tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32998072784944490082024-02-20T17:23:45.256-05:00Winter Olympics 2010 VideosVancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Videos plus...Charles Pedleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199785903063045541noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299807278494449008.post-10760879485271009832010-02-15T03:12:00.000-05:002010-02-15T03:12:34.646-05:00We ARE MORE - Shane Koyczan<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BQbQGn_rqTw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BQbQGn_rqTw&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p><br />
<br />
<br />
<p>We Are More by Shane Koyczan</p><br />
<br />When defining Canada<br />
<br />
<br />you might list some statistics<br />
<br />
<br />you might mention our tallest building<br />
<br />
<br />or biggest lake<br />
<br />
<br />you might shake a tree in the fall<br />
<br />
<br />and call a red leaf Canada<br />
<br />
<br />you might rattle off some celebrities<br />
<br />
<br />might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie<br />
<br />
<br />might even mention the fact that we've got a few<br />
<br />
<br />Barenaked Ladies<br />
<br />
<br />or that we made these crazy things<br />
<br />
<br />like zippers<br />
<br />
<br />electric cars<br />
<br />
<br />and washing machines<br />
<br />
<br />when defining Canada<br />
<br />
<br />it seems the world's anthem has been<br />
<br />
<br />" been there done that"<br />
<br />
<br />and maybe that's where we used to be at<br />
<br />
it's true<br />
<br />
<br />we've done and we've been<br />
<br />
<br />we've seen<br />
<br />
<br />all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine<br />
<br />
<br />and turned into theme parks<br />
<br />
<br />but when defining Canada<br />
<br />
<br />don't forget to mention that we have set sparks<br />
<br />
<br />we are not just fishing stories<br />
<br />
about the one that got away<br />
<br />
<br />we do more than sit around and say "eh?"<br />
<br />
<br />and yes<br />
<br />
<br />we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One<br />
<br />
<br />who inspired little number nines<br />
<br />
and little number ninety-nines<br />
<br />
<br />but we're more than just hockey and fishing lines<br />
<br />
<br />off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes<br />
<br />
<br />and some say what defines us<br />
<br />
<br />is something as simple as please and thank you<br />
<br />
<br />and as for you're welcome<br />
<br />
<br />well we say that too<br />
<br />
<br />but we are more<br />
<br />
<br />than genteel or civilized<br />
<br />
<br />we are an idea in the process<br />
<br />
of being realized<br />
<br />
<br />we are young<br />
<br />
<br />we are cultures strung together<br />
<br />
<br />then woven into a tapestry<br />
<br />
<br />and the design<br />
<br />
<br />is what makes us more<br />
<br />
<br />than the sum total of our history<br />
<br />
<br />we are an experiment going right for a change<br />
<br />
<br />with influences that range from a to zed<br />
<br />
<br />and yes we say zed instead of zee<br />
<br />
<br />we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy<br />
<br />
<br />we dream so big that there are those<br />
<br />
<br />who would call our ambition an industry<br />
<br />
<br />because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow<br />
<br />
<br />we do more than grow wheat and brew beer<br />
<br />
<br />we are vineyards of good year after good year<br />
<br />
<br />we reforest what we clear<br />
<br />
<br />because we believe in generations beyond our own<br />
<br />
<br />knowing now that so many of us<br />
<br />
<br />have grown past what used to be<br />
<br />
<br />we can stand here today<br />
<br />
<br />filled with all the hope people have<br />
<br />
<br />when they say things like "someday"<br />
<br />
<br />someday we'll be great<br />
<br />
<br />someday we'll be this<br />
<br />
<br />or that<br />
<br />
<br />someday we'll be at a point<br />
<br />
<br />when someday was yesterday<br />
<br />
<br />and all of our aspirations will pay the way<br />
<br />
<br />for those who on that day<br />
<br />
<br />look towards tomorrow<br />
<br />
<br />and still they say someday<br />
<br />
<br />we will reach the goals we set<br />
<br />
<br />and we will get interest on our inspiration<br />
<br />
<br />because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks<br />
<br />
<br />more than backpacks and hiking trails<br />
<br />
<br />we are hammers and nails building bridges<br />
<br />
<br />towards those who are willing to walk across<br />
<br />
<br />we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss<br />
<br />
<br />we are not the see-through gloss or glamour<br />
<br />
<br />of those who clamour for the failings of others<br />
<br />
<br />we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers<br />
<br />
<br />uncles and nephews aunts and nieces<br />
<br />
<br />we are cousins<br />
<br />
<br />we are found missing puzzle pieces<br />
<br />
<br />we are families with room at the table for newcomers<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span>we are more than summers and winters<br />
<br />
<br />more than on and off seasons<br />
<br />
<br />we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay<br />
<br />
<br />because we are more than what we say or do<br />
<br />
<br />we live to get past what we go through<br />
<br />
<br />and learn who we are<br />
<br />
<br />we are students<br />
<br />
<br />students who study the studiousness of studying<br />
<br />
<br />so we know what as well as why<br />
<br />
<br />we don't have all the answers<br />
<br />
<br />but we try<br />
<br />
<br />and the effort is what makes us more<br />
<br />
<br />we don't all know what it is in life we're looking for<br />
<br />
<br />so keep exploring<br />
<br />
<br />go far and wide<br />
<br />
<br />or go inside but go deep<br />
<br />
<br />go deep<br />
<br />
<br />as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss<br />
<br />
<br />and suddenly there was this location scout<br />
<br />
<br />trying to figure some way out<br />
<br />
<br />to get inside you<br />
<br />
<br />because you've been through hell and high water<br />
<br />
<br />and you went deep<br />
<br />
<br />keep exploring<br />
<br />
<br />because we are more<br />
<br />
<br />than a laundry list of things to do and places to see<br />
<br />
<br />we are more than hills to ski<br />
<br />
<br />or countryside ponds to skate<br />
<br />
<br />we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can't wait<br />
<br />
<br />we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes<br />
<br />
<br />a country that is all the ways you choose to live<br />
<br />
<br />a land that can give you variety<br />
<br />
<br />because we are choices<br />
<br />
<br />we are millions upon millions of voices shouting<br />
<br />
<br />" keep exploring... we are more"<br />
<br />
<br />we are the surprise the world has in store for you<br />
<br />
<br />it's true<br />
<br />
<br />Canada is the "what" in "what's new?"<br />
<br />
<br />so don't say "been there done that"<br />
<br />
<br />unless you've sat on the sidewalk<br />
<br />
<br />while chalk artists draw still lifes<br />
<br />
<br />on the concrete of a kid in the street<br />
<br />
<br />beatboxing to Neil Young for fun<br />
<br />
<br />don't say you've been there done that<br />
<br />
<br />unless you've been here doing it<br />
<br />
<br />let this country be your first-aid kit<br />
<br />
<br />for all the times you get sick of the same old same old<br />
<br />
<br />let us be the story told to your friends<br />
<br />
<br />and when that story ends<br />
<br />
<br />leave chapters for the next time you'll come back<br />
<br />
<br />next time pack for all the things<br />
<br />
<br />you didn't pack for the first time<br />
<br />
<br />but don't let your luggage define your travels<br />
<br />
<br />each life unravels differently<br />
<br />
<br />and experiences are what make up<br />
<br />
<br />the colours of our tapestry<br />
<br />
<br />we are the true north<br />
<br />
<br />strong and free<br />
<br />
<br />and what's more<br />
<br />
<br />is that we didn't just say it<br />
<br />
<br />we made it be.Charles Pedleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11199785903063045541noreply@blogger.com0