Before people start giving me a taste of my own medicine, let me begin with a disclaimer:
I, Phatteus, in writing this post, mean no disrespect to the honest and hardworking people of Montreal, nor to the proud and vibrant peoples of Canada. I respect Canada and Canadians for their static and colorful culture, as well as their many contributions to world Economics and the prosperity of peace and justice in the world. The RCMPs totally kick ass, despite the fact that they use cars now, and Ottowa is one of the most beautiful cities in North America.
That said, I am completely and utterly disgusted with a small portion of the Canadian public. As some of you may know, I am a serious hockey fan. I live and breathe hockey, and this time of year is like Christmas for me, because it's Playof Season.
One of the more interesting series has been Montreal versus Boston. The Canadiens versus the Bruins. This is one of the oldest rivalries in North American Sports, and it's wonderful to see the fans get into such a heated game. I am not one to shy away from name calling or genuine anger during a hockey game. To me, hockey is the closest thing I have to organized religion. But something happened early in the series that to me is unforgiveable.
Before the game, being a game between a US team and a Canadian team in Canada, the US national anthem was played 1st. Half the crowd "boo"ed during the entirety of the US national anthem.
Now, I'm not going to play my martyr card here. I'm not going to call anyone "anti-American" or "evil" or anything else. I am simply going to call them Disrespectful. A nation's national anthem, be it the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, Iraq, Iran, anywhere, is an anthem that demands respect. People have fought and died and continue to lay down their lives for their nation's anthem. To disrespect a country's national anthem is to disrespect her people.
I would like to think that these people in Montreal were booing and hissing in protest to their bitter rivals The Boston Bruins. I personally would have waited until the color presentation was over... but then, I have something called class.
I, Phatteus, in writing this post, mean no disrespect to the honest and hardworking people of Montreal, nor to the proud and vibrant peoples of Canada. I respect Canada and Canadians for their static and colorful culture, as well as their many contributions to world Economics and the prosperity of peace and justice in the world. The RCMPs totally kick ass, despite the fact that they use cars now, and Ottowa is one of the most beautiful cities in North America.
That said, I am completely and utterly disgusted with a small portion of the Canadian public. As some of you may know, I am a serious hockey fan. I live and breathe hockey, and this time of year is like Christmas for me, because it's Playof Season.
One of the more interesting series has been Montreal versus Boston. The Canadiens versus the Bruins. This is one of the oldest rivalries in North American Sports, and it's wonderful to see the fans get into such a heated game. I am not one to shy away from name calling or genuine anger during a hockey game. To me, hockey is the closest thing I have to organized religion. But something happened early in the series that to me is unforgiveable.
Before the game, being a game between a US team and a Canadian team in Canada, the US national anthem was played 1st. Half the crowd "boo"ed during the entirety of the US national anthem.
Now, I'm not going to play my martyr card here. I'm not going to call anyone "anti-American" or "evil" or anything else. I am simply going to call them Disrespectful. A nation's national anthem, be it the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, Iraq, Iran, anywhere, is an anthem that demands respect. People have fought and died and continue to lay down their lives for their nation's anthem. To disrespect a country's national anthem is to disrespect her people.
I would like to think that these people in Montreal were booing and hissing in protest to their bitter rivals The Boston Bruins. I personally would have waited until the color presentation was over... but then, I have something called class.
