In all it's glory.
The other day my mom decided that it was about time to talk about the Canadian maple leaf. And when my mom decides something, it will happen.
She inquired about how the maple leaf is often used as a logo more than a symbol. It is (as I have recently found out) used on many restaurant chains, fliers, websites, etc. Paul was saying that the maple leaf makes people happy. Its the equivalent of saying “American Made”. I don’t know about you, but I prefer all of my goods custom made in Chile. But that’s just a personal preference.
My mom also made another good observation–a maple leaf is really hard to draw. I’m not sure aboot Canada, but in the US, elementary schools force kids to draw American flags every year for one reason or another. Stars and stripes are pretty straight forward. A maple leaf though? Forgettaboutit.
Although, my mom said that she admires the simplicity that is the Canadian flag. She described the red as “bold and crisp”. And, while I do agree with her, I think saying that is super gay.
Let us not forget the many flags that include the color blue: USA, U.K., France, Australia, Norway, Cambodia, Chile, Cuba, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands (obvi), Iceland, North Korea, Laos, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico, Russia, Samoa, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Thailand. To name a few.
How many flags are only red and white? Canada, Austria, Bahrain, Denmark, Georgia, Greenland, Indonesia, Japan, Latvia, Poland, Switzerland, Singapore, Tonga, Turkey, and Peru. These countries may all have life and liberty, but they are missing the pursuit of happiness. And I’m pretty sure that’s illegal.
Lastly, my mom asked what kind of leaf the USA would have on their flag. Lets just be clear–the USA would not pull that kind of ridiculousness with something as permanent and symbolic as a national flag. But if I had to choose, it would probably be an Oak leaf because that’s our national tree apparently.
And now it's perfectly clear why our founding fathers decided against the whole leaf idea.
Lily In Canada 
I’m feeling something deeper in your “Maple Leaf” blog. Something hidden and melancholy if you will. Maybe because the famed maple leaf is so hard to draw and therefore it is not drawn by every and any Canadian Joe, there isn’t much nationalism and/or patriotism in the hearts of our friends to the North. It’s a sense of accomplishment to lather up a 9 X 13 cake with some cream cheese frosting and place simple rows of blue berries and strawberries on a cake for the 4th of July. Couldn’t do that with a 9 X13 cake…it would be boring white with a red blob in the middle of haphazardly thrown red hots to form the maple leaf symbol. Nope. Not feeling the patriotism. Nothing is stirring from within.
Haha! The Oak Leaf would be a nightmare! Funny stuff.
The Latvian flag is maroon and white! Almost burgundy, to be honest. And Peru had so many more colors on their flag than red and white. Get it right or pay the price…which is me not reading any more blog posts until revisions are made!
Well, the variant flag of Peru has a crest, at least.
Yeah UMMM I specifically did not include Qatar because it is TOO maroon, where as Lativa passes. Welllll on wiki it said that Peru only had red and white. aiiight? I made sure not to include flags with crests…wayyy too many colors..
Qatar is purple and Latvia is maroon. I think I know my Baltic flags, Lisle!
I think you’re right, it would be an oak leaf. And if not oak, maybe American Elm.
American Elm would definitely get the point across. WE’RE AMERICAN AND OUR TREES ARE THE BEST.