ending

The Closing Ceremonies were great! Surprising, creative and fun. I tuned in just to see Sam Sullivan, but ended up watching the whole thing, and enjoying it. (Except for the unbelievably frequent commercials. Maybe that's more at night, during the prime time re-broadcast.)

Sam was great, too. His international moment went off without a hitch, and just by being there, he's helped the cause. If I was proud and inspired to see him on that stage, can you even imagine how kids in wheelchairs feel when they see him?

Electing a mayor who has a serious physical disability - and not even making a fuss about it - is not something that could happen in too many cities, or countries, in the world.

You know, for most of my life I didn't use the flag of my country, not even on a postage stamp, and I didn't stand for the national anthem. I don't know what's happening to me, but I really dig the Maple Leaf. I even like hearing O Canada. You'll pardon my amazement. This national pride thing is really new to me.

Well, I had a relaxing and productive weekend, and - thanks to getting it out of my system this morning - I'm starting my work week sans anxiety. Just gonna take it as it comes.

I may not post tomorrow, but I have a special post planned for Tuesday.

Comments

  1. Genet26 February 2006 at 21:01

    The maple leaf really is a friendly symbol, isn't it? I suppose it doesn't have much baggage.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Genet26 February 2006 at 21:24

    Oh, and good luck tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. James Redekop27 February 2006 at 06:03

    (Except for the unbelievably frequent commercials. Maybe that's more at night, during the prime time re-broadcast.)

    I have no idea why they were so frequent, except maybe "These guys paid for a guaranteed X minutes of advertising during the Olympics and we're behind, so let's catch up now while we still can!"

    Sam was great, too. His international moment went off without a hitch, and just by being there, he's helped the cause.

    I loved his line about the irony of the Olympic flag being passed to the worst skier in Vancouver. :)

    I don't know what's happening to me, but I really dig the Maple Leaf.

    I was thinking about it the other day... Consider what you see on so many flags (other than stripes) -- most often stars, boasting about "glory", and often weapons, boasting about killing ability. (Who is it who has the AK-47 on their flag?) The Maple Leaf, on the other hand, is more along the lines of "we are who we are because of the biology of where we live" (and, by easy extension, geology and geography).

    I even like hearing O Canada.

    Well, how can you not like Ben Hepner's amazing voice? Though I was afraid he might blow the mike out. I was thinking that, unmiked, all the other singers in the ceremonies combined couldn't come close to matching Hepner's power.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Scott M.27 February 2006 at 06:18

    The live coverage of the closing ceremonies had NO commercials at all. If you want to see it uncut, it's on Channel 100 of Rogers (if you have a digital box) until March 28 and you can fast forward to your favourite parts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. barefoot hiker27 February 2006 at 17:41

    I think part of the ease you might be feeling with it is patriotism in Canada is... well, my sense is it's more voluntary here. When it exists, it's freely given. When it doesn't, well, you might not be popular, but I don't think you're treated like someone with horns growing out of her forehead like you might be elsewhere. I think it's precisely because we're so aware of the overawing, almost mandatory nature of American patriotism that we blush at the idea of being that overt about it here. When it does come to the surface, it seems genunine and unforced; it delights us (as perhaps you yourself realized) by its sudden presence and its transience... like a warm breeze in winter. So often, it's a treat, rather than an obligation.

    ReplyDelete
  6. laura k27 February 2006 at 18:13

    Yes, I really agree with all the above comments re flag, symbol, and patriotism. It's such a change for me, part of a new identity. Or maybe the same identity now relaxed and at home, instead of embattled.

    I'm glad to hear the closing ceremonies were run commercial-free. I do have digital cable with the free CBC on demand thingy, so maybe I'll watch Sam again, on the pretext of having Allan see him.

    ReplyDelete
  7. David Cho27 February 2006 at 23:43

    Laura, I get excited about a national anthem only if I have hots for a girl from another country. For example, I memorized the Australian anthem right after I learned Nicole Kidman's nationality. Hopefully it will pay off some day.

    Well, that is probably not the case with you and the Maple Leaf. But watch out if Alan gets a bit too excited about Oh Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wrye28 February 2006 at 13:52

    Goddamn. And here I was stuck moving all weekend. I wonder if Shaw cable has something similar.

    ReplyDelete
  9. laura k28 February 2006 at 17:12

    I hope it was a good move! Nicer place? More convenient? More space for boots at the door?

    ReplyDelete
  10. David Cho1 March 2006 at 21:40

    LOL! That's funny.

    ReplyDelete
  11. theduckthief3 March 2006 at 11:43

    Sam was great. I wondered how he would wave the flag but he pulled it off without any problems.

    The one thing about the Olympics that bothered me though was Canada's presentation for 2010.

    It just perpetuated all the old stereotypes people have about Canada. I mean, a guy in snowshoes driving a snowmobile that goes ice fishing?

    Vancouver rarely gets snow. People are out mowing lawns in February. How is it that the guys who put this presentation together got it so wrong? Personally, I don't think they've ever been to BC.

    ReplyDelete
  12. theduckthief4 March 2006 at 13:47

    Oh. It was my understanding that it was an invitation to Vancouver. The four First Nations tribes represented originally occupied the land where Vancouver is now and to me, that tied the presentation in with the city.

    ReplyDelete
  13. laura k4 March 2006 at 13:54

    Oh, maybe you're right. In that case, the ice fishing is a bit off!

    ReplyDelete

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