O, Canada!

If I weren’t an American, I’d want to be a Canadian. I used to think I’d want to be an Aussie, or a Kiwi. But the past fortnight has brought home to me just what wonderful neighbors we have to the north. I’ve been privileged to count Canadians among my friends for many years; I’m now proud of that fact. One of the reasons I am proud of my friendships with Canadians is, ironically, their swelling pride in their own country and nationality.

That pride has been there, subdued—almost hidden—for many years. You only need to hear the words to their national anthem to know it:¹

True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

And from the French lyrics:

Thy history is an epic
Of the most brilliant exploits.

Yesterday, that growing pride burst forth in full bloom. Sixty thousand fans in Vancouver’s Canada Hockey Place were certainly proud, as the best hockey game in the last thirty years went to sudden-victory overtime after a plucky American team–not even considered a threat for any medal, by many experts–pulled their goalkeeper with 80 seconds remaining in the contest. Almost unbelievably, that strategy paid off after the most explosive American scorer of the Olympic tournament, Zach Parise (himself the son of a former National Hockey League player, J. P. Parise—a Canadian) scored the improbable tying goal with only 24.4 seconds remaining in the third and final period of regulation play.

And a little over seven minutes into the 20-minute extra period, the newest superstar in Canadian hockey (even before the Olympic Games!), Sidney Crosby, took a desperation pass from a teammate and fired in the direction of the American goal. With Destiny guiding the puck, it went under the pads of the most outstanding player of the Olympic tourney, American goalie Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres. An impossible shot, impossible to defend…and suddenly Canada had won the Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey.

I can only imagine the pure joy among the Canadians, but I think I can imagine it fairly well: I remember very clearly when the US “Miracle on Ice” occurred at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. A scruffy, scrappy bunch of college kids, barely out of their teens, beat the Soviet hockey juggernaut that had been playing together longer than some of the American players had been out of diapers. The gold medal game against an outstanding team from Finland two nights later was an anticlimax. (In fact, many Americans incorrectly believe the game against the USSR was the gold medal game.) I’d have given a lot to have been in Vancouver last night, if for no other reason than to drink a lot of beer!

That pride, together with the uniquely Canadian ability to not take themselves too seriously (we Americans could learn a lot from our northern neighbors on that score!) was also quite evident throughout the closing ceremonies last night. “We know you peed in the snow!” and “Hello, I’m Bill” and “Hello, I’m Mike.” I couldn’t tell behind Michael J. Fox’s glasses, but I have no doubt that Mr. Shatner was a bit teary-eyed, and deservedly so. In fact, if there was a dry Canadian eye in the house, I can only suspect a medical condition. Hell, I was choking up!

Canada’s uncharacteristic Olympic goal was to “Own the Podium”: Garner more medals than any other country. Uncharacteristic, because Canada is not a “me first” or “Canada first” society. (The sometimes-fractious relationship between native French speakers and native English speakers is a testament to that.) However, I believe (and hope) Canadian nationalism is busting out all over. Canada and its people have much to be proud of, and I don’t think national pride (not jingoism) is a sin at all. Let the record show that while Canada finished third in overall medal count, they not only owned the Gold podium, they set a record for gold medals in a Winter Olympics. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer people.

Canadians are self-effacing and polite, even apologetic, almost to a fault. One of my best friends is a Canadian guild-mate. I once thought that her thanking guildies for helping in a dungeon run or with a quest was a character flaw, especially when she’d thank them when we started, a couple times through the run, and a couple more times afterwards. But no more: I know now that she is simply one embodiment of her national character, and I like and admire her the more for it.

Recently, Kat has been given more responsibility in our 25-man raid. At first she was hesitant, but she’s come out of her shell, and is, dare I say, proud of the part she’s playing in our mounting success as a guild. But even when she’s directing our ranged combatants in raids, she is unfailingly polite: Every single order she gives ends with a very clear “Thank you!”

So, Canada, be proud! You’ve earned the right to be, and not just because of a hockey game, or a wonderful two-week Olympic party, but because you are a wonderful people, in a wonderful country, and we Americans are blessed to be able to call you “neighbor.”

O Canada, we stand and clap for thee!