BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics

Subject: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: 3refs
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 02:53 PM

Our National Anthem - at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
Please read and forward to as many Canadians you can think of – thank you.
WE ARE PROUD CANADIANS!!

Bruce Allen is on the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Committee and new Canadians (specifically Hindi's/Indian's) want him fired for his recent comments outlined below:
"I am sorry, but after hearing they want to sing the National Anthem in Hindi at the 2010 Olympics - enough is enough. Nowhere, or at no other time in our Nation's history, did they sing it in Italian, Japanese, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German, Portuguese, Greek, or any other language because of immigration. It was written in English, adapted into French, and should be sung word for word the way it was written".
The news broadcasts even gave the Hindi version translation - which was not even close to our National Anthem. I am not the least bit sorry if this offends ANYONE, this is MY COUNTRY and over our history, we've made many sacrifices for our country and do not feel we should feel obligated to allow invited people we've welcomed with open arms to influence & change our society to better resemble the one they chose to leave behind to come here!!!
I am not against immigration. In fact I believe we need more, my ancestors were immigrants, just come through like everyone else. Get a sponsor; a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your taxes, live by the Rules AND LEARN ONE OF THE TWO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES as all other immigrants have in the past -- and LONG LIVE CANADA!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: meself
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 03:07 PM

You're letting yourself get pretty worked up over this. A few things to consider:

1) Is there any truth at all in this report? Where did it come from?

2) According to this dubious report, Bruce Allen has not been fired, and the report says nothing about the likelihood of his being fired. Is there any reason to believe that anyone in a position to do so is considering firing him?

3)Speaking of what is "wanted" by a group as diverse as "new Canadians", even "(specifically Hindi's/Indian's)", is irresponsible in the extreme, and as far as I am concerned is racist - just as it is to say, "Aboriginals want ... ", "African-Canadians want ... ". These are not amorphous entities; they are vast numbers of individuals many of whom have little in common beyond some similar genetic material. So who exactly, if anyone, is calling for Bruce Allen to be fired?

4) The whole thing comes off as a simple-minded and nasty attempt to revive the kind of prejudice against south Asians that for some time was a black mark on this country of our hearts.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: 3refs
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 03:51 PM

Wednesday evening in Surrey, about 150 members of Metro Vancouver's Indo-Canadian community gathered at the Grand Taj Banquet Hall to air their grievances against Allen. More than 25 people spoke at the meeting, which was conducted mostly in Punjabi, although the English word "apology" peppered their comments.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:04 PM

WHOA!!!!   STOP!!!

Before we have anyone else going batshit on this one, PLEASE READ THE LINKED ARTICLE AT SNOPES!!

THE REAL DEAL AT SNOPES


Now why don't we all go play elsewhere huh?   Move along there Johnny......Nothing to see here......



Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: meself
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:14 PM

Okay, so we're getting some specifics, but there are still many unanswered questions - particularly as, to my understanding, the "Indo-Canadian community" of Vancouver is somewhat divided politically, and no doubt personally, and that's putting it mildly.

You mention "grievances", in the plural - what are the other "grievances"? Are some of them legitimate? Is this business of the national anthem, if it actually is a grievance, the main one?

What is the source, or a source, of this story? Does 150 mean 150, or was it really 75? Did "more than 25 people" actually speak at the meeting, or was it 20 people? Were they in agreement? How fair a representation of Vancouver's Indo-Canadian community were they (and, honestly, I don't think it makes sense to talk of one Indo-Cdn community in Vancouver).

Sorry, but I don't have much faith in most journalists.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: meself
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 04:26 PM

We cross-posted, 'spaw. Thanks for the Snopes link. I guess that settles it.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: bobad
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 05:14 PM

Typical racist bullshit, come on 3refs you should know better than that.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: meself
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 05:31 PM

But while we're on the subject, perhaps it's worth pointing out that, especially in BC, there are many people of south-Asian background who are by no means "new" Canadians, whose family roots in this country go back much further than those of many European-Canadians.

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: gnu
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 08:01 PM

I thought the crap was gonna stop? It's just not polite. Time to close this thread like Spaw said. Let it drop off the page.

Happy Canada Day eh!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 09:19 PM

The Canadian anthem was originally written in French, then loosely translated into English. The English was re-written by a Frenchman who used to sing it at Montreal hockey games. Go figure eh!
In any case we have two official languages, French and English. That is enough for the Olympics or the corn flakes boxes!

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: meself
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 11:36 PM

Was it at an NHL game last year that O Canada was sung in Cree? The nerve of those people, coming here and - wait a minute ...

Subject: RE: BS: 2010 Vancouver Olympics
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 10:18 PM

Hey, watch out! Haruo may invade with his esperantids!