Saturday, February 20, 2010

Thoughts on Patriotism


It's been interesting watching the city fill with visitors from all over the world in the last week or so. It's incredible to be walking amongst the people and seeing the street awash with red and white and everyone sporting the maple leaf. National pride is at an all-time high.




It's also been interesting being bashed by the foreign press for being too polite-for using please and thank you, for smiling and being helpful. I find it funny. That's not something we're doing special for the duration of these Games-it's who we are, it's what we do. It's the Canadian way. Some have taken offense at the comments made, but I look at it this way: If the worst thing they can say about us is that we are well-mannered and kind, then I'm proud of that. I'll happily wear that badge.





As Canadians, we've always been quietly patriotic. We've never felt the need to shout it from the rooftops-we just know in our hearts that we're great. Now the rest of the world knows it too.



*Day 8 posted tomorrow. I am scrambling to catch up!

1 comment:

Jennifer R.D. said...

Hi there,
As an American, I watched the opening ceremonies and was blown away! I want to visit Canada and think it is beautiful. How ridiculous to criticize anyone for being polite! I have the idea that Canadians are calm and understated. I know that is probably a stereotype just as all Americans aren't loud and obnoxious LOL!
I say, Go Canada- the Olympics rock and so does your country!
Jen from California