The Olympic Opening Ceremonies

[CANADIEN]

I find it amazing that other visitors from the world love and cherish aboriginal culture except for the whining dumb rednecks in this country. Well when you think of it, it kind of makes sense since those whining dumb rednecks were the result of prison camps and losers who were sent here to build the railways then they became children of incest--the very whiners you see on forums like this

Thanks for reminding us that dumb people in this country are not all of the redneck variety.

[CANADIEN]

I think he was the only non Olympian. It's not a big deal to me but I have to wonder how much of it was Campbell looking to be in with the Hollywood crowd when his politicking days are over.

About 12000 people carried the torch through its journey across Canada. The Royal Bank even sponsored a program to encourage ordinary people to apply to be torchbearers. Many of the torchbearers were non-Olympians, but I wonder how many were non-Canadians.

[Smallc]

There was at least 4 non Canadians on the last day.

[Shady]

It did an excellent job of showing off our country from coast to coast to coast.

Yes, if their job was to convince the world that natives make up 80% of our population.

[Sir Bandelot]

I found the whole indian thing was hypocritical. As though we in Canada really care much about the indians and their culture at all. Most of them live in complete squalor, don't even running water or flush toilets. They live their lives completely destitute in their own filth, with no future. Canada atoned for Japanes internment but not for the abuses carried out on indian youth, mentally and physically in roman catholic detention camps. But hey, Haida ho. Dance you mofos.

[Smallc]

Canada atoned for Japanes internment but not for the abuses carried out on indian youth, mentally and physically in roman catholic detention camps.

I think you may have missed something that happened a couple of years ago.

[Smallc]

Yes, if their job was to convince the world that natives make up 80% of our population.

The show wasn't all about aboriginal people....and whether you like it or not, aboriginal people are a big part of Canada, its culture, and its history. Perhaps if you had actually bothered to watch, and not fast forwarded through the parts that offended your sensibilities, you would have seen that. It was a great show.

[Sir Bandelot]

I think you may have missed something that happened a couple of years ago.

They are still in the same situation.

People around the world see this fancy show and think, oh what a great country, look how they love their indians.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Sir Bandelot

[Argus]

del

Edited February 13, 2010 by Argus

[Argus]

The show wasn't all about aboriginal people....and whether you like it or not, aboriginal people are a big part of Canada, its culture, and its history.

Really? What part do they currently play? It seems to me the only part they play is that whenever we have some sort of international gathering we trot them out to perform like dancing bears, then shoo them back to the reservations. The only affect natives have in Canada today are on the welfare and crime rolls.

[CANADIEN]

Yes, if their job was to convince the world that natives make up 80% of our population.

Nobody in their right mind would have got that impression from the opening ceremony.

Edited February 13, 2010 by CANADIEN

[Sir Bandelot]

We know nothing about their culture and it means nothing to us. The only thing they are useful for at this stage is carving soapstone figures for 1 dollar, which get sold in a white mans souvenier shop on Sparks Street for 50 bucks.

And dancing on TV for our international guests.

I remember my very old Japanese friend just before he retired, told me he received $15,000 for the time when his family was interned.

In contrast that sad lip service given the natives was not any kind of restitution. They knew it too.

''The federal Government is insulting aboriginal people with this response,'' said Marilyn Buffalo, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada. Leaders representing the Inuit, as Eskimos are called here, were upset that forced relocations of their people were not mentioned. And the Metis, people of mixed Indian and European ancestry, said the Government's actions were insincere.

Indian leaders also pointed out that the compensation package is less than the $350 million that the Government acknowledged it wasted when it canceled a fleet of rescue helicopters. On Monday, it reordered essentially the same helicopters.

Link

$245 million for 1.3 million indians, comes out to about 180 bucks per person. Lot of good that will do. Might as well not pay it at all, just a waste of money.

Some might chime in and say, let the natives rise up off their knees on their own, which is another argument I don't need to get into here. But the hypocracy of the show is clear to me.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Sir Bandelot

[CANADIEN]

The show wasn't all about aboriginal people....and whether you like it or not, aboriginal people are a big part of Canada, its culture, and its history. Perhaps if you had actually bothered to watch, and not fast forwarded through the parts that offended your sensibilities, you would have seen that. It was a great show.

Well said.

[Guest American Woman]

$245 million for 1.3 million indians, comes out to about 180 bucks per person. Lot of good that will do. Might as well not pay it at all, just a waste of money.

Compare that to Arar's ten million and I see your point.

[jefferiah]

OH the horror... There were Indians... And a lesbian singer... And people speaking French... And a Black woman officially opened the Games... Anything else I'm missing here? Wouldn't want for any whiner to feel left out.

You are missing the point of what he was saying. He is not offended that there were natives or anything else. He was pointing out that a microscopic faction of the population had a large part to play in the entire thing. I don't think this particularly offends anyone. Or that anyone feels left out by it or is really complaining. I think it actually just looks kinda cheesy after a certain point. It smacks of "trying to look" enlightened and cultural and tolerant, as does your criticism of this persons forum post, as if you are the hero for calling someone out on something.

Edited February 13, 2010 by jefferiah

[capricorn]

It smacks of "trying to look" enlightened and cultural and tolerant,

All countries performing for the world embellish their culture and history to be seen in the best light and dodge criticism. It's the folks at home that know the truth behind the facade.

