"Look! Look at those funny little Canadians in their funny little hats trying to be good at sports!"

[elly427]

This is likely only interesting to Canadians, because we are likely the only ones who care what the rest of the world thinks of us, but I found this article by Slate columnist (and Canadian) Dahlia Lithwick facinating and exactly what I want to say on the whole 'Own the Podium' kerfuffle.

Might it Possibly Be Okay if We Kick Some Ass? Why the world finds Canada's quest for Olympic gold strange and adorable.

The negative international reaction to the idea of Own the Podium has been puzzling to me. Don't all countries want to win at the Olympics, especially when it's home soil? Apparently we haven't actually limited access to any of the venues any more than any other Olympic host.

"Someday, someone is going to explain to me why it is that journalists so frequently speak about Canadians as though we are all about 2 feet tall and 7 years old."

Comments

[canadiangirl-86.livejournal.com]

Ah! Great article. Thanks for the link. :)

That speed skating relay today was so exciting, eh? ;)

[elly427.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome! I've maybe emailed it to a bazillion people.

Man, I'm finding EVERYTHING exciting. Even cross country skiing, which, while great, is not a constant nail biter.

[http://users.livejournal.com/wisteria_/]

Very good points there, and Lithwick's article is great. I don't remember much of what she said (I read it at work this morning) but I suppose the whole thing is that, as she says, the international perception of Canada is the modesty, and this turns that on its tail. Not at all fair, of course, but there it is. Hmph! Go win everything you can get, in my opinion!

I liked what Bob Costas said about it during the opening ceremonies. Something like, "We welcome you. We're glad you're here. We wish you all the best, and we hope to kick your ass." (He meant it in a complimentary way. ;)

[elly427.livejournal.com]

Yes! Exactly! She says something to the effect of the narravtive everyone wants to tell about Canada is we are self-effacing losers (like, people who choke, not lame) and suddenly we want to win, and now everyone is like "well, if Canada wants to win, what good is left in the world?" Sigh.

(Your icon!)

[greycoupon.livejournal.com]

Dear Elly, I am watching the local NBC affiliate reporter reporting from the games and, while discussing CTV covering criticism from "professional olympic critics", that they are the the only television network in Canada. I had no idea.

[elly427.livejournal.com]

Grey! We actualy have several networks! Like, CTV and CBC and Global are the main three, but we have other channels too! And we get all the American stations too! I swear! I have a full complement of TV channels to watch!

Oh, America. Atlanta is very far away from us, so I will give them that.

[greycoupon.livejournal.com]

Like that nifty Space channel that shows actual scifi?

Even if he was trying to say the only network that does news reporting it was still absurd. Far away or not, a news reporter not familiar with the CBC?

I'll have to watch tonight to see what new stupid he can bring. They also tied it into the 1996 games that we hosted and complaints at the time they were terrible and poorly managed and how 14 years later no one still says that. Fair enough. Then we got a neato report about what happened to old Olympic venues. Amazingly, Centenial Olympic Park? Still in the same spot!

[indigo419.livejournal.com]

We aren't in fact hapless and adorable.

LOL. For the record, Elly - I have never thought of you as hapless. ;0P But your interest in BSG and SG-1 (A?)... I always knew there was world domination afoot! *g* /silly *hugs*

[elly427.livejournal.com]

Is it the porn that takes away my haplessness? I bet it's the porn. I am still adorable, thought, right? Hee!

(Oh man, you Americans will learn to love hockey when we take over. Love and respect.)

[indigo419.livejournal.com]

I am still adorable, thought, right?

Terminally, darling. Terminally. *smooches*

(Oh man, you Americans will learn to love hockey when we take over. Love and respect.)

This calls for a new icon: "Canadians are the new overlords." Perhaps with a Vancouver Cylon as cover model. (see? World domination.) Hee!

[karma-aster.livejournal.com]

Screw that. I'm totally cheering Canada on in the Olympics. They produce some damn good athletes and they absolutely can compete (and WIN!) at an Olympic level. Why on earth shouldn't they seek to own the podium?

Yeah, most of the Canadians I know are nice, but that's possibly because most of the Canadians I know are also my friends.

But, damn, of course you can be kind and polite and nice and still kick ass. Why is anyone shocked at Canadians mastering that art?

[all-shine-on.livejournal.com]

I think it might be more that...we're saying it out loud? I mean, in Canada we always know we want to win and we compete very well! We were 3rd in Turin I believe. It's just this idea that we are going to say it and actually invest in it aggressively. I think it's really intriguing how we see ourselves vs. how the world sees us and I've actually gotten into a few online scuffles over similar issues since the Olympics began.

[cheekygal.livejournal.com]

I adore the icon -- my aunt sent a pair of those mittens to each of my children, and they ADORE them. I'm left wishing she'd sent a slightly bigger pair, because with the fleece-lined inside, they are so warm!

And I kind of have to cheer on Canada, seeing as my cousin is competing for them in 5 of the long track speed skating events.

What does crack me up is that here in the much more southern state of Kentucky, we've had more snow lately!