So...
Yesterday a friend of mine asked, "Are you watching the game tonight?", to which I replied, "Is the Pope Catholic?"--which was returned with " Jewish actually...lol"
Canada vs. Russia--not exactly a David vs. Goliath battle but equally important game in hockey history (or so they say); the rivalry between these teams is unprecedented!
Yes, this game was 'the game of all games' to watch in this Olympic tournament. With Russia having arguably the best hockey player in the world in Ovechkin, and Canada's young "Sid-the-kid", it was sure to be a great game.
But where was I?
Well, here's where I say again, the Pope may not be Catholic and I may not be Canadian.
If you know me at all, or if you only know me a bit, you KNOW that I am a die-hard Canadian athlete/fan.Though ashamed of some things of Canadian history, and although I desire to live somewhere else (for a short time), overall I am VERY proud to be Canadian and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I'm not going to discuss this to the full-extent, because; like I said, you should know why I love Canada.
So what's my point?
Last night I took the unorthodox?....um...unethical?....unpatriotic?..sacreligious! decision, to miss the hockey game. Okay, so actually, I thought I would at least make it home in time to catch the last period. Instead I found myself on campus at Univeristy College in the Conron Hall. I, with a jam-packed room of people who also made the sacrifice even with fear of being harassed for not watching the game, were viewing a documentary called, 'Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance' --by Alanis Obomsawin
http://www.nfb.ca/film/kanehsatake_270_years_of_resistance/
This film, chronicling the 1990 Oka Crisis was incredible to view. Even more incredible to have Miss. Obomsawin present. The film documents the 1990 crisis when Native Americans of the Mohawk Nation blocked access to reserve land which was being appropriated against their will by the White community of Oka, Quebec, Canada. What this film shows is the initial incident and the resulting siege from the Mohawks point of view as an illustration how this is simply a result of resistance to 270 years of European racism pushing them around and leading up to this confrontation.
http://filmreferencelibrary.ca/index.asp?layid=44&csid1=83&navid=46
To know that this war was created with $155 million of federal spending is alarming. It is undoubtedly an event of high importance in Canadian history and that of Aboriginal history--one that has not ended.
Going into this viewing I was aware of (what I thought, was a great deal) about the Oka Crisis. Boy, was I wrong! I can't even express what it was like to watch 'inside' film-footage of the events that occurred. The honour, courage, the brutality, the breaking of human right's laws, and limited access to life's necessities.
I encourage you to check out this film, or bits and pieces of it that you can find. It was definitely an eye-opener to the 'behind the scenes' issues that happened and are still happening.
So, am I a bad Canadian for missing the 'history-making' hockey game? HELLLL NO!
Instead of watching this "history in the making", I decided to look more skeptically at an issue of our history that is NOW. I can watch a hockey game any day of the week and it TOO will be history. I think the current social issues (and other fields of study) are much more important than a hockey game.
So, in conclusion, (lol) I do not regret missing the hockey game for something I feel more passionate about. And YES I just said that. Yes, my nation of Canada, as a united people is more important to me than some quarter-final competition. ......well at least today (yesterday)
Again, I invite any discussion of this post either here, facebook, or even more welcoming face-to-face.
Peace!
Sun shining always,
Summer
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