Why Do Canadians Not Celebrate Their Heroes The Way Americans Do?

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SteveN

Because we're not Americans?

We do things our own way, and as far as I have seen we treat our "heroes" with dignity and respect.

For example, Remembrance Day was on November 11. We honoured our war veterans in Canada with ceremonies on the weekend. Even the small town (20,000 people) where I live just outside of Montreal held a solemn ceremony remembering the soldiers that gave their lives in WWI and WWII. And on Tuesday there was also a moment of silence at exactly 11:11AM.

This extends not just to soldiers. When someone (police officer, fire fighter, average citizen) does something heroic here, they may also be honoured in a ceremony in Ottawa, where they can be presented with various awards, including the "Order of Canada", "Star of Courage", "Medal of Bravery", and "Cross of Valour" to name a few.

Canadians like Wayne Gretzky, Terry Fox, and Vince Coleman all are heroes to some of us in this nation.

Quite frankly, YOU sir dishonour their memory by suggesting we do not celebrate their contribution to our society.

And since you decided to throw in an extra provocative question about why we have no minorities in sports, it tells me that your questions was only meant to upset people. All you would have to do is look at hockey for a good example of minorities. It has traditionally been a white man's sport, but of the black players who have made it to the NHL, the majority of them were born in Canada, including:

Grant Fuhr (Hockey Hall of Fame)
Kevin Weekes
Fred Brathwaite
Ray Emery
Jarome Iginla
Anson Carter
Jacques Laracque
Donald Brashear

The other example I would give is Jackie Robinson. He played for the Montreal Royals farm team for two years before being promoted to the Brooklyn Dodgers. In all the matches he played, he faced racism and hatred in US cities, but the crowds in Montreal loved him and adopted him as their summertime hero.

So you see, even minorities can be heroes in Canada!

scubabob

We do celebrate them. We just don't feel the need to jump up and down thumping our chests is all. They're heroes, we know it ( which is the important part), and no amount of flag waving or whatever is going to boost a hero into God like status. Enough said.

As to the second part of this question, let's see..hmmm. Just off the top of my head I came up with 27 names in both sports and politics that are visible minorities born here or are immigrants that are now citizens. There's a more than that. How about I just do this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Black_Canadians
that's just for starters and of one visible minority and not even a complete list to boot, just the top figures of the group. I'll stop there since I don't have all night to post every single visible minority, let alone individual, that's represented in Canada that plays a pivotal role in both sports and politics.

NWIP

We respect our Heroes especially those who have fallen. Did you not see the news article on the 11th about this highway in Ontario from the Canadian Air Base to the morgue that is filled with people waving flags, saluting and everything else to honor those who died in service? It was on ABC News funnily enough on Nov 11th, Remembrance Day were the Canadian people stop at 11 am for 2 minutes to honor those who have fallen.

Minorities in sports lets see there was Grant Fuhr who played hockey and won the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers for years who was a minority. Then there was Warren Moon who played in the CFL for years winning the Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos. There is others as well.

Perigee

I think it's because we have different ideas of what a hero should be here. A hero in the U.S. would be John Glenn, while a hero in Canada would be Tommy Douglas, and Terry Fox

98% human

What do you mean?
How do we not celebrate our heroes? OH, you mean the way americans do? Because we're not your stupid lackeys that's why.

jake.jakobson

ur completely misinformed, we celebrate our heroes, but americans go over the top, they're ostentatious (look it up), it's very superficial and more about the commercial aspect and what can be gained from the notoriety, americans will have a celebration for a kid graduating from kindergarten for pete's sake, Canadians celebrations are more geniuine have deeper meaning and value...there are lots of minorities in Canadian politics (just watch the parliament channel) and sports (CFL, Raptors, Blue Jays, Olympics)...i'm not sure if ur just some american trying to take a cheap shot at Canada or not

old lady

a) Why should they? Canada isn't the same as the US. There's no reason why Canadians should do things the same way as the US does.
b) You need to do some homework. There are MANY minorities represented in Canadian sports and politics.

me-wa

This question is a prime example of why people don't like Americans. Americans seem to think that others need to be judged by their standards. If countries act differently, they are wrong, according to American standards.

We celebrate in Canadian ways, because we are Canadian and not as loud and boisterous as Americans. We do things with abit more class and dignity and quietness.

As for the sports thing... do your research, you are wrong on that account too

Jim B

No minorities ?

WRONG.

Of course, we have a different mix of people here in Canada, compared to the USA. The national percentage of blacks in Canada is only two point five percent, but we have many more "visible minorities " who are of Asian, Chinese, or Indian origin. In my city Toronto, about half of all the people living here, were born in another country.

Jim B.

michelwhite53

Canada looks after their heroes very well. We have days dedicated to some of them, monuments in their honour, books about them etc. Seems you will need to catch up on your reading and knowledge of Canadian heroes. In regards to minorities in sports and politics may I remind you that many come from minorities in Canada .try reading on the following.
Bruny Surin
Jim Longboat
Terry Fox
Donovan Bailey
Michaelle Jean
Etienne BrulÃ©
Louis Riel
Ferguson Jenkins
I can list hundreds of them but if you read on only one it will help you know that Canadians do look after their heroes.

Karen C

Let me refer you to my answer to another question. Mine is the 3rd answer at the moment
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar0LFAZrZPakGk6WeqX7nefsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20081114133403AAlJkD9&show=7#profile-info-AA10205406

In case you missed it - I think you are full of hot air.

pappy12a

No minorities in Canadian sports and politics?

Never watched sports or CPAC? (The parliamentary channel)

Trojan

We have our remembrance day and we wear the poppy like the British do as well.

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