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A place for Writing 12 students to read each other's writing, to critique, to suggest, to improve.
About Me
- Brad
- Former adult teacher who loves island beaches. Happy homebody and family man; once devoted dog owner, now without Tashi, my Tibetan Terrier. I prefer the absurdity of the imagination to the absurdity of imagining nothing.
12 comments:
Having the Olympics happening in my community has lead me to think about how groups behave and how one can be swept up in the emotions of the moment.
Not that that's always a bad thing, but it can be a scary thought.
Let me explain. Our desires for fellowship and a purpose are strong in we humans. Turned to good ends, it is a power that has done much good. Witness the work done by groups in Haiti, especially right after the earthquake where neighbours rescued one another by digging with their bare hands.
Great! However, the emotions of the "mob" can also be turned to evil. Once, a group of angry citizens in Surrey turned on a neighbour who was trying to take a family member to the hospital and wanted to go through their protest barricade. They began to rock the car in which the terrified family cowered.
There was no particular reason for it; nothing but a group of people acting as one, without thinking. That story scared me then and it scares me now.
The Olympics brings out the crowds, too. In our desire to be together, we act as one. But we should be cautious, too, since groups can easily turn to evil acts, especially when swept up in an emotional moment.
2010 Olimpics; for the priviliged few.
Yes I mean the priviliged few whether they be the performing athlete,or the attending spectator in the stands or viewing area.
Now to the unpriviliged majority who have been restricted from driving on the roads they paid for.
Or more importantly the famlies who could not afford to purchase tickets to the events they and their children may enjoy, this group is also among those who cannot afford to support and encourage a possibly talented,"would be athlete",in a working poor family.
The world may never get to know some great athlete and true moral sportsman,who may have had a chance to triumph without Proformance Enhancing drugs. (dope)
The word Sports and Sportsmen is misused when big busines and corporations enter the arena.
Definition of Sport...Fair and Honorable, Fun and Games.
I do acknowledge the pain and suffering the contestants have endured, I wish them well and compliment all the fair and honorable partisipants of the fun and games.
Don't get me wrong, I am a proud Canadian, born and raised in Vancouver, It is just I am not pro Vanoc.
My good citizenship shows up when I treat my country with respect, pay my fair share plus at tax time.
P.S. Yes Mark you have seen areas in which 2010 Gov. dollars have been desperatly needed; Schools, Hospitals, etc. Maybe even an helping hand to the "Working Poor", who I am proud to represent in the Game of Life.
Twice yesterday I sat near Vancouver Police officers—once at White Spot (for hot fries on a chilly afternoon) and the next at Granville Island (for pizza at the end of a lot of walking). The officers looked a bit tired!
Most of the ones I've seen have been standing around at barricades and looking, well, just a little bored with the whole thing. At least the bicycle cops seemed happy riding about in the spring-like weather we've been having.
Burns me up, however, that so much money has been spent on this. Overtime galore I've heard and so a pretty massive money transfer to security forces of all types (since most of the cost is in salaries). Hope they spend their gains in locally owned stores to balance things out a bit.
-Olympics:
Did you see the men’s hockey team last night? We won the Germany from playoffs. Canada was, no, better make that as still IS on fire! Yes, you heard me right, Canada is on fire!
Because from what I saw last night, men’s hockey team was so great.
Especially when Sidney Crosby and Roberto Luongo are together, the opponent team will better be stay out of the ice because they’re coming and ready for anything.
Tonight, we are against Russia for quarterfinal. I hope we’ll win the gold medal.
Go Canada, go! Woo-hooo, yeah!
Last week, while I was on my way to work, walking up Burrard Street, Vancouver, I saw a homeless woman, sitting cross-legged on a damp pavement, hands cupped in front of her, begging for whatever the passers-by can offer her. Canada had just won a gold medal, and hundreds , perhaps, thousands of cheering people, had passed her way that day, but when I looked at the plastic cup beside her, all I saw were some change which can’t be more than two dollars. I asked her if she’d eaten anything that day, and she said none, not a single bread. I went to Tim Horton’s which was only a few meters from her spot and bought her a couple of doughnuts and a coffee. I stayed with her for a few more minutes, and we chatted as she devoured my gift as if she’d been confined somewhere and had been deprived of food for along time. She told me she’d already got a few dollars, but she’s trying to save it to get her self a decent winter jacket from Salvation Army. (The one she was wearing was too thin, and not waterproof.) I tapped her shoulder and wished her a good night. “Go for the gold!” she said as I walk away.
This country is not heaven (I am aware of that) but if you came from a country like the Philippines, and have lived deep into its slum areas, Canada is the closest place to it. I just wish that the money (taxes which every citizen contributed) should be spent for the better of humanity rather than funding an event or a venue for the Multinationals to make more money for themselves. I think it is more reasonable to spend the money, for shelter, food, education and for the restoration of nature which we have been raping.
There once was Vancouver's Olympics,
That brought out curling rocks and hockey sticks,
So the gloves were thrown down,
As the world came to town,
To challenge our skills and our wits.
And so the games got underway,
And soon we saw Canada's day,
For Alexandre Bilodeau
Won our first-ever home gold,
And the medals kept coming our way.
For there was also Maelle Ricker,
Winning gold in snowboarding's kicker,
John Montgomery's gold in skeleton,
(Our Erik Guay missed bronze by milliseconds!)
