Image Credit: James Kirkikis / Dreamstime.com

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: Are national anthems really necessary before every sporting event?

Feb 7, 2025 | 12:30 PM

NOTHING UNITES CANADIANS like a common enemy — especially when that enemy is actually our best friend, the United States of America.

An Angus Reid poll found the number of Canadians who described themselves as “very proud” to be Canadian has jumped 10 per cent. The same spike was seen in the number who said they have a “deep emotional attachment” to Canada.

It’s all because the president of the United States is being very mean to us, threatening to launch a devastating trade war. He’s treating us very badly, some might say.

Besides the Angus Reid poll, there are other ways Canadians are being asked to make their loyalties known.

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Politicians of all stripes are asking us to reconsider our travel and shopping decisions, letting our dollars do the talking.

Canadian social media users are flocking to pages that share lists of Canadian alternatives to popular American products.

And now, the American national anthem is being booed when it is played or sung before sporting events in Canada.

This last one is a bit of a stickier wicket.

The Star-Spangled Banner is not only the U.S. national anthem, it was written originally to commemorate a battle fought during the War of 1812.

Thus, any booing could be construed as a disrespectful act toward those who fought and continue to fight for freedom — even if that is not what was intended.

There was a similar situation in 2016, when Colin Kaepernick and other athletes knelt during the anthem to protest police brutality against black Americans. Their act of defiance met a hostile nationalist response.

Collateral damage in this debate are the anthem singers and the athletes who did nothing to be made pawns in an international incident.

The right to protest and speak freely is important to our free society, but the more anthems are used as canvasses on which to paint political views, the stranger it is to include them before professional and club sporting events.

The national anthem should be kept to international competitions and national commemorations, such as Remembrance Day. Otherwise, expect it to be toyed with more and more often.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.