Entry #688955, added on 02-28-10 @ 10:55 pm EST
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| flip-flopper, eh | Entry #688955 |
A few entries back I wrote about how I wasn't going to watch the Olympics. I said that I thought it was a political event rather than one which celebrates true athleticism, or something to that effect, and I meant it at the time, still do to some degree. But, things happen. Like Joannie Rochette, for instance. How can one not be inspired by this woman? She loses her mother to a heart attack, days before she's meant to compete in the female figure skating event, and she still managed to perform, not only finishing her program, but garnering a bronze? I mean, come on, even the coldest heart surely thawed a little when watching the girl finish her skate. That is what strength is about.
Then, today. Hockey fever was everywhere, and though I'm not much of a hockey fan, usually, I am somewhat of a bandwagoner. I will hop on when things progress to a higher level, like Stanley Cup playoffs, or in today's case, the gold medal game between Canada and the U.S. I clapped and I roared and I 'yessss-ed!', which is not my usual way. You see, Canadians have a reputation for being ridiculously polite and subdued, particularly when compared to our neighbours to the south who are generally more vocal, but this doesn't mean we don't have backbone or enthusiasm. On the the contrary, we're not to be crossed. We are fighters, but we choose to fight for peace rather than for causes no one understands or believes in. We are competitive, but we know how to lose graciously. We tolerate arrogance and laugh about it to ourselves because we know there's no point in talking to walls. We quietly go on with things without ruffling feathers, because we've learned that all feather ruffling does is diminish the respect of those we seek allegiance with. We don't go around talking about how great we are, usually, because the rest of the world seems to be aware of it already, and why be braggarts? We mess up, but we'll own up to it, and we're okay with people falsely assuming we're the wimpy little brother of North America. We don't care about it, really, because things here are just fine, and we live longer, can get sick without going bankrupt, and have a pretty good educational system. We aren't socialists, and we aren't simpletons. We are committed to fairness and we choose to tolerate, rather than challenge, those who know nothing about us. It sometimes bugs us, but then, at the end of the day, we have good beer and there's usually a game on. We have a sense of humour about ourselves and are usually in on the joke. We allow others to have a laugh at our expense because we're decent sports, but we never forget. We remember, trust.
I don't fit in with the stereotypical Canadian female. I hate winter, have never played hockey and have only consumed one beer in my life (what I imagined donkey urine to taste like, incidently). I can be loud, opinionated and I have been known to pout when I don't win. I have bristled at the lack of angry passion in my country over the years, but with time and maturity, have come to realize that what makes us different is that we are passionate about things, just not in a needlessly aggressive way. I like that about us. I have never seen a moose but I probably say 'eh' more than I'm aware of. It used to embarrass me, but now I realize that this is just something we have brought down through the years from our Irish and Scottish ancestors. I have grown into my patriotism slowly, like it were a sweater knitted by a favourite aunt, and only now have I really come to appreciate where I'm from. I am grateful to be from a country that I consider to be the best in the world. Every Canadian I know thinks this way, even if you don't usually hear us talk about it.
So, it was about patriotism as much as it was about sportsmanship, these Olympics we just had. It was refreshing and invigorating and it made me tear up with pride. It wasn't necessarily about the medals, either, but rather the infectious delight one feels when their team does well. It becomes important and life-giving. It turns you into a roaring fan.
I didn't watch much of the Olympics, but what I did watch inspired me and made me love the country outside my door that much more. Maybe that seems trite, but I don't care. There are things we need to fix like any other country, but I like us, I really do.
You should come visit.
P.S- Sorry about Nickelback. Most of us feel badly about them.
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