Delusion-Elle

It's the start of a glorious two-week break which means I have time to bitch and moan on the internet (namely my blog) as well as work on some writing.
And as much as I can bitch about how much Canadian stuff sucks in comparison to (some) American products/markets/bands/entertainment/patriotism/gusto/etc., I actually do house a fiercely Canadian girl inside.  It's just easier for me (and what I think would be less annoying) to be a grump about everything.  Besides, I only have so much energy to fangirl about things.

The biggest excitement in the city at this point is the 2010 Winter Olympics.  I realize that I haven't said much about them, but that's really because I've been censoring myself.  I have to say that I am not a big fan or support of the Olympic games.  Generally, I do support the athletes and what they've worked for -- who can't admire dedication, sweat, blood, and tears? -- however, I am none too pleased by the how disruptive its been and, to channel my parents' very vocal complaints, the siphoning of tax dollars to increasingly expensive Olympic-related matters.  Sure, you can argue that I have ridiculous reasons, but in some way, don't we all?  I could give you a string of asinine examples featuring jelly donuts and seagulls, but I won't.  Really, I suppose if we were to project the blame (oh snap! Psyc 102 lesson right here), it would be directed at my somewhat New Age hippie parents.  Both of them are strongly against where their tax dollars are going.  And as I am a first born (oh ho ho, another Psyc 102 lesson), it was rather inevitable that I would pick up my parents' beliefs.  I'm not saying that my parents would punish me for thinking otherwise, but rather that they have presented their arguments, backed them up with emotional facts, and coupled with the fact that I was rather neutral initially, only steered me in one direction.

So what was the point of this?
I suppose it's mostly an Olympic rant post.

I'll start with the opening ceremony aired tonight last night.  Personally, I would have given it a 7/10 and the first comment I can think of is "it was very Canadian".  The hydraulic lift's failure was a disappointment, but I think that they worked it out.  What I thought was lacking was an accurate portrayal of what Canada actually is and what being Canadian means.  Where was the hockey?  Where were the fur traders?  Where was the current day multiculturalism?  I fully acknowledge the Aboriginal segments and I do think that they certainly had a place in this ceremony, but that is only a part of Canadian history and culture.  The rest of the acts ranged in interest from 'mildly interesting' to 'awesome, sweet, I want shoes like that' to 'I like Classical opera enough, but not this woman' so I can't say that I wasn't amused.  However, there really felt to me like something was missing.  I loved the maple leaf formation, I loved the fiddling (reminded me of a whole side of Canada that I generally neglect mentally), and I loved k.d. lang's rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" (though I fear it was just added to some bitch-music-connoisseur's music library... more on her another time).  I somehow saw the relevance in all these things and, in general, most of the acts that made up the night's program.  What I think was missing was a current picture of Canada.  We have so many different types of people of all colours, shapes, and sizes.  All I really can recall seeing tonight were Caucasian folks, Aboriginal people, and the occasional Asian playing the fiddle.  Really, that and the hydraulic lift were my main disappointments, otherwise the entire ceremony was very typical of Canada: nothing that blows you away, nothing extreme, but something pleasant with a few 'oh cool' points.

Another thing I'd like to touch on regarding the opening ceremony was the comparison which arose concerning Beijing's Summer Olympix opening ceremony and ours.  Honestly, it is not truly possible to compare the two fairly.  Beijing is not Vancouver, and China is not Canada, no matter how many Asian faces you pass while walking on Victoria Drive (oh yeah, I totally just went there).  China had things to prove to the world.  Canada... not so much.  We are a peaceful nation (in comparison to many others) and we are not know for being extreme in any which way.  In this sense, our opening ceremony reflected Canada very accurately.

Okay. And now I'm too tired to post more Olympic rant thoughts so this will have to do for tonight.
In the end, before you blindly point out everything wrong with what I just typed (given my fatigue, there's probably a lot), I just want to say this: I support the Olympic athletes and their cause.  I support their friends and family who believe in them.  But I do not support how VANOC has handled the situation.  I mean really, is it so necessary to close the viaducts so many days prior to the start of the games?  Really?

Or maybe I'm just empathizing with all the wrong people.