Grove's silver, McIvor's gold (Ladies' Ski Cross, first ever!)
And then there was Moir and Virtue,
Canada's darlings of ice dance, we knew,
Stole our hearts winning gold,
North America's youngest, we're told,
And left the Russians haunted and singing the blues.
But by far the best spirit we've seen,
Is Joannie Rochette living out her dream,
Tho' through inexpressible grief,
Due to her mother's life so brief,
She skated on with great courage,
And made us believe.
Olympic to me, just like as Avatar’s Pandora to the earth. A long distance gap can’t be combined with. Which one wins the most amounts of medals? How regret he/she is to lost the chance? I pretend to worry about it, but I don’t really care about it. For the purpose of entertainment, I turn on the TV to watch the ladies figuring skate. Look at those beautiful shapes, the smoothly dancing, and the fantastical techniques. Then, I finally figure out they just repeat the similar rotations and mandatory actions to get mark. They are ranked by slightly slightly difference through others’ judgments. (I’m interrupted by thinking of “the others” for Avatar) Is it unfair or fair? Who knows? I don’t know what exactly hobbies I have, but, for sports, definitely, say no!
Each event has two side like Olympic 2010 .Shiny, golden side of it is people in the world will talk about Olympic in Vancouver ,and will know it more. Some people watch games and enjoy of them, and some of them go to downtown and spent their time there during this two weeks. Canadian athletes win a gold or silver or bronze medals, and some people just think about games ,and athletes, and enjoying, but is Olympic’ worth to spend lots of public money? There are many school need renovation, many homeless people who sleep on streets at chilling winter nights. For this Olympic people pay taxes to paper Vancouver, but Olympic benefits businessmen, sponsors, and reach people.
From Kenny:
Ice hockey-Canada vs. USA match in 2010 Olympic Games
My wife pass me phone from same age cousin living in L.A. “Are you watching TV now?” “No.” “Why not? There is ice hockey game between Canada and USA. It would be very interesting.” Wall clock shows almost 5 pm and I find the hockey game at channel 9. “Let’s have betting who win the game?” The screen show already USA won the game 0; 1 and remaining time is 13 minutes. “How much?” “Five hundred bucks.” “It is too much.” “Let’s have 100.” “OK”
After energetic attack, Canada team gains one point. Now the score is 1; 1. But within one minute, USA got one point more. The first half finished with 1; 2. My wife told Canada’s goal keeper doesn’t keep his position.
In the second half, within a few minute Canada got a point. Now, score is 2; 2. There is a hope Canada win the game. But within a few minutes Canada loose one point as previous one. Final score is 2; 3. I have lost 100 bucks to my same age cousin.
But later, the game is continuing! Oh, has ice hockey four quarter? Then there is possibility to recover one more time. But soon or later I can feel that Canada team doesn’t play well any more. The result of third quarter is 3; 5 and it is final.
My cousin phone to me again and tell Canada lose the game because of his coach’s poor strategy. Now I understand ice hockey has three parts, which lasting 20 minutes each and 30 minute rest between them. It has similar rule with football like offside. It is quite interesting game. What is the appropriate game with USA to win my cousin?
Feb 23, 2010 4;30pm, 295 words
My Limerick Revised Version:
There once was Vancouver's Olympics,
With curling rocks and hockey sticks.
So the gloves were thrown down,
As the world came to town,
To challenge our skills and our wits.
And so the games got underway,
And soon we saw Canada's Day.
For Alex Bilodeau
Won us first-time home Gold,
And the medals started our way.
For then there was Maelle Ricker,
Winning Gold, a snowboard kicker.
John M.'s Gold: Skeleton,
Guay missed Bronze - mill'seconds!
Ashleigh's Gold: Ski Cross (First ever!)
And then there was Moir and Virtue,
The darlings of ice dance, we knew.
Stole our hearts winning gold,
One of youngest we're told,
And left the Russians Bronze and blue.
But the greatest spirit we've seen,
Joannie Rochette and her dream.
Inexpressible grief,
Due her mom's life so brief,
Skated with courage. We Believe.
Limerick attempt:
When the Olympic fire is out,
Millions of people will pout,
‘Cause when the circus is gone
And the banners are put down--
What else can we be glad about?
I walk downtown,
The celebration is done,
The streets are clear,
I hear not a single cheer.
High five, anyone?
One is folding a flag,
While another’s putting a jersey in his bag.
What happened? I want to ask.
(Emotions really don’t last.)
Hey, man! Do you want a hug?
After two weeks of pride and glory,
The northern Maple Leaf is carved in history.
A fact that the citizens will not forget
For it’s the only benefit that they get--
A place in history.
Revised limerick:
When the Olympic fire is out,
Millions of Canadians will pout,
For when circus is gone,
And the banners are down--
What is left to be glad about?
I now walk in a sleepy town.
National celebration’s done.
The streets are clear.
I hear not a cheer.
Give me some high-fives, anyone?
Close to his chest , a folded flag.
A worn jersey inside his bag.
“What happened?” I ask.
(Emotions don’t last!)
“Hey,” I said. “Do you want a hug?”
After weeks of pride and glory,
Maple leaf’s carved in history.
Gold! No one will forget.
It’s their sole benefit.
Congrats my friend! No, not really.
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