So Canadians Want to Celebrate the War of 1812, Eh?

No one really knows what the War of 1812 was about , but what we do know is that it involved Americans, Indians, the British, and . . . Canadians. (Really, they were involved. I looked it up on Wikipedia.) Since it was the last time Canada was involved in a war (they don’t get out much) they are naturally excited about next year’s 200th anniversary . Not surprisingly, they are also perpetuating the stereotype of being exceedingly polite by expressing concern about whether it is rude to celebrate fighting with their closest neighbor:

What is the best way to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812? [ . . . ]

How does Canada celebrate its victories over American invaders without alienating its biggest trading partner? How does the United States approach a war in which its principal adversary, Great Britain, is now one of its closest friends? And do the British pause to mark this event at all, given that for them it was but a brief, minor sideshow in the far more important Napoleonic Wars?

Along with the Korean War, the War of 1812, which most Americans remember dimly as being about impressment on the high seas and freedom of movement on the Great Lakes, is often called the Forgotten War.

It is sad that Americans are so forgetful, for this conflict, which lasted roughly two and a half years, gave the United States its national anthem and its national identity, cemented in large measure the nation’s cultural and geographical boundaries, ushered in 200 years of peace with Britain and Canada, made the White House white and provided durable heroes such as Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, Oliver Hazard Perry and Tecumseh.

It ended in virtual stalemate — no side lost substantial territory except, of course, the Indians — and was a decidedly mixed experience for Americans, whose generals were execrable, whose militia didn’t fight well and whose twin theories of warfare (that the French Canadians would rush to the U.S. side and that Canada would collapse into American arms) were ludicrous.

Insulting our generals, eh? What is that aboot? Don’t make us come back up there, Canucks.

I kid, of course. The article was actually written—for some weird reason—by David Shribman, an executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Shribman may be the only American that has given any thought whatsoever to the idea that the Canadians will be celebrating their equivalent of our Korean War (i.e., a mostly forgotten stalemate).

I think I speak for all Americans when I say: We are not going to care at all if they commemorate the event. After all, at every Toronto Blue Jays game we play the Star Spangled Banner—which includes a veiled reference to shooting bombs at Canadians—and they don’t seem to care. (Update: Dr. Veith informs me that the lyrics are referring to the Canadians shooting at us . I guess that may be why they are not offended.)

So let them celebrate that war. They don’t have that many wars under their belt, so they don’t get that many opportunities for a commemoration. They aren’t like us Americans who get a bit antsy if we go more than five or six years without bombs bursting in air over some foreign land.

Addendum: Since I mentioned the Blue Jays, I thought it would be a good opportunity to respond to a frequent query I receive. People are always asking me if I’m the Joe Carter who is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series.

Yes, of course that was me. But please, no autographs.

(Via: Gene Veith )