[jefferiah]

$245 million for 1.3 million indians, comes out to about 180 bucks per person. Lot of good that will do. Might as well not pay it at all, just a waste of money.

If that's how you feel about it you should do something about it. No one can visit their conscience on someone else. Open your own wallet.

Edited February 13, 2010 by jefferiah

[CANADIEN]

We know nothing about their culture and it means nothing to us. The only thing they are useful for at this stage is carving soapstone figures for 1 dollar, which get sold in a white mans souvenier shop on Sparks Street for 50 bucks )...).

And dancing on TV for our international guests.Some might chime in and say, let the natives rise up off their knees on their own, which is another argument I don't need to get into here. But the hypocracy of the show is clear to me.

I for one found the First Nations part of the show cliched, when their was a good opportunity to showcase roday's Aboriginal cultures.

But what should have we done? Hide them as to not sound hypocritical?

[wyly]

About 12000 people carried the torch through its journey across Canada. The Royal Bank even sponsored a program to encourage ordinary people to apply to be torchbearers. Many of the torchbearers were non-Olympians, but I wonder how many were non-Canadians.

there was an Argentinean swimmer near the beginning, an American skier, Arnold Austrian/American, Eddy "The Eagle"...probably many more we don't know about...

[Sir Bandelot]

There is opposition to the Olympics amongst indigenous people and their supporters. A group from the Seton band known as the Statimc of Sutikalh fear the Olympics will once again bring unwanted tourism and real estate sales to their territory. On another front, local aboriginal people as well as Canadian Inuit expressed concern over the choice of an inukshuk as the symbol of the Games, with some Inuit leaders such as former Nunavut Commissioner Peter Irniq stating that the inukshuk is a culturally important symbol to them. He said that the "Inuit never build inuksuit with head, legs and arms. One chief, Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, said that the design lacked dignity, comparing it to Pac-Man. Edward John, Grand Chief of the First Nations Summit, said some native leaders were so upset about the issue they were prepared to walk out of the unveiling ceremony.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Winter_Olympics#Concerns_and_controversies

I am told this is why the indians were given so much airplay, in atonement for the Inukshuk logo. Also, the Harper gvernment wanted to be able to control the content of the ceremony, and the reasons are now quite clear. He certainly didn't seem pleased about it.

Vancouver Olympic controversies do not end there. It includes the criminalization and internment of the homeless, and the destruction of the environment is considered to be possibly the worst ever.

Edited February 13, 2010 by Sir Bandelot

[CANADIEN]

(...)the Harper gvernment wanted to be able to control the content of the ceremony, and the reasons are now quite clear. He certainly didn't seem pleased about it.

See everyone... there was something good about the Opening Ceremony after all.

[Wilber]

About 12000 people carried the torch through its journey across Canada. The Royal Bank even sponsored a program to encourage ordinary people to apply to be torchbearers. Many of the torchbearers were non-Olympians, but I wonder how many were non-Canadians.

I would say the vast majority were non Olympians but how many were non Canadian non Olympians? Just wondering, like I said it isn't a big deal to me.

[Oleg Bach]

The black opera singer was a disgrace - I have met a female black opera performer . She resents the fact that she does not have the opportunity to be a pop singer and truely enjoy her talent. Instead she is sponsored by rich status seeking white people - who rigorously train the black singer like a race horse - the tones emited from the throat of the Olympian black deva sound like notes being squeezed out of the throat of a capture bird - The hands doing the throttling were white privledged hands - hands that contribute to the careers of dead artists and composers - artists that are compliant and controlable - There was no spirit in coming from the black afro haired singer - just a bit leaked through and the rest made artless and classless billionares feel cultured - which they are not.

[Wilber]

[

quote name='Sir Bandelot' date='13 February 2010 - 04:12 PM' timestamp='1266104678' post='509553]

Vancouver Olympic controversies do not end there. It includes the criminalization and internment of the homeless, and the destruction of the environment is considered to be possibly the worst ever.

Ya right.

Downtown Eastside

•As of September 30, 2009, there are approximately 26,500 units of subsidized housing in the City of Vancouver funded by the provincial government through a variety of programs.

•The Province currently provides more than $30 million annually to subsidize over 7,000 units of social and supportive housing, managed by non-profit societies, housing co-ops or BC Housing in the DTES.

•A further 317 units of supportive housing in the DTES will be opening in the next few years – 117 units at the Doorways of Hope, and 200 units at the Woodward’s site.

•Additionally, the Province is investing in approximately 1,400 long-term, supportive housing units on 14 sites owned by the City of Vancouver, several of which are located in the DTES.

•To date, the Province has purchased 24 Vancouver single room occupancy hotels, protecting approximately 1,480 units of affordable housing (including 1,280 in the DTES) for people in greatest need.

I wonder how many of those SRO hotels would have been bought or the Woodwards site built without the Olympics comming to town.

[Oleg Bach]

[

Ya right.

I wonder how many of those SRO hotels would have been bought or the Woodwards site built without the Olympics comming to town.

Each city can build what they want and take care of the people that need care - IF there is the will to do so..and the a real benevolent attitude - the attitude is bad and there is no will. Whats with the wash of morbid blue lights at the opening of the Olympics?