as a proud Canadian who has lived abroad for 5 years, and is about to head over to Europe again, I have to say I always display my maple leaf with pride overseas... in 2000, from 2004-8 and again now... no matter the politicians in power...
when one of my Finnish friends told me how different I was from the other Canadians she had met in regards to national pride I was surprised... then she told me she had known two Quebec students who at an Erasmus student party burned a Canadian flag... the Finn was confused when I flew into a rage about that...
so no matter what this liberal thinks, the maple leaf is as bright and shining an example of Canada's position of honour among the nations of the world as it ever was...
I have been met with nothing but smiles and friendly questions upon anyone finding out I was Canadian (unless I was in the Czech Republic during a hockey tournament... haha)