Oh Canada!

Read our blog post "How will Canadas glory affect Stephen Harpers political fortunes?" on TVO.org: http://bit.ly/bFIlJg

What does our Olympic performance, and how we reacted to it, say about our vision of Canada?

Guests:

Rudyard Griffiths is co-founder of the Dominion Institute, and the author of Who We Are: A Citizen's Manifesto.

Margaret Wente is a columnist for The Globe and Mail and author of You Cant Say That in Canada.

Pier Giorgio Di Cicco is principal of Municipal Mind Urban Consultancy, and is Toronto's former poet laureate.

Jan Wong is a journalist and author in Toronto. Her latest book, Out of the Blue: a Memoir of Loss, Recovery, Renewal and, Yes, Happiness, will be published by Doubleday in fall 2010. Her other non-fiction books include Red China Blues: My Long March from Mao to Now and Beijing Confidential: A Tale of Comrades Lost and Found. In 1972, she became the first Canadian to study in China during the Cultural Revolution.

Drew Hayden Taylor is a playwright, journalist, stand-up comic and author. His latest book is Motorcycles & Sweetgrass: A Novel. He is Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nations in Ontario.

Terry Gitersos is currently completing a PhD in sport history at the School of Kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario. His thesis is on NHL hockey and Quebec nationalism in the 1980s. He has a masters degree in history from DeMontfort University in the United Kimgdom and a B.A. in History and Political Science from McGill University.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Canada
• Olympics
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• Patriotism
• Nationalism
• Canadian
• Identity
• Sports
• TVO
• TVOntario
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• Steve
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• current
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[sarah11790]

haha that Asian lady just takes every chance to burn the USA. I love how Canadians are always comparing themselves with the USA- why don't you just try being Canada? We're not always comparing ourselves to you. I met some Canadians here in the Netherlands and once they found out I was American, they were immediately less friendly. That's weird I think- and it really does make Canada look like they have an inferiority complex. I would really like Canada if they weren't so ridiculous.

[cloudofworship]

sorry but these guys are ded dull and have no clue what they are talking about. they are of the old canada, and they know not hope. I still believe in the power of you and I. i dont believe it was over the top. it was under the top, and i believe my generation is one of a new normal. sorry old dudes, but we are strong, proud, and we dreem big. so please stop with the doubt, and let us fly already. we have a lot to offer, and it takes a bold confadent people to be a giveing nation

[MrBloc7]

patricia wente is dillusional. she was bred by an affluent family in the United States and she makes these ludicrous and unbased statements attacking the U.S. all while blindly and imprudently marching behind the Canadian flag. she can thank the USA for all the good things Canada,and herself, have experienced

[ralphyization]

@nubbs Now, you';re just trying to make us (anglophones) , feel bad?? Really, now... Canadians are Canadiennes.!! FFS! I as an Anglophone, actually, DO know how to sing my anthem in both languages, even though, I'm NOT bilingual. I DO try, however... Thus, I am feeling a little "hurt", that you think, they wouldn't know how to sing our anthem in English(Anglais)......Joannie Rochette made me cry BIG TIME!! My mom died last year, so I can relate!

[GrifterUno]

If you are counting medals, then the spirit of the Olympics are lost!!!. What about the poor countries that only send a few athletes...To them, Is it about a Human beings trying to get to the top of our capabilities or Rich countries in Penis measuring contest. Sad state of affairs that shows how are we evolving as a planet!!!...tsk, tsk, tsk...

[nubbs]

surprised no one mentioned the cringe inducing fact that so many of our gold medals were won by french canadians who had to listen to their anthem sung in english

no one sang the anthem in french, not once. not even the mixed version

i just felt so embarrased for those french canadian athletes who clearly wanted to sing their anthem, but couldn't sing it in english

if a french canadian wins gold, sing the damn anthem in french. and if you dont know it in french, shame on you