CAN-UH-DUH!

As a nation and a people, Canadians do not have an abundance of pride.

When the 2010 Olympics were announced for Vancouver, no matter what anyone may have said or heard, the excitement level was low. Spending a ridiculous amount of money on a gigantic money scam which would put the city and increase tax rates for all Canadians was not appealing.

Throughout the games I maintained this spirit until the very last day, when Canada beat the USA 3-2 in overtime.

I'm a huge hockey fan, I played it for nearly thirteen years and it's as much of a part of my childhood and growing up as my friends and family. I watched the playoffs and remember all my old favorite players; when I was young my dream team consisted of Dominik Hasek in net and Joe Sakic up front with me. International hockey is a treat, especially when you look at the ridiculously stacked Canadian team and the raw amount of potential and talent they posses. Over half the team is made up of Assistant and full fledged Captains.

When we lost to the Americans in the qualifying rounds, the country fell off the bandwagon and cries of critique and shame for the team run rampart. Just to make it to the finals we would have to beat Germany, an extraordinary Russian team and the heavily underestimated Slovakians.

We beat all of them, blowing out Russia and Germany but barely squeaking by the Slovaks, which only raised further doubt that as a nation and a team we could beat the undefeated and favoured Americans.

We did. Sidney Crosby scored a goal in overtime that shook the country.

I'm not a patriot. I've never had that much pride in being who I am, I've certainly never really boasted about being Canadian.

I feel that through a single game, a game that Canadians invented and have led the world in domination in, we have established ourselves as a nation. I.E. Stanley Cup winners last year? Pittsburgh. Who led the entire post season in goals and points? Crosby. Who was absolutely outstanding in net? Fleury. Both Canadian, both major reasons they won the cup.

We did not have a revolution, we did not win our freedom from Britain, and we did not participate in the making of nuclear weapons.

We are a peaceful nation, we are a nation of pioneers and quiet ambition. We participate in wars as legitimate peacekeepers, we strive and make bounds towards world peace and a greener planet.

I am proud of who I am and my roots. I realize that we, like every other nation in the friggin' world, are not perfect and performed atrocities. But I also realize that we have moved forward, and though many do not agree with our politicians and political instability at times, we are a nation of progress.

I am Proud to be a Canadian, and I am proud to have help support our Canadian boys and gals with all those shiny golds around their necks. I know you may not get it or even condemn it, but let us have this one world. We pulled off an amazing Olympics and won our game in our country, our way. With style.

Pretty good, eh?

True patriot Love, in all thy sons command...