posted on August 14, 2004 05:28:23 PM
I was watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last night when the teams were entering the arena. When the Canadian team entered, the NBC announcer said something like... Nicolas Gill was chosen to represent Canada and carry the Canadian flag.. but he had said that he would prefer to carry the Fleur de lis ( spelling?) the Quebec Province flag, as he is a Separatist..
Please don't quote me, I am still not sure that I heard him correctly. But, if I did..does this make any sense? Why would Canada choose Mr.Gill to represent Canada and carry the Canadian flag, if he is a Separatist? If he supports the break up of Canada and the independence of his province, to me that makes him a traitor to Canada..am I not seeing this correctly? Did anyone else happen to hear this last night? If there are Canadians who post here, can you explain? Thanks. Dr.do
posted on August 14, 2004 06:00:15 PM
You heard correctly. I assume in the spirit of the Olympics Nicholas Gil (a great athlete) put his personal feelings aside (as did Canada) and carried the flag for all of his fellow Canadians.
posted on August 14, 2004 06:11:57 PM
Dave.. I don't get it.... Did Canada know that he was a Separatist before he was chosen? Surely not? It just doesn't compute.. why am I not getting this? He wants Quebec to separate from the rest of Canada. But he is proud to Carry the Canadian flag to represent Canada..although he states he would prefer to be carrying the Quebec flag...
Canada knows he is a Separatist.. but chooses him to represent the country of Canada... Okay.. time for some two buck chuck.. Drdo
posted on August 14, 2004 06:19:57 PM
He is proud to carry the flag representing the people of Canada. Not French Canadians and not English speaking Canadians but all Canadians. He put aside his personal believes in the spirit of a non political Olympics. There is no hypocrisy involved.
posted on August 14, 2004 06:28:05 PM
Okay Dave, I will take your word for it.. but I still can't understand it. How can he be proud to carry the flag for Canada if he really doesn't want to be part of Canada.. and how can Canada choose someone who says they don't want to be part of Canada to represent the Country.. Okay.. so I am a hard head..LOL.. thanks for your reply. Drdo
posted on August 14, 2004 09:01:36 PM
Not unusual at all. Lots of those athletes are only nominal citizens, or not citizens of the countries they represent at all. Notice the American former NBA coach marching in with the Chinese roundball team? It's fun to watch. I enjoyed the men's saber fencing today and some of the soccer, but since they started allowing professional athletes to compete, it just hasn't been the same...That's entertainment!!!
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Beware the man of one book.
- Thomas Aquinas
posted on August 14, 2004 10:18:53 PM
Hi Prof.. I am enjoying the Olympics.. but I prefer the Winter Olympics more.
I understand what you are saying Prof.. but.. and I always seem to have a but..
this isn't quite the same thing.
This fellow was born and raised in Canada but along with his fellow French-Canadians from the Quebec Province has declared his sovereignty to Quebec rather than to Canada.
Just imagine if it was say.. the state of Louisiana..who demanded that their official language from now on is French.. and that the rest of the USA would have to officially make both English and French the official languages of our country.. everything from our courts to our advertising and everything in-between must be in both languages.
Then Louisiana decides that they no longer want to be part of the US.. and in each election they vote to separate.. what do you think the reaction of the US would be? It just boggles my mind, when I try and figure out how this has happened to Canada.. 10 provinces, one of which has a French majority, and yet that one dictates to the rest of the country.. and Canada for some strange reason, seems to cave in to their demands.
Anyway, when I heard what the announcer said about this fellow.. a Separatist.. who would rather be carrying the flag of Quebec..I had to wonder if I was hearing things.. Canada should have chosen someone who was Proud to be a Canadian.. why am I not seeing this like you all are? Drdo..
