Canada, Multiculturalism & The World Cup

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 12:53 am

[moderator's note: this thread was split off from another thread discussing World Cup pubs...]

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What gets me as even stranger is this whole flag thing.......

Proud to be Portuguese? Fair enough.......fly the flag all year then, not every 4 years when it is convenient because "your country" made the world cup......

By the way, most of these people are CANADIAN citizens now, but don't seem to give a frig about Canada when world class sporting events are being ran.........and they typically make fun of Hockey too.... They always go back to "their country" even though they are happy to reap the benefits of living here. And I dare ask what if Canada made the world cup? Would they be rooting for Canada and "their country"? Sadly, it isn't likely? Vive Italia!..........I mean Canada.......after all I am Canadian........

What a farce.

cratez · Post by **cratez** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 2:08 am

SteelbackGuy wrote: What gets me as even stranger is this whole flag thing.......

Proud to be Portuguese? Fair enough.......fly the flag all year then, not every 4 years when it is convenient because "your country" made the world cup......

By the way, most of these people are CANADIAN citizens now, but don't seem to give a frig about Canada when world class sporting events are being ran.........and they typically make fun of Hockey too.... They always go back to "their country" even though they are happy to reap the benefits of living here. And I dare ask what if Canada made the world cup? Would they be rooting for Canada and "their country"? Sadly, it isn't likely? Vive Italia!..........I mean Canada.......after all I am Canadian........

What a farce.

*delete*

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 2:36 am

cratez wrote:
SteelbackGuy wrote: What gets me as even stranger is this whole flag thing.......

Proud to be Portuguese? Fair enough.......fly the flag all year then, not every 4 years when it is convenient because "your country" made the world cup......

By the way, most of these people are CANADIAN citizens now, but don't seem to give a frig about Canada when world class sporting events are being ran.........and they typically make fun of Hockey too.... They always go back to "their country" even though they are happy to reap the benefits of living here. And I dare ask what if Canada made the world cup? Would they be rooting for Canada and "their country"? Sadly, it isn't likely? Vive Italia!..........I mean Canada.......after all I am Canadian........

What a farce.
My main point is, multiculturalism is noble and worthwhile, but only if people are forced and encouraged to recognize, respect, and practice the cultural practices of CANADA, in addition to those of their country of origin.

* Waits for onslaught of liberals to call him intolerant *

And there we have it! Nail on the head!

Steve Beaumont · Post by **Steve Beaumont** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:19 am

This doesn't belong in a beer forum, but...

Sorry, lads, but you're way off. Think the Portuguese don't fly the flag year-round? They do. I used to live on the edge of little Portugal. Think those same people weren't glued to their televisions when Canada was playing in the Olympic hockey final? They were. Point of fact is that most immigrant families, especially first generation, are prouder of Canada and happier to be here and contribute to this country than are many, many seventh generation Canadians. And if you think that immigrants don't rise to the top of business and contribute to the economy of this nation, and give back in charitable giving in spades, well, my friends, you have simply been hiding under a rock for far too long.

Our model does work, which is why we are internationally respected and admired, even with the increasingly backward external policies of our current government. It's a big part of what makes me so proud to be a Canadian, and one married into an immigrant family, at that!

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:26 am

SteelbackGuy wrote: By the way, most of these people are CANADIAN citizens now, but don't seem to give a frig about Canada when world class sporting events are being ran.........and they typically make fun of Hockey too....

I would disagree:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... cmpid=rss1

And Italians LOVE Michael Cammalleri.

If you ever get the chance to go to a TFC match it's just about the most culturally diverse group of people you will ever see jammed into a stadium. And it's not like TFC are anywhere near on par with Real Madrid, Chelsea, etc., but the fans turn up and support the club.

cratez · Post by **cratez** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 4:30 pm

Steve Beaumont wrote: Sorry, lads, but you're way off...If you think that immigrants don't rise to the top of business and contribute to the economy of this nation, you have simply been hiding under a rock for far too long.

DELETE

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 5:33 pm

Steve Beaumont wrote:This doesn't belong in a beer forum, but...

Sorry, lads, but you're way off. Think the Portuguese don't fly the flag year-round? They do. I used to live on the edge of little Portugal. Think those same people weren't glued to their televisions when Canada was playing in the Olympic hockey final? They were. Point of fact is that most immigrant families, especially first generation, are prouder of Canada and happier to be here and contribute to this country than are many, many seventh generation Canadians. And if you think that immigrants don't rise to the top of business and contribute to the economy of this nation, and give back in charitable giving in spades, well, my friends, you have simply been hiding under a rock for far too long.

Our model does work, which is why we are internationally respected and admired, even with the increasingly backward external policies of our current government. It's a big part of what makes me so proud to be a Canadian, and one married into an immigrant family, at that!

Sorry Stephen, but I couldn't agree any less. my experiences have show me the complete opposite and it is what i firmy believe.

On topic (and sorry for getting off)- Go Ivory Coast!
My 3rd cousin's daughter's fiance is from the ivory Coast so that's my team I guess!!

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 7:01 pm

I want the Germans vs England in the final, Two World Wars, One World Cup let's make it Two Cups!!!!

