearson International Airport in Toronto is known as heaven’s gate. We may not be perfect, but we still rank as the best country.
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