Hockey is the sport of Canadians. Has been for years. It brings friends together and puts them at odds for a few hours when they’re cheering for opposing teams. It’s healthy competition. There are commercials showing the unity of hockey fans, and indulging in hockey and beer is basically a Canadian rite of passage.
Which is why, when I see an article in the Toronto Star about the Punjabi community being up in arms because the CBC – the CANADIAN Broadcasting Company – has ceased the production of a Punjabi broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, my stomach rolls and I can feel anger rising in my chest.
The Star article states that the “move has South Asians across the country up in arms.” Are we in South Asia now? No? Then why the fuck should hockey – hockey! Of all things – be broadcast on a Canadian network in Punjabi?
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t actually have a problem with landed immigrants that contribute to Canadian society, and I’m honoured that they see Canada as a safe place away from the turmoil that plagues so many other countries. I know I’m very lucky to have been born here. However, I do expect that when people immigrate to my country, they learn English – I don’t care that Punjabi is “the fourth most-spoken non-official language in Canada after Chinese languages, Italian and German” – because it’s our NATIONAL language. And you’re in our nation. They’re lucky to be in a country that lets them voice their opinion, because if I were to go to THEIR country and try to enforce my beliefs on them, I would be punished. Celebrate your culture on your own, and speak your own language among your fellow people if you must. But in my country, you speak my country’s language.
Canada is so careful not to step on the toes of new immigrants that we’re losing any sense of culture that we once had. The broadcasters of this show claim that it “‘has made the community feel more Canadian,’ and helped new immigrants connect with the culture.” And it’s in Punjabi. Does no one else see what’s wrong about this? Hockey is Canadian and part of our culture, yes, but if you want to “connect” with our culture, speak our God damn language. That’s all I’m saying.
Well, right now. I could say much more. But that would be getting too far off topic.
In other news, one of my clients used cheesy pick-up lines on me. Being my client, I obviously brush them off. But I would actually implore more guys to use that type of pick-up lines in a funny yet endearing way. It’s actually rather sweet.
Or maybe that’s just me…
Love,
Bella
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