French Spoken First at the Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics!

[Machjo]

I have a better idea to make it truly non-political. How about International Sing as the sole official language of the IOC:

International Sign - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hmmm... bad idea. Before you know it, we'd be bitching about the deaf not being able to understand the Queen's English when spoken.

 

[TenPenny]

I assume most of you folks reading this thread by now are fully aware that French was used as the primary language during the opening ceremonies. English was second.

This is a complete outrage. The language of the majority in Canada is English, not French. What were the Olympic Committee members who organized the opening ceremonies thinking? They ruined the ceremonies for many of us Canadian Citizens who speak the language of the majority. I really felt that I was watching the ceremonies in some foreign country like France.

I hope whoever was responsible for this gets fired, and fined for their actions. An error of this nature at an event of this magnitude is inexcusable.

I agree; let's fire the IOC.

 

[Machjo]

I agree; let's fire the IOC.

Simpler solution. Get the government out of it altogether. The government doesn't fund it, support it, or anything of the sort. If the private sector wants the Olympics in Canada, then it could fund it. If it's crappy or good, whether they speak French, English, Klingon, whatever, it would be none of our business. Those who don't like its policies would be free to boycott it, and it would be as simple as that.

 

[Risus]

It wouldn't matter what anyone did ... or even if the O was held here. Somebody's going to gripe. Hell. it's our national pastime....

Can't argue with that.

 

[Risus]

Correct me if I'm wrong, did the IOC produce the opening ceremonies? Im guessing the poor choice to speak in French first was a choice of whoever produced it. Please re-read your closing comment "Bear in mind though that if you do that, they might decide to drop English too in future Olympics except when it's the local language"

It was the Vancouver Organizing Committee who produced the opening show. Nothing to do with the IOC.

 

[Ken57]

Thanks Risus, thats what I thought and the point I was trying to make to the other member. Another question to the members why are the 4 Russian athletes who tested + for steroids allowed to compete? Apparently the IOC wont take a stand against the Russians on this. Am I missing something here?

 

[talloola]

I am a western canadian, can't speak a word of french, but
I loved the first nations, and the french language being
spoken, no problem for me at all, we can take a small step
back, be polite and reach out to others to 'go' ahead of us, we
are the hosts, so look to all of our guests to go first.

Just like a guest in our own home, be gracious.

 

[Risus]

Thanks Risus, thats what I thought and the point I was trying to make to the other member. Another question to the members why are the 4 Russian athletes who tested + for steroids allowed to compete? Apparently the IOC wont take a stand against the Russians on this. Am I missing something here?

I am surprised they will be allowed to compete too. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

Way too much French at the opening ceremonies, butthose lackey Quebec federalists feel no shame pushing their languageas if it were dominant in the country. A sop to Quebec because federalism now means appeasing Quebec, all for the good of the country.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

I am a western canadian, can't speak a word of french, but
I loved the first nations, and the french language being
spoken, no problem for me at all, we can take a small step
back, be polite and reach out to others to 'go' ahead of us, we
are the hosts, so look to all of our guests to go first.

Just like a guest in our own home, be gracious.

That's one way of looking at it, just let others ride roughshod over you. Be meek and overly accomodating and defer to whoever shouts over you. In most places, those who pay call the shots.

 

[talloola]

That's one way of looking at it, just let others ride roughshod over you. Be meek and overly accomodating and defer to whoever shouts over you. In most places, those who pay call the shots.

no one shouted at anyone, we made up our own minds, then
moved forward.
being polite and gracious is not being meek, it is classy
and appropriate, and a show of strength and class.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

no one shouted at anyone, we made up our own minds, then moved forward. being polite and gracious is not being meek, it is classy
and appropriate, and a show of strength and class.

They say the Olympics are Canada's time to shine. That means not being in the shadows. You can still show doubts as we have with Indians, but thrusting them forward is simply obsequious, we are afraid to show the world who we really are, warts and all. I'm not a peace at any price of kind of person.

 

[talloola]

They say the Olympics are Canada's time to shine. That means not being in the shadows. You can still show doubts as we have with Indians, but thrusting them forward is simply obsequious, we are afraid to show the world who we really are, warts and all. I'm not a peace at any price of kind of person.

No one 'thrust' anyone forward, the first nations are a
proud people, who want to be 'forward', and looked just
fabulous in the ceremony.
The problems that are political, will be kept political,
everything in it's place, and shouldn't ever stop anyone
from doing what is right at the time, and this is the
right and most enjoyable thing to do, and everyone
participated freely, with great heart and enjoyment,
and does positive things to improve the relationship
between all of our citizens.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

I got this thread mixed up with the Tedious OE. However, the same general idea applies it seems. There was too much emphasis on the French language and aboriginals, so it is fake. Why the majority of English Canadians must take this nonsense from minorities is beyond me.

Perhaps I am not subtle enough, one should be wary of gifts from strangers. Not much in life is free.

 

[Machjo]

That's one way of looking at it, just let others ride roughshod over you. Be meek and overly accomodating and defer to whoever shouts over you. In most places, those who pay call the shots.

I fully agree. When I have guests in my house, I make sure to let them know who's the boss. It makes them feel so much more welcome:-?

Again, why don't you deal with the root cause of the problem? Since the government is involved, you therefore feel that that money ought to have been spent this way or that way, and also feel that you have a say in it since your own money was used for it. The root solution would be for the government to not fund it by even one cent. That way, the Olympics could do what they want and you'd have no use with it since it would be a purely private-sector matter. Why are you avoiding the root cause of the problem in the first place?

 

[Machjo]

I got this thread mixed up with the Tedious OE. However, the same general idea applies it seems. There was too much emphasis on the French language and aboriginals, so it is fake. Why the majority of English Canadians must take this nonsense from minorities is beyond me.

Perhaps I am not subtle enough, one should be wary of gifts from strangers. Not much in life is free.

Again, you're avoiding the root cause. If the government had provided no funding for it, then the Olympics could have done whatever they wanted and it would have been no skin off your back, right? Or would you still have complained even if your own money was not involved in it?

 

[Risus]

Again, you're avoiding the root cause. If the government had provided no funding for it, then the Olympics could have done whatever they wanted and it would have been no skin off your back, right? Or would you still have complained even if your own money was not involved in it?

We both know he would still complain...

 

[Machjo]

We both know he would still complain...

But right now, as obviously ethnocentric as his remarks are, he does have a point in that since he's helped to pay for the Olympics, he has a right to a say in how they're managed. Had he not contributed in any way, and still complained, then his true colours would shine even more brightly than they do now (though granted they're shining quite blindingly as is).

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

Again, you're avoiding the root cause. If the government had provided no funding for it, then the Olympics could have done whatever they wanted and it would have been no skin off your back, right? Or would you still have complained even if your own money was not involved in it?

I was responding to another post.

Too many ifs here. The govt was a major backer. Hey man, were not the US, we can't finance such projects without govt support. Premier Campbell and other neo-cons suck in the rubes by implying the Olympics will make profit and create numerous jobs. Who's laughing now?

Would you visit Salt Lake City or Sidney because they hosted the Olympic Games? I would visit SLC on the way to the Grand Canyon, and stay a day or two to experience a weird Mormon town.

 

[Risus]

I was responding to another post.

Too many ifs here. The govt was a major backer. Hey man, were not the US, we can't finance such projects without govt support. Premier Campbell and other neo-cons suck in the rubes by implying the Olympics will make profit and create numerous jobs. Who's laughing now?

Would you visit Salt Lake City or Sidney because they hosted the Olympic Games? I would visit SLC on the way to the Grand Canyon, and stay a day or two to experience a weird Mormon town.

What are you blithering about????