A Polite Response

 Perhaps World War Three will not involve thermonuclear weapons. Maybe it will be constrained to Artificial Intelligence. And the Stock Market. And Maple Syrup. 

Over the weekend Canadians, a lusty but traditionally well-behaved group, chose to boo and jeer during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner. They cheered for O Canada. These were sports fans packed into arenas in the Great White North. Fans of the Toronto Raptors, the National Basketball Association's only franchise north of the border, were not having it when the national anthem for the opposing team, the Los Angeles Clippers, was performed. A similar scene unfolded before the National Hockey League's matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and the lower forty-eight's Detroit Red Wings. NHL games in Ottawa, Ontario, and Alberta began in similar fashion. 

Keeping in mind this reaction was part of the initial shots fired in the trade war declared by the American "president" (checks notes) Elon Musk. 

Still. This is Canada, right? Toronto resident and Raptors fan Joseph Chua had this to say: “I have a bunch of American family, friends that live in the states that are Americans, we travel to America all the time, but I thought chanting, ‘Canada,’ would be a more appropriate stance. Usually I will stand. I’ve always stood during both anthems. I’ve taken my hat off to show respect to the American national anthem, but today we’re feeling a little bitter about things."

For the record, Mister Chua did not boo. He stayed seated during the song about rockets and fire. 

Also, for the record, the tariffs imposed by Elon and his convicted felon buddy in the White House had yet to go into effect. How this will all play out is still very much up in the air. The very stable genius who managed to bankrupt three casinos he owned in Atlantic City is in charge of things down here. He has told his country that we may "experience some pain" as he continues to threaten still more taxes on imports. Throwing still more doubt on the Economics degrees being handed out by Pennsylvania's Wharton School. 

So what if a few sports teams get booed while he initiates the most ridiculous attempt at taxation since King George put a toll on the tea in Boston. Which ended up in the harbor. What do you suppose a few million gallons of maple syrup would do to the waterfalls in Niagara?