One would think that with the sluggish U.S. economy, Americans would be happy that a national retailer was pulling people in for heavy-duty shopping, even from across the border, but that is not the case in Bellingham, Washington. The town, whose population is close to 81,000, has caused an international stir because some of its residents put up an anti-Canadian Facebook page.
The Facebook page, called “Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans,” was airing some dirty laundry about America’s long struggle with intolerance and xenophobia. Supporters of the page complained that Canadian shoppers were making it difficult for Americans to get through Costco’s notoriously long lines and that the neighbors to the north were rude and couldn’t park. Others complained that Canadians were buying too much of everything, and members of the group had begun referring to Canadians as “milk piranhas.” Costco, of course, made its name by selling too much stuff to folks with a penchant for buying in large quantities. The xenophobic Facebook page’s description read as follows:
“You all been there. its [sic] hard to find a parking spot. Them Canadians can be rude. The lines are crazy. We aren’t on a vacation and have an RV to hang out in like those Canadians. We just want to go shopping, not go on an adventure. Costco used to have special opening hours for preferred customers. Why cant [sic] they do that for us loyal American customers?”
The page, which acquired thousands of Likes, was taken down this month. Many Americans across the country breathe a sigh of relief.
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