The most surprising thing to me about the victory of the People’s Glorious Skate Brigade would have to be just how many Team Canada members live in Toronto - almost all of them on College St. to boot. And they flew back here immediately after the game (before its ultimate resolution, in fact) just to spread the word. That shows spunk. And hustle. And… lack of respect for space-time.
“WE WON!” shout revelers in Little Italy. “WE WON!”
No, listen. The Olympic hockey match you just watched was in Vancouver. You and I are in Toronto. What you propose is impossible. That was some science I just did, there. Free of charge. No, don’t thank me. The fact that you didn’t vomit on my shoes is thanks enough.
I find all this Olympic revelry to be a fascinating study in cognitive dissonance. Canadian government’s approval of torture? Not our problem! Public money subsidizing the tar sands? We have better things to worry about! Genocide of First Nations people? In the past! It wasn’t us! Let it go! Gold medal in hockey? EVERY CANADIAN DID THIS WE ARE ALL THE BEST I AM JOINED IN SYRUPY ORGIASTIC UNITY WITH THE NATION STATE OF CANADAAAAAHHH OH MY GOD IT’S NEIL YOUNG I THINK
Look, while we’re all in A Mood, there are a great number of other things I also didn’t do which I would love to be getting public credit for right now regardless - and, honestly, some things I didn’t do but really should have, for which I might be able to use a little absolution. I’m not above the forgiveness of strangers.
What I’m saying is that I love the idea of all of us going out in to the street and meeting eachother. I just think I’d like it if we could stop shouting. And I must add: I think I might not want us to go back inside - at least, not until we’ve figured out a way to stop doing whatever it is we’ve been doing every day that makes us need such frantic cacophonic fantasy so badly every night.
What I’m saying is that I love the idea of all of us going out in to the street and being happy. I just think I’d like it if first we could all go out own up to also being rather sad. I think the latter will make the former ring so much more true. And I know that sounds simplistic. But so does everything you’re shouting right now - and honestly unless you start shouting poetry, I’d really like to just get some sleep.
