I heard a wise elderly woman asked today if she could share in two words some important life-lesson she's learned. She said, "Don't wait."
Don't wait...
-- to get married
-- to lose weight
-- to have kids
-- for the kids to leave
-- for a better job
-- till you move
-- till you get older
-- till your health changes...
In other words, don't wait for things to be just right. They'll never be.
Life is difficult. But it is whatever you make of it. Choose to make the most of it. Don't wait. Love the life out of everyday.
- Slugdog
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
Patriotizing
Today is Canada Day, the 144th anniversary of the confederation of Canada. It is a birthday celebration --the birth of a country. I say it that way in contrast to Independence Day in the US, which is a celebration of Freedom and liberty from British oppression. It is a victory celebration. It is saying "We won!"
In my opinion the differences in origins results in different characteristics in the respective people's psyches. America and Americans are very concerned about winning and patriotism. Everything is about competing and competing is tied to patriotism. Winners are heroes. Heroes are winners. And everyone is overtly patriotic. The national obsession with sport evidences that. It is bred in from early school days where jocks are idolized and nerds are scorned. and sports and patriotism are blended in a seamless cultural tapestry.
In contrast to that, Canadians tend to have a more laid back approach to life. Maybe the cooler climate cools our passion. Jocks are not idolized. For the most part, sports heroes and even movie stars for that matter walk among us virtually unnoticed and unbothered. Their stories are not shot through with patriotic allusions of the underdog overcoming the stacked odds to win.
Which all leads to a my main thought. Although we love our country our patriotism is not worn on our sleeve nor is it mixed with our faith or other aspects of life as if to infuse them with energy derived from zealous patriotism. In other words, we don't dress something up in our flag in order to "patriotize" it. We let things stand or fall on their own merit. We don't dress things in our flag in order to use patriotism to sell them. We don't attach patriotic feelings to everything to elevate their sanctity or manipulate the masses.
Perhaps I'm thinking about this because in a few days hundreds of Americans on the cruise on which I leave tomorrow will be celebrating their Independence Day. And patriotism will be worn on the sleeves and on the backs as Americans dress up in their flag to celebrate the day. Things that normally have nothing to do with Independence will suddenly be transformed into patriotic expressions.
For a cool Canadian like me it's a bit much. But as much as I eschew the overt displays, I detest apathy even more.
- Slugdog
In my opinion the differences in origins results in different characteristics in the respective people's psyches. America and Americans are very concerned about winning and patriotism. Everything is about competing and competing is tied to patriotism. Winners are heroes. Heroes are winners. And everyone is overtly patriotic. The national obsession with sport evidences that. It is bred in from early school days where jocks are idolized and nerds are scorned. and sports and patriotism are blended in a seamless cultural tapestry.
In contrast to that, Canadians tend to have a more laid back approach to life. Maybe the cooler climate cools our passion. Jocks are not idolized. For the most part, sports heroes and even movie stars for that matter walk among us virtually unnoticed and unbothered. Their stories are not shot through with patriotic allusions of the underdog overcoming the stacked odds to win.
Which all leads to a my main thought. Although we love our country our patriotism is not worn on our sleeve nor is it mixed with our faith or other aspects of life as if to infuse them with energy derived from zealous patriotism. In other words, we don't dress something up in our flag in order to "patriotize" it. We let things stand or fall on their own merit. We don't dress things in our flag in order to use patriotism to sell them. We don't attach patriotic feelings to everything to elevate their sanctity or manipulate the masses.
Perhaps I'm thinking about this because in a few days hundreds of Americans on the cruise on which I leave tomorrow will be celebrating their Independence Day. And patriotism will be worn on the sleeves and on the backs as Americans dress up in their flag to celebrate the day. Things that normally have nothing to do with Independence will suddenly be transformed into patriotic expressions.
For a cool Canadian like me it's a bit much. But as much as I eschew the overt displays, I detest apathy even more.
- Slugdog
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