If you take a look at the draw, it is impossible for England and Germany to meet in the final, as they are on the same side.

Torontoblue · Post by **Torontoblue** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:39 pm

midlife crisis wrote:
I want the Germans vs England in the final, Two World Wars, One World Cup let's make it Two Cups!!!!
If you take a look at the draw, it is impossible for England and Germany to meet in the final, as they are on the same side.

That's incorrect, Scott. They can meet in the final as long as they either both win or come 2nd in their group games, then they are on the path to meet in the final. Otherwise they'll meet in the last 16.

Philip1 · Post by **Philip1** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 10:20 pm

Our model does work, which is why we are internationally respected and admired,

Ha ha! No one outside of Canada ever thinks about this country. Even after the UK's hung parliament BBC Newsnight (that is on BBC2 each night) looked to Germany and Belgium for examples of other countries that did not have majority governments. Canada is totally invisible. New Zealand (population 4 million) has a greater profile in Europe than does Canada.

I'm from the UK and I laugh every time I hear some Canadian (always an OFFICIAL Canadian from the mass media) claim Canada is respected around the world for its multiculturalism. If anything foreigners are disappointed to find that Canada is just another boring homogenised multicultural society like the USA.

Steve Beaumont sounds like he does not have a passport and believes every thing he hears on TV. It also sounds like he has never read a single economic study regarding immigration and Canada.

It's a big part of what makes me so proud to be a Canadian, and one married into an immigrant family

In other words your opinion is based on emotion rather than intellect. Enough said.

By the way, most of these people are CANADIAN citizens now, but don't seem to give a frig about Canada when world class sporting events are being ran.........and they typically make fun of Hockey too.

The above quote is from SteelbackGuy and he is right.

I'm from the UK and I rarely associate with people born on Canada. (On gold medal day my basement was filled with Brits, Irish, and Italians cheering for the US. Some of them claimed they were sick of "Canadian nationalism" on TV). It is not that I have a problem with native-born Canadians (Honest.!) it is just that I rarely meet them outside of Sobey's or other places where I'm served by teenagers. Virtually everyone I come into contact with on a daily basis is European or Asian (Indian or Chinese). And I can tell you that virtually all of them look down on native-born Canadians and see them as hockey watching "rednecks". Chinese friends and workmates who know I'm an Anglo-Saxon just assume that because I'm from the UK and love F1 and soccer they can make jokes about "stupid Canadians" in my presence. (They don't realise I have some Canadian relatives).

lister · Post by **lister** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 6:49 am

What we're seeing here are the different experiences based on where we all live. I suspect that Philip1 does not live in Toronto where Mr Beaumonts experience much matches my own and Philip1's experience is completely foreign to me despite my ethnically diverse working and living situations. I do disagree though with the amount of international recognition that Canada gets, we get very little. I own a passport and I suspect Mr Beaumont does too given his reported travels.

Sick of Canadian nationalism? Really? Just at the Olympics or in general? Because in general we hardly have any nationalism here particularly compared to the USA and other countries around the world. If they were bitching about the Olympics then they're idiots because guess what? Ever host nation goes overboard with nationalism during the Olympics. DUH! It was actually kind of nice to see for a change.

As far as professional sports go, I make fun of them in this order: soccer, basketball, baseball/American football. Professional soccer is pathetic. Slow, long, boring, low scoring, HUGE field, wacky time keeping, no allowed contact, players who fall over dead at the slightest contact then get carted off by stretcher and then suddenly back on the field two minutes later like nothing happened just to draw a penalty. Pathetic sportsmanship!

What I've never understood is for immigrants who don't like or hate Canada so much, why are you still here? It seems you'd be much happier someplace else.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:15 am

Stand corrected.

zane9 · Post by **zane9** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:22 am

lister wrote:...Professional soccer is pathetic. Slow, long, boring, low scoring, HUGE field, wacky time keeping, no allowed contact, players who fall over dead at the slightest contact then get carted off by stretcher and then suddenly back on the field two minutes later like nothing happened just to draw a penalty. Pathetic sportsmanship!...

lister, your criticism of soccer is understandable given the antics of some players in years gone by. But this is now pretty much a stereotype.

If you want a slow, long, boring game...watch baseball: a sport with no clock!

(Mod, can this whole discussion be moved to Random Talk?)

Publican · Post by **Publican** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:34 am

cannondale wrote:
Publican wrote:What the hell is a German flag doing in a British style pub.
There was a south african flag of equal size and relative position in the bar as well. In fact, there were flags and scarves and such of all the countries in the world cup all over the pub.

The place was near empty, but the beer selection was as mentioned above, and the ones that I tried were in good shape.

Oh I see. I haven't been in the Twisted Kilt in months but the time I was there there was a Scottish bartender and I thought he may have put up the German flag to bug any English supporters that might turn up. Good to see that that's not the case

Sarge · Post by **Sarge** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:39 am

Duggans has set up two large TV's in the basement and is showing games.
It wasn't crowded Sat afternoon. One poor fellow was wearing an England shirt and I don't think there was enough beer in all the tanks to drown his sorrows after the US match.