People Are Idiots, Part CCVII
Apr. 11th, 2004 03:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ciroccojStill working on my *&$#*@# Legislation paper in between reading to, playing with, and feeding the children. There are no words to describe the thrill I get from following Bill C-45, 2nd Session, 37th Parliament, 51-52 Elizabeth II, 2002-2003, from conception all the way to Royal Assent. It's just... gripping. Or is that griping?
***
And in other news, yesterday the paper was filled with truly uplifting stories about the rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Arab incidents in Canada and around the world. Because there just isn't enough hatred and intolerance to go around, you know? Today's paper was a little better, with articles more conducive to derision than dread and nausea.
Pro wrestling has rebranded 'good guy' wrestlers Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit and others to claim U.S. home towns. But many 'heels,' or bad guys, remain Canadian, writes MIKE MCINYRE.
Canada has been eye-gouged by World Wrestling Entertainment, which is forcing some popular Canuck grapplers, including Winnipeg's Chris Jericho, to bill themselves as Americans.
Mr. Jericho, one of the stars of the Vince McMahon-led company, is now announced as being from New York.
Wrestling insiders and fans say the move was made by WWE management to further encourage American fans to cheer for "good guys" - or "babyfaces," as they're known in the business - like Mr. Jericho and current WWE world champion Chris Benoit. Mr. Benoit, who is from Edmonton, is now announced as hailing from Atlanta.
The fact politics have entered the squared circle has hit a nerve with hundreds of wrestling fans north of the border, who have organized a petition that blasts WWE for anti-Canadian behaviour.
"We believe this is an attempt by the WWE to ... try and hide the fact that they are Canadian. This message proves that the WWE doesn't care about Canada," the petition reads.
Two other fan favourites, Toronto residents Edge and Gail Kim, are now announced as being from Florida and Korea, respectively. A handful of despised WWE wrestlers - called "heels" in the business - are still billed as being from Canada on the assumption that U.S. fans will have an easier time booing them.
The anti-American tag team called "La Resistance" - their shtick includes waving the French flag and blasting the Yanks for their role in the Iraq war - recently had their announced home towns changed from Paris to Montreal.
Mr. Jericho, 32, was born Chris Irvine, the son of former NHLer Ted Irvine. He grew up in Winnipeg and has a journalism diploma from Red River College.
He joined WWE in 1999 and was always announced as being from "Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada" until recent weeks. He married a Winnipeg woman two years ago and still returns to the city several times a year.
David Meltzer, a U.S.-based journalist who has published a weekly wrestling newsletter for thousands of readers in 30 countries for the past 22 years, said WWE has obviously underestimated its Canadian fan base while attempting to capitalize on American nationalism.
"Even when I don't agree with decisions WWE makes, I usually understand the rationale. This one totally mystifies me," he said.
He said the wrestlers had no say in the decision by WWE management to suddenly change their home towns.
WWE officials didn't respond to requests for comment on the issue.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
I wonder how apes must feel, knowing that we claim to be "evolved" from them. If I were them, I'd be rather pissed.
***
On a lighter note: it's not easy to read the JEBUSLUG, SUPERSLIME, the musical X-Files parody of Jesus Christ Superstar, while a little guy is sleeping next door. I had to muffle my shrieks of laughter. Thanks,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bear!
(to the tune of Pilate's song)
DOGGETT:
I dreamed I met Chris Carter,
A most annoying man.
He had that look you rarely find,
The really egocentric kind