[Rant]
What I think I enjoyed most about the weekend aside from meeting and having a blast with everyone was that there wasn't all this political / patirotic support our troops / support the war effort / Media clips of Bush etc etc that dominates things here in the States.
Not that I don't support the troops but I'm against the war and obviously against Bush. But in the US it's all shoved in our faces everyday.
I went to our fireworks downtown last night and this is basically how it started ...
Welcome to Red White and Boom (TM) Brought to you by NBC Channel 4
(Yes our local TV station trademarks this as Red White and Boom and other TV stations and Radio are not allowd to call it that, only downtown fireworks)
Now please tune your radios into 97.1 The River (Clear Channel Station) and please rise for our national anthem sung by Atlantic Records RecordingArtist Country Superstar Leena McBride (or whoever)
I was in the middle of a conversation with a friend (like minded friend) and we were about to stand when some lady in front of us yelled at her kids in a hickish Brandeen way: "The National Anthem is playing stand up!!"
At which point me and my friend looked at each and just stayed sitting which got us some dirty looks (Partly because I was wearing my Canada shirt and Hat as well
)
So the Anthem starts and it's all drawn out and overly exxagerated.
OOOoOOOOOooOo SAy can you SeeeeEEEEeeeeEEEE
BIIIIiiiiIIIIIiii the Dawns early LIIIiiiiIIIiiiGGghhhTTTT
*Cut to 5 minutes later*
Annndd the rockets RED GLARRRRRRREEEE
*Another 5 minutes goes by*
And the home of the Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave
Followed by hooting and hollerin and yee haws *Insert Texas Oil guy from the Simpsons shooting his guns off in the air here*
"Gah, finally that's over with"
And the fireworks begin with some Classical Music in the backround at first which was all fine and well.
Then the fireworks and radio paused for a minute and one of those Patriotic mashes came on synchronized to the fireworks:
[Country singer] Well when I was a little boy ...
*Cut to a President Bush clip*
[Bush] Today my fellow Americuns (Emphisas on the 'uns')
[Country singer] My dadddy told me ...
[Bush] We have found the meaning of what it means to be patriotic
"That's it I'm outta here!!"
Now when I was in Canada I didn't have any of that.
I saw one single Billboard that asked to support the Candian Troops over seas and that was about it.
Here in the States everyone is all kinda stuck up and boastfull about the Naitonal Anthem and talking about our freedoms and all that stuff.
In Canada everyone was just happy, jovial and celebratory.
No overproduced overexaterated productions of Oh Canada
(Although maybe a few drunken versoins
)
It's important and all to know the histories of how your country came to be wether it's the US Canada or Poland but it doesn't need to be shoved in your face.
I know 3 days isn't enough to induce everything there is to know about Canadian culture. But for the 3 days I was up there everyone (Even aside from our group) was very friendly and celebratory there was no power tripping chest beating I'm more important than you because I support my president and I support the war and I have a son in the war etc etc.
Here in the States it's kind of a me frist then you attitude.
*Sigh*
I'll miss you Canada
*Proceeds to roll up into the fetal position and cries*
[/Rant]
