NOV-01

Unflagging Support

by Laurie Mustard

Maybe blame it on yesterday’s full moon, but I had this escapist thing going on in my head yesterday. I kept imagining somebody walking up to me and saying, “Here’s $10,000. Do anything you like with it.”

Wouldn’t that feel good? What would I do with it?

What would you do with it? I asked Barb Borden here at The Sun what she’d do with a gift of $10,000, and she immediately pointed out the window and said, “I’d put up flags like Peter Nygård has, and show my love of country.”

Unflagging Support -NOV01 - by Laurie Mustard

Right. Just as I’m thinking she’s completely lost her mind, I look out the window and see what she’s talking about.

"Wow. There, almost a kilometre away on Inkster, I see three big flagpoles out front of Nygård International, flying two huge American flags and a massive Canadian flag. They have erected in response to 9/11, and reflect Peter Nygård’s desire to show that everyone at Nygård, “stands UNITED with America in this ‘worst moment’ of their history.”

You may have seen the giant sympathy poster Nygård has up on the company’s Broadway office and will soon have on the Toronto headquarters.

“Matter of fact, here in town, the flagpole salute is also being erected at the Notre Dame offices, and in California, at the Gardena distribution headquarters, which is where I caught up with Peter Nygård yesterday, by phone: “Yes, Laurie, our company has been disturbed by the events of 9/11. The flags are a visual symbol of our unity with America. One of the American flags will soon be replaced by a flag we are creating that declares just that. ‘Unity with America.’ Also, through our various connections, we have sent out perhaps two million e-mails expressing our sorrow, sympathy and support for our neighbours to the south.”

Included in the e-mail was this intro by Peter himself:

Proud to be U.S.’s neighbour

“We at Nygård are proud to be your neighbour and your best friends. We are appreciative of everything that the United States of America has done for this world. There has never in the history of mankind been another country like America. Yet for this unparalleled kindness, the American people have had to pay the ultimate price.”

During the call Peter added that his present campaign in support of the U.S. is his way of helping keep the issue alive and in our thoughts so that as many people as possible will help America “stay the course,” as he put it. At the bottom of a poster Nygård International is distributing world wide he spells out in capital letters: “WE STAND WITH AMERICA – WE WILL NOT TOLERATE TERRORISM.”

Admirable. Now, again, it may be the full moon, but I’d swear Peter wrapped up our conversation with the following, “Great talking to you, Laurie. Listen, any time you might need a little escape, feel free to visit my island home in the Caribbean.  I am honoured to leave it and anything else I have, at your disposal."

I’m sure that’s what he said.

So, now, along with being jealous of everything else the oh-so-successful Mr. Nygård has, I have a new one to add to the list.

Flag envy.

Ah, well, if it’s meant to be, someday I’ll erect the grandest pole of all, from which I’ll fly a flag larger than all of Peter’s sewn together. And you folks out there can help me achieve that goal, by giving me that ten grand I was talking about earlier in the column. That other well-known envy is almost unbearable.

Nevertheless, applause to Peter and the staff of all his companies for having the courage to so publicly state their disgust of terrorism, and their staunch support of our American neighbours during their time of crisis.

Inspiring.

Thanks again for the use of the “island home,” Peter. And if you’ve still got the Excalibur floating around, I wouldn’t mind taking that for a cruise either.

Cheers.