God Bless America at Jays Game

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: Hester
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 05:57 PM

Paul S. wrote:

>>>I am embarrassed for the behaviour of my government. Historically, Canada has always been right there to support the US and Britain, but this doesn't seem to be the case anymore. <<<

I often hear this argument lately, but, um ... hello? ... what about Vietnam? We absolutely did NOT support the United States in that war. Or have you forgotten?

Hester ... a Canadian who wants nothing to do with Bush's war-mongering and is glad that ol' Chretien refused to participate in an illegal war. He's shown an amazing amount of backbone for a fence-sitting wishy-washy Liberal. After doing basically dick-all for 40 years, he finally made a good decision.

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 06:04 PM

I had forgotten that Spaw. And the tacky set with the giant moon. As to your nightmare...SIGH! poor lady fought her weight problem her whole life and was abused for it. Crappy agent screwed her over too.

I remember the Lenny Bruce line too and some family members being disgusted at the question. I was too little to dare to ask for an answer.

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 10:33 PM

They want to play "God Bless America" during the seventh inning strech in the Great American Game (which was invented in Canada) then between the second and third period of every hockey game I suggest that "The Maple Leaf Forever" be played to support a truely Canadian game full of Canadian players.

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 10:43 PM

Okay fine.

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 01:05 AM

Oh no, Ron, NOT fine!

In days of yore
From Britain's shore,
Wolfe the dauntless hero came
And planted firm Britannia's flag
On Canada's fair domain!

The maple leaf, our emblem dear,
The maple leaf forever!
God save us all, and heaven bless
The maple leaf forever!!

Ewww!

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: *daylia*
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 07:39 AM

Well maybe a song about maple syrup would please everyone. 'Tis the season, too! I'll try to tap into one today ... ;)

kendall, Joe - thanks for the article. I'm wondering whose words those are, kendall?

And I'd like to remember the Canadian soldiers who were killed in Iraq during the last week or so - a 21yr old who'd joined the US Marines while living with his mother in the States, and one of the Canadian soldiers on exchange with the US military.

Thanks for the link re Canada and the Iranian hostages, JtS.

daylia

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: *daylia*
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 07:43 AM

Oops, those thanks to kendall, Joe and JtS belong on another thread - sorry bout that!

It's alright to remember the Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq here as well, though.

Peace - daylia

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: Hester
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 10:28 AM

Hi, Daylia:

Let's not forget the Canadian humanitarian worker who lost his life in Iraq this week. Vatche Arslanian, who was working for the International Red Cross, was caught in the crossfire and killed:

CBC report

Now, his was a Canadian contribution to be proud of!

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: *daylia*
Date: 11 Apr 03 - 06:54 PM

Thanks, Hester.

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: *daylia*
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 10:55 AM

Okay I've tapped into the poetic, spiritual nature of Maple Syrup and found this wonderful piece of writing in Jan Carlsson-Bull's sermon "What's Left". I post it here for your sweet'n'sticky pleasure, remembering that maple syrup is truly a shared "Ameri-Can" blessing ...


"Maple syrup is a "sacred residue" that takes a lot of time and labor and fiscal outlay to produce. Yet it all starts as liquid called to life in a tree. Maple syrup is the sweet residue of a long process, not unlike what we might experience at year's end, not unlike that "distilled sweetness" entering the heart in Seamus Heaney's "… Dream of Solstice."

"Like somebody who sees things when he's dreaming
And after the dream lives with the aftermath
Of what he felt, no other trace remaining.

So I live now, for what I saw departs
And is almost lost, although a distilled sweetness
Still drops from it into my inner heart.

The distilled sweetness, the sacred residue, is what's left after it all."

May this year's "sacred residue" be sweet indeed, on both sides of the border, despite all the bitterness of the last few months!

Peace - daylia

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 11:42 AM

GWB has now "postponed" his May 5th trip to Canada, citing Canada's war stance; the so-called "final straw" was Canada's refusal to turn over to the US any Iraqis they happen to pick up on their warships patrolling the Gulf. Instead, the Canadians will turn them over to an international tribunal.

Not to be too unpleasant, but GWB seems to vacillate between petulance and smirking, doesn't he?

Given America's blatant contravention of the Geneva Convention at Guantanamo (sp?), I can't imagine why anyone would turn prisoners of war over to the US.

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 11:50 AM

I think he's going to Denmark instead since they contributed a submarine and he was told that the Danes would sing GBA during the 7th inning stretch.........if they had a 7th inning stretch............if they had a game against a US team................if they had a baseball team.........

Ain't this thread about crapped out?

Spaw

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: GUEST,pdc
Date: 12 Apr 03 - 01:12 PM

Hey, Spaw, aren't we all?

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: Cluin
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 04:11 AM

Probably, but I was just wondering how many Canadians even know the words to "God Bless America". I don't. Hell, I'm not even sure I know the proper currently-authorized words to "Oh Canada" anymore, since they've been changed a few times (and definitely not the ones en Francais).

And as a performing musician, I know how hard it is to get a Canuck audience to sing along to any song, even when they know the friggin' words. Any kind of audience participation is uncommon. They'd be lucky even to get the boos.   ;)

Interesting article, pdc, but a bit too long-winded and preachy for my tastes. Cripes, how many scabs do they wanna pick anyway?

Subject: RE: God Bless America at Jays Game
From: *daylia*
Date: 13 Apr 03 - 08:47 AM

Cluin - last night I watched the opening ceremonies in Vancouver before the Canucks played the St. Louis Blues. There was a lot of cheering during the "The Star-Spangled Banner" (which was a relief), but even more heartwarming was when the singer (who was that tenor with the golden voice!) fell silent during the second verse of "O Canada". The crowd carried on a cappella with rising enthusiasm, and by the end of the anthem the whole stadium was on it's feet resounding with cheers.
They certainly knew the words, anyway!

The solemn respect given to both anthems by the players themselves was good to see as well - some looked like they were at prayer even. Not a bad idea, on either side of the border!

Watching that, I couldn't help but think that the NHL might have something to teach MLB re the expression of patriotism at sporting events!

daylia