Could it be that they are the first ones I can remember that have successfully instilled (or resurrected) some sense of national pride in the majority of Canadians?  I’ve always been a nationalist.  I suppose that is one of the reasons that kept me wearing an Army uniform for 20-plus years.  Ask our boy how many folks we’ve talked to about the condition of their flag flying out front of their home or business.  He even continues my peculiar habit by doing the same when he sees a Canadian flag in tatters.  Wears the flag, has “Made in Canada” tattooed on his butt, and is strangely fascinated by beavers.  But it really seems to me like the population is far more into being a Canadian than they ever were in the past.  Could the media have finally done something good for a change?  Hard to believe but it is a possibility.

Perhaps my interest has something to do with the “Own the Podium” programme?  I’m not a fan of the government shelling out big cash to keep attractive kids entertained, but some aspect of it seems to have worked.  Could it be a parallel to the growing interest in the Arts in Canada and the fact that being an Artist or Artisan is no longer akin to being a dental floss rancher?  Perhaps it is, either directly or indirectly.  In any case it’s a good thing… however the name is a tad on the pretentious side, don’t ya think?  Did anyone consider “Do way better than we ever did in the past on the podium” when they were brainstorming a few years back?  Wait a sec… Unless we have to send the actual podium back to Olympic Headquarters than we in fact do “own” it, don’t we?  Whose name is on the bottom?  Everybody puts their name on the bottom of something they make, don’t they?  Or did the podium come in the ready to use Winter-Olympics-In-A-Box kit that has to be returned next Monday in the original packaging?

No matter what the reason, I’m pretty happy about our current third place in the overall medal standings.  I’ve watched some hockey (we never watch hockey) and some curling (normally reserved for when I can’t sleep), and even some skating that I’m sure is WAY more difficult than it looks.  We’ve watched people who appear sane head face-first down an icy chute and not scare themselves out of 10 years of growth, and we even watched a woman from PEI and her sporting partner win a gold medal in a bobsleigh.  How about that?

Here’s the question though… will we all go back to our complacent “normal” once all the flag waving is over?  Will the nation’s focus return to the trivialities of our federal government and how even an elected politician (as opposed to a senator) can’t help themselves but shout profanity in public places like the Charlottetown Airport?  I sure hope not.

In the mean time, I’ll be at my wheel…