The Lousypoet

So I find myself on the fence in regards to the Olympics. Following Twitter and friends on Facebook, you’d think Canada had found the cure for cancer during the opening ceremonies. Sentiments such as, “I’ve never been prouder to be Canadian” were fairly common. Though I did get a laugh out of the few people who pointed out the particularly phallic nature of the large ice sculptures.

Similar sentiments of national pride erupted when Alexandre Bilodeau won the first Canadian gold medal on native soil.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand feelings of national pride. I’ve even felt similar feelings as I’ve watched the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team destroy every team they’ve faced. But there needs to be some perspective here. Being proud of your countrymen and their accomplishments is admirable. Being proud that we are hosting these games and that in spite of Mother Nature’s lack of cooperation, the events are still taking place is a perfectly fine feeling. But to have these games and any of their results be a source of your greatest sense of pride in your country? That seems to ignore the numerous accomplishments this young nation has managed.

When I first saw the poem by Shane Koyczan performed at the Olympic opening ceremonies, I had what is probably the typical Canadian response, which was, “should we really be bragging?” But after the outpouring of national pride over medals, I gave this poem a closer listen. I realised, that this is in so many ways why we should be proud. And does the poem contain a single “proudest moment?” No. Which is as it should be. No nation, not one that seeks to grow, learn, explore, and be more than it was yesterday, should have any one proudest moment. It should have a string of events and accomplishments that weave a tapestry of pride and joy.

You know what makes me proud when I watch the Olympics? That the stands are filled with people wearing Canadian flags, who shout and cheer when our nation does well, and all of them are different colours, ethnicities and backgrounds. It is a testament to our nation’s ability to take the numerous and disparate and create a country united. We don’t always get things right, and there’s always going to be someone that has to ruin the party, but in general, we are making strides that the world as a whole is failing at. In most major Canadian cities, there are Mosques, Christian churches, Synagogues, Hindu temples and all other manner of religious houses, all within walking distance. Do we have jihads every day? No. So if Canada can make it work on a local scale, perhaps there is hope for an international model.

The Olympic Games are just that, games. Whether we win or lose, means nothing to the greatness of our nation, or the superiority or inferiority of any other nation. There is skill, but there is also luck involved. Be proud when the home town team is doing well, but when they lose, admit that we got beat fair and move on with life. Don’t forget that pride though, because there are so many other things to attach it to; accomplishments realised and in progress that deserve to ignite our patriotic flame. Canadians do patriotism so badly. We really need to work on that….

Recently, I find myself looking southward to our American neighbours, with a bit of envy.

Certainly, there is much that I am happy with here in Canada. I’m glad our economy hasn’t completely tanked, I’m glad our government stayed clear of the Iraq war, I’m glad our nation has universal healthcare. There is a lot to be proud of in Canada, and to not feel too envious of the position of the US. However, there is something that I envy about the United States. It is their passion and the passion of their leaders.

On November 4th, the United States of America elected their 44th president. What was monumental about it, was that not only is their president-elect a man of colour, but that unlike the previous election, that was very much about sticking with what you know, this time around Americans overwhelmingly voted to change the course of their country. They voted for a man who is advocating change; a man whose passion and conviction is powerful, palpable, and contagious. As I sat and watched the rapture of that massive crowd as Obama made his acceptance speech, something in me went a little green.

In Canada, our politicians always seem so reserved. Even when they are trying to express their love for our country, they come across as having read the lines from a teleprompter instead of feeling them from the heart. Perhaps this is because we don’t have the same fierce nationalist pride of the Americans. Perhaps our reserved and quiet appreciation of our nation doesn’t lend itself to a fiery passion in our leaders. Or maybe it’s just that we are all so stuck in the status quo that we feel no need for a national revolution like that in the States. Perhaps our leaders feel that they shouldn’t speak out too loudly for fear they jar us calm, reserved Canadians; which, I think, is pure and utter bull shit.

The fact is our nation is in need of a great leader. While we like to think our country is great, the fact is we are a splintered, fractured nation that needs great leadership to truly unite us. Canada is a wonderful nation in its diversity, but that diversity seems more to drive wedges between us than to unite us in a celebration of our differences. The West feels bitter towards Central Canada, the East Coast feels often abandoned and under-appreciated. And then there is the province of Quebec that all too regularly wants its own desires to be put ahead of others and even talks all too easily about separation from the Canadian nation. Where is the leader that creates such a compelling vision for the nation that it unites the country? Where is the leader that the majority of us can feel great pride as we send that leader out into the world to represent us? When will the day come that a leader delivers a speech so rousing that I thank God that he/she is our Prime Minister?

I suppose maybe our system isn’t set up to inspire such a thing. After all, we do not vote for our Prime Minister, we vote for the party that we wish to form the ruling party and whoever is the leader of that party becomes Prime Minister. So it is possible that despite how great a leader might seem, he/she may not be elected because of the party they represent. But I think that if a party had a truly inspiring leader, a leader who could effectively deliver a vision of Canada that united the nation, that party would win.

Taking a look at the most recent Canadian election, none of the leaders could effectively convey their vision for where to take Canada. The Conservatives proposed a stay the course response, and while other parties discussed some different paths to pursue, I don’t think any truly connected with Canada as a whole and the leaders just seemed incapable of capturing the nation. When it comes down to it, our leaders seem more like lawyers and academics than they do “leaders.” Which I suppose is appropriate because I think most of them come from legal or academic backgrounds; which isn’t to say a great lawyer couldn’t be the leader I envision. It just seems that Canada lacks the ability to turn out a truly strong, charismatic leader that will operate for the benefit of Canadians.

And that’s the problem we seem to have. Our leaders get into office, and while they may do some good things for Canadians, they then do crappy backroom deals that bring disgrace to their parties, or become so protectionist that there is no longer any transparency. Also, why does it seem to be the intent of the Federal party to dump as many responsibilities as possible on the provinces? Why is healthcare a provincial jurisdiction when it is a Canadian, national, philosophy that healthcare being available to all people of our nation? How can a country be governed effectively and universal standards applied if the nation’s major tenets are fractured across the individual provinces?

I’m wandering a bit, I know. But I do love my country. I do want a leader who can be as passionate, visionary and charismatic as Obama. I do want to feel all Canadian people are united and emboldened by a vision for a glorious future for our nation. I want to see Canada be on the forefront of things like renewable energy, peace making agendas and healthcare research. I want to hear a Canadian politician speak and feel pride, instead of bitterness and apathy.

I’ve been told by more than one person that an Obama would never work in Canada. That our fractured nation would reject such a strong nationalist leader and that Canadians are just generally unprepared for such passion from their leadership. And perhaps that’s because things have been too good for too long. The rest of the world is falling into turmoil, but our nation appears generally well prepared. Our healthcare has problems, but it is still better than what most countries have. We need to be shaken. We need to wake up. We need to realise that we could play such a larger part in the world if we would just embrace it.

So, to my American neighbours, I say congratulations. I pray that your new president is able to deliver on the great promise he has shown thus far. While I would be envious to see you resurrect Camelot and gain new and great prosperity, I will not begrudge you it. You deserve it for taking a chance on change. I can only wish Canada had the same opportunity.