Doesn't Take Away the Sting...

Gil Lebreton's words still sting.

The fact that an (assumed) educated person could ever think that comparing a nation and their flag to that of the swastika and Nazi Germany was a good idea is still completely beyond me.

But he did offer a more sincere apology (certainly more sincere than his first stab anyways where he apologized for offending Canadians, but not for comparing our patriotism to that of the Nazis) to his columns to Don Braid of the Calgary Herald... the article can be found online.

I gotta give Don kudos though... I don't think, no matter what he said that I could never "like" Gil. To get Gil's side of the story meant approaching a sensitive topic with a grace unlike no other.

It really is the Canadian way though.

Oh... Canada

Why?

Why do we have to mess with something that we beautifully heard no less than 14 times at the Winter 2010 Olympics? Why?

Here is the current Canadian national anthem:

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

It is one mighty fine anthem, if I don't say so myself. Not to long, not to short... just perfect.

And now the Canadian government wants to go and change it.

WTF?

You mean we are going to actually spend real money to change the anthem? When we are fighting the end of a recession? When people still can't find work? When education and health care are getting cuts? When everything is getting cut?

Seriously?

I for one am an atheist - and I am all about keeping God in the anthem. I am also all for keeping the "sons command" in there... from what I can figure - the sons mean those that fought for us in war - and I am okay with that (yes - I know that there were women in non-fighting roles in the war - but back in the day it was generally the men that lost their lives for us). Don't mess with what works!!

Let's put our money into something a little more... how should I say this... useful, instead of trying to appease the minority that want it changed.

Poor Sportsmanship...

If you follow me on Twitter (especially during the Olympics) you will note that on numerous occasions I wanted to "stick it to the USA"...

These two articles by Star-Telegram reporter Gil Lebreton illustrate in part why I feel this way (the other part being I know that the USA is Canada's biggest competitor in many things, and like I cheer for the Canucks over the Flames, I cheer for Canada over the USA - call me crazy but I kind of like it when my own country wins)...

In these Olympics, Canadians only paid attention to Canada
Offending Canada wasn't intentional

It isn't that I hate Americans. I happen to like a great deal of them. But it is ignorant articles like the ones above that make my blood boil. I can't even respond to the articles. I can't... because I have decided to play the high road as a Canadian and let you decide for yourselves if you think these articles should even be thought of, little own actually written and published in a newspaper for all to see.

Cause you know... the Canadian flag looks just like a Nazi swastika. In fact, every time I see one I want to reach my arm out and shout "Heil Hitler". And of course... I didn't see a single American flag in the crowd - ever - because, you know - this was Canada's games and all we did was run around waving flags willy-nilly through the streets (I mean... not just when we won our Olympic record setting 14 gold medals). Just like of course I never saw an American flag in the crowd in Salt Lake or Atlanta - cause they were the "world's games" when they were there... and we know that all Americans cheered for every athlete equally - they didn't focus on their own. At all (okay... maybe that was me responding... but trust me - I didn't say what I really wanted to say... I contained myself).

End rant.

On a more positive note on Canada (to prove that I really just didn't look for a craptastic article) - check out NBC's Brian Williams' - not to be confused with CTV's Brian Williams - great article... Leaving Behind a Thank-You Note.

And as a follow-up... check out Dashiell Bennett's reply on deadspin.com - Sportswriter Gil LeBreton Compares Vancouver 2010 To Berlin 1936. Pretty much makes Gil look like an ass... don't they teach you to check your facts in journalism school?

David Letterman's "Top 10 Signs You Have Winter Olympics Withdrawl"

10. Will only eat your pancakes if arranged like Olympic rings

9. You exercise on Nordictrack with a rifle strapped to your back

8. You weep uncontrollably every time you see snow

7. Turned your closet into a "kiss and cry" area

6. Office manager says, "We're getting complaints about your speed skating body suit'

5. You're curling on your patio with a Swiffer and a fruit cake

4. Now only watch television if it's on a nine hour tape delay

3. Already purchased snacks for the 2014 Winter Olympics

2. Brushing your teeth involves an opening and closing ceremony

1. You sold your BMW and bought a bobsled

Let's just say that if I had a BMW, I would have totally traded it in for a bobsled. Totally.

Anyone Want to Get Me These??

The closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics was AWESOME (until we got to Nickelback... then it all went to crap)... it was a great play on all the Canadian stereotypes... I absolutely loved it.

Does anyone want to buy me one of these for my living room (and perhaps a living room big enough to put it in?)... thanks...

Notice the hockey players are wearing gold medals??

GOLD...

17 days... 14 gold... millions of amazing memories. Canada... you did me proud.

Where in the World is Quatchi? Day 10

This is the last post for my "Where in the World is Quatchi" contest... I will announce a winner early next week!

Check out this post for more on the "Where in the World is Quatchi?" contest.

If for some reason you can't comment on this post... feel free to tweet me your guess at @carmenincalgary.

Hey USA... How Do You Like These Apples?

* You can click on the picture to make it bigger.

Where in the World is Quatchi? Day 9

Check out this post for more on the "Where in the World is Quatchi?" contest.

If for some reason you can't comment on this post... feel free to tweet me your guess at @carmenincalgary.