I've been enjoying watching the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London, England all afternoon... I love the Queen and envy the Brits... they were all out in force to celebrate Her Majesty's reign... and they all pulled together as Brits and did it right. You could tell that this was a day... (actually a whole weekend) to be British through and through.... It kind of made me sad for Canadians...
As a patriotic Canadian I sometimes wonder, what do we have that pulls us together... a few celebrations on Canada day really don't cut it... you don't hear much about it and you are really lucky if you can participate in Canada Day celebrations. Canada day passes by each year and I wonder where it went, once it's past. 'What happened!"... is what I often think... oh sure there were a few mentions of fireworks in Ottawa and maybe if you are lucky there will be a local picnic and party and if you are really lucky you will have a rock concert in your community... but how does that make us more Canadian or feel close to our fellow countrymen...
Then there's hockey... but that just makes me want to laugh... I mean how can a violent game make us more Canadian... how does watching someone chase a small black disk around the ice make us fellow countrymen... half our hockey players are not even Canadian... most of them are hired Americans paid in American dollars... And the Canucks losing in Vancouver last year just tore that city apart... I'm sure that's not country building... or pride filling.
No I watch those celebrations in the UK and I am envious... Maybe it is because we are such a large country... maybe it's because we are such a diverse nation... maybe we are still trying to find an identity that we can all be a part of and proud of. But in the end I am amazed at how well the Jubilee celebrations came off and in the end the smiling face of the Queen said it all... how humbling it must be to have such and outpouring of love for a woman who has been committed to being the best representative of her country that she could possibly be. It's not about the money, it's not about the star power, it's not about the novelty... but what Elizabeth the II has brought to England is a central figure around which the British people can rally... she has worked diligently to support her government in their decisions... she has supported all sorts of charitable causes that benefit the British people, and she has provided the British people with an icon that reminds them of their common history. I wish her many years of health and happiness and and I wish her success in all to which she puts her hand. Congratulations on Her Majesty's 60th anniversary as the Queen of England.
Meanwhile I will continue to ruminate on what it means to be a Canadian... and hope that I can be that beautiful and spry when I'm 86 years old.
2 comments:
yes I agree the Queens 60 th was wondefull,God save the Queen. But realy you dishing my hockey !!!!!.Any one who,played hockey,on the pond, river or even on the street.Prayed to be playing in the nhl. The rough housing is called defending your honour. It is true that some get far to carried away. This is wrong.Still after everthing is said, Hockey Rules :D
You're entitled to your opinion... I just don't think hockey makes us Canadian.
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