Sports Venues: Last Bastions of Patriotism

Canadians are not the most patriotic bunch. One of the things I miss most about primary school was singing the national anthem every morning. This small, rather un-Canadian, act of patriotism taught me the words of "O Canada" and instilled in me a sense of belonging to something greater than myself.

Fast forward 13+ years and I find myself at times grappling with the definition of a "Canadian". Is a Canadian someone who was born in Canada? What if his/her parents are Canadian and they are born outside the country? Hockey player Dany Heatley for example.

Is a Canadian someone who passes the citizenship test and takes on Canadian citizenship a Canadian? What if they still celebrate the holidays of their home country and speak the language of their home country while ignoring the languages/holidays of Canada?

Can a Canadian be equally proud to be of two nations? My own self for example whereby my mother is Canadian but my father is from, and still resides in, his home country.

Is an Aboriginal a Canadian? Or are they Cree/Dene/Algonquin etc. first, and Canadian second?

All of these questions surface once you reach a certain point in your life and I really don't believe there are any simple answers to these questions.

What's interesting is that while it may seem we have lost our sense of patriotism in Canada (think back to the old WWII days, ticker tape, streamers, and Canada flags being thrown and waved at our soliders as they returned home from overseas), there still remains one bastion of patriotism in Canada: the sports venue. In other words, the hockey rink, the football field, the basketball arena.

These Oilers fans for example:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=meLpuF9UMvk

Or these Toronto FC supporters:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=OSlujzvCOq4&feature=related

Or everyone, it would seem, at this football match between France and England:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=3yrc9b0EXP0&feature=related

While patriotism may at times lead to nationalism, it is important that a nation forge and solidify a sense of "collectivity" for itself. This sense of collectivity is born of patriotism. Thus, whether in the classroom or at the hockey rink, may we continue to sing "O Canada".