Most everyone on this site is both Canadian and a GI Joe fan for life. But these are almost conflicting character traits. To be Canadian, you must be proud that you?re from Canada, and even more proud that you?re not from the United States. You must point out their national flaws, like their over-inflated patriotic ego, ignorance towards the value of strict gun control, and how they always generalize other nationalities. And when talking about Canada?s greatest, you don?t care how good we are, only how much better we are than the States. So how is it that we can all have these views embedded in our Canadian souls, and still enjoy a hobby involving flag-waving Real American Heroes?
There?s the obvious ?pretend they?re Canadian? route that Hasbro Canada tried to take on numerous occasions. They replaced the American flags on our stick sheets with Canadian flags. Later, they changed hometowns of familiar characters to Canadian cities. But does this make any sense? The line was still called ?Real American Hero?. And above and beyond, it was still a highly specialized military operation, something that is not only more of an American fantasy, but implausible based on Canada?s few enemies and the pennies we put towards our military each year.
I?ve taken Back-Stop as the main character of my Joe team; getting the Canadian perspective on the team as a whole and giving a Canadian voice to the missions they are sent on. I?ve also emphasised Cobra Commander?s American background, making the war Us vs. Ourselves for the Joes rather than Us vs. Them.
How have you guys dealt with the internal clash felt by being the fan of an American patriotic toy while being Canadian?
