WARMINGTON: While Trudeau says Canadians will continue to boo U.S. anthem, Ford says don't

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To boo or not to boo?

It depends on who’s doing the talking. There are mixed messages on this. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condones booing. Ontario Premier Doug Ford does not.

For example, on Tuesday, Trudeau told reporters, “We’re probably going to keep booing the American anthem.”

But he also said, “Let me tell Americans, we’re not booing you. We’re not booing your teams. We’re not booing your players. We’re booing a policy that is designed to hurt us. And we’re insulted. And we’re angry. But we’re Canadian which means we’re going to stand up for each other. We’re going to fight. And we are going to win.”

Ford on Tuesday, however, indicated he sees it differently.

“Please, do not boo the national anthem in Canada and in the U.S.,” the premier said passionately. “These are soldiers who fought for our freedoms, our democracies, our sovereignty that laid their lives on the line.”

Ford did add: “Boo the referee, boo the players if you want — do not boo the American national anthem. And to my American friends, do not boo the Canadian national anthem. That’s crossing the line.”

So tonight, in Vancouver when the Anaheim Ducks come in to play the Canucks at Rogers Arena, and Friday night when the Utah Jazz come to Scotiabank Arena to play the Toronto Raptors, we will see which leader the fans listen to.

And we will find out how Americans are responding to all of this when the Maple Leafs play in Las Vegas Thursday night, Colorado on Saturday and Utah on Monday.

For me, the decision is easy. Listen to Ford on this more than Trudeau. There is a sacred line people should not cross and disrespecting someone’s country is one of them. It’s classless to disparage another country’s flag or anthem. You just don’t do it. You can’t get respect returned if you don’t offer any.

Clearly, not everybody agrees with this position. From the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal and Boston and at NHL and NBA games and the WWE, there has been too much booing and scapegoating already. Booing, as well as the misdirected vitriol levelled toward Wayne Gretzky just because he celebrated President Donald J. Trump’s election victory, is way over the top.

Like Don Cherry, Bobby Orr, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, and Leafs star Max Domi, Ford was also right when he said the Great One “is a patriot, he loves Canada” and “he never gave up his Canadian passport. So, folks, give the guy a break, just give him a break. He loves Canada. He loves it like no tomorrow.”

There’s no question No. 99 did nothing wrong, but like the booing, the complaints should be directed more toward Trump. Sometimes there is a pack mentality where people feel more powerful by going along with the group and sometimes that’s OK.

But when it comes to piling on our icons, tearing down their statues and legacies, or booing the anthem of a country we fought with during wars, there has to be sense of self-reflection about what is in good taste and what isn’t.

Certainly, these Trump tariffs are not something Canadians like or agree with. But any concern about that can be peacefully directed toward the people making those decisions and not American athletes, veterans or those singing their anthem.

Whether this trade war gets worked out early or it goes on for years, if Canada and the United States don’t cancel cross border professional sports, there will be situations when American teams are playing in Canada and Canadian teams are playing in America and there will be players from both countries on every team.

The question is, to boo or not to boo?

Trudeau and Ford have weighed in. Soon it may be your turn to show how you feel or whose direction you choose to follow.

jwarmington@postmedia.com