In today’s political landscape, anthem-booing has become yet another weapon for the terminally outraged

BY HERBERT HILDEBRANDT

In a world where outrage is the currency, offended Karen’s abound on our TikTok feed, and performative activism reigns supreme, booing national anthems has become the latest trend for those with more emotion than intellect. Once considered rude and nearly unthinkable, this boorish behavior has suddenly found its way into sporting events and public gatherings in Canada. This preschool sandbox behavior exposes a deeper rot of mob mentality and classless hostility that is increasingly pervasive while achieving nothing productive.

Booing an anthem is not some profound act of resistance—it is just an embarrassing display of intellectual laziness. It is a cheap stunt by people who either lack the ability or the will to articulate real grievances and achieve productive outcomes. This behavior is particularly ironic coming from Canadians, a people who have long prided themselves on being polite, tolerant, and welcoming. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau even said recently that one of our core identities is not being American, right? You know the uncouth, rude, and brash neighbours to the south; at least that was the insinuation from Mr. Trudeau.

Now for the truth. Many reveal their true colours when given the chance—just as they did during COVID, where: virtue-signaling, snitching on neighbours, and public shaming by the mask police ran rampant and poisoned relationships across our land. Turns out, when push comes to shove, many Canadians are just as petty and authoritarian as those they claim to despise the most.

“Turns out, when push comes to shove, many Canadians are just as petty and authoritarian as those they claim to despise the most.”

In today’s political landscape, anthem-booing has become yet another weapon for the terminally outraged. In Canada, we have millions of newly minted patriots wrapping themselves in the flag and checking cereal boxes for Made in Canada labels. These same people were shaming flag flying Canadians only weeks earlier for politicizing the same Canadian flag. Pardon me if my head is still spinning from the whiplash. At the end of the day, what does any of this accomplish? Nothing, it is just static and noise. It has become another way to stir up division and give people one more reason to dislike each other and perpetuate the worst political or ideological stereotypes.

We should not pretend that this accomplishes anything beyond that. Booing an anthem does not change policy. It does not advance dialogue, nor does it solve problems. It just makes the people doing the booing look like a bunch of petulant children on the global stage who would rather throw a tantrum than do anything meaningful. Worse yet, it plays right into the hands of those who profit off division—politicians, media elites, and the bureaucracy deep state that benefits from keeping people distracted and at each other’s throats.

In a world already drowning in ideological warfare, manufactured outrage, and faux tribalism, the last thing we need is for national anthems—one of the few remaining unifying symbols—to be dragged into the mess. Booing an anthem is not courage; it is cowardice disguised as activism. It is time to unite in our local communities and make a real difference. We must engage in respectful debate, take meaningful action, and challenge ideas with more than just noise. Speak to people that you disagree with and find common ground. Build strong relationships across cultural and ideological divides for the sake of a future for our children.

Right now, all those engaging in the booing are simply proving that they do not have anything substantive to say. If you cannot say anything nice, maybe you should not say anything at all?