This is a post that I’ve written. Pretty self explanatory. What may not be; however, is that it is a response to the media conglomerates that are well respected in journalism. Not only USA today, but the BBC and CNN have also called the Vancouver Olympics some pretty nasty things. Media is getting increasingly negative and uneducated, for ratings and show rather than quality of journalism. I cover this in my response here below:
Only when the world gathers together can people’s true colours come out. — And whether they are red, white and blue or not, does that give any media correspondent the right to take their own podiums and critique something so well done as the opening ceremonies and compare it to those of another country? What troubles me is that interpretation and negativity are strikingly different, and having grown up Canadian my entire life, negativity is frowned upon.
Comparing one country to another when both are entirely different, in a negative and degrading context, is un-respectable. It lacks the unity and brotherly kindness that the world united under when all the countries marched into one room cheering each other on.
Our opening ceremonies were about us Canadians, just as Beijings were about them. It gives the world a chance to learn something about the country they are viewing through their televisions and hearing on their radios across the world for 17 days. Education. Something media is not handing out often enough these days. We have praries, powerful orcas, cultural diversity like Ashley MacIsaac, and say please between slam poems. We wanted you to know it at the ceremonies because it makes us Canadians who we are.
Now, aside from the big hair and poor french accent of Mr. Furlong, let’s call the ceremonies something other than horrible compared when to the past. Let’s call them educational at the least, and creative at the most. If you were to talk of the skating delays and poverty, or cancellation of tickets I may speak another story.
The world no longer needs to see impressive permanent structures and a ridiculous use of resources, but the different colours and sounds that express a world of difference, and hope for change towards better ways. It was our time to express that. For highly respected writers in journalism to complain about the opening ceremony is sad. To use the death of an incredible, young athlete, and blame Canada for being unfair, is callous. That young man ran the course 20 times prior to his accident, may he rest in peace.
Something else we have seemed to lose with our advancements in media and technology are manners. Let’s play nice. Do not elbow my fellow snowboarder, it’s not sportsmanlike. In these days of crumbling consumption and selfish ways, we must all try to do our best with what we have been given. This means allowing others to do the best they can as well.
We must not get in their way, become jealous, or hate our neighbours next door.
We must also remember to fund the artistic soul of Canada, rather than treating it
like nothing more than a tourist attraction.
Nicole Kornelson
Oh yes, and subtextmag will be going into it’s second issue near the end of march 2010.
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