Sat down to watch CBC’s “Greatest Canadian” last night. I have a few comments I’d like to make, but first, an aside rant.
Why the hell do we have to pick a particular person to be the greatest Canadian? Why does there have to be one at all? Couldn’t the CBC just run the same nominating system they did, and then put up an episode of each of the top 10, or 20 or 50? Why do we have to be subjected to yet another reality show spin off where the audience, who are not only forced to watch the same bloody commercials time and time again, but also forced to actually decide the outcome of the show? When the hell did television stop being the mindless entertainment machine I used to love? Anyhoo…
First up, Avril Lavigne. Her nomination by enough people to make it into the top 50 serves only one purpose: Never underestimate the power of teenagers to act in large groups for a completely uninformed reason. Don’t get me wrong, I dig Avril. Even almost bought her album. Certainly searched the web for her Maxim spread (good for her for keeping nearly all her clothes on, and shame on Maxim for letting her do so…). But does she seriously belong on the Greatest Canadian list? What has she done for Canada other than entertain a few kids and given them something to hope for? She’s a small town skater (planker) punk with a band that hit it big (and didn’t bother to include her band in the name for the group). She’s accomplished nothing that a million people before her haven’t already done, some much better than her.
Second, Jim Carrey. The man neither celebrates, nor acknowledges the fact that he’s Canadian. He’s just yet another actor that hit it big in the states. Big damn deal. In fact, any actor on the list that did nothing but act has no business being on it. If they donated their millions to charity or did anything of the sort (John Candy helped the CFL simply because he liked it), then they can be on the list.
Third, Celine Dion. What the bloody hell people? The only positive thing I can think of is Shania Twain beat her in the rankings.
Speaking of witch ( 
), Shania doesn’t even live in the damn country anymore. It wasn’t good enough for her.
The only exception to the “entertainers aren’t great” argument is possibly Stompin’ Tom. Nearly every one of his songs was based on a Canadian story, or contained some other fact that was solely Canadian. Not to mention he never left Canada, and played in as many tiny little back-water joints as he could.
Last rant of the non-top-10: all hockey players. Mario Lemieux, Maurice Richard, Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky (which is in the top 10) are great hockey players. For once and for all people, hockey != Canada. We also have Tim Hortons and Newfies.
Now, as far as the top 10 go, Wayne Gretzky and Don Cherry have no place on that list, and only goes to show the complete lack of interest in Canadian history people have. Granted, Wayne is called the Great One because he basically owns all the hockey records, and does great things for hockey in Canada, but the list of quality achievements is pretty small compared to Tommy Douglas or Frederick Banting.
All in all, there are some excellent choices in the top 10. The rest proves the interweb has done terrible things to our society.
No comments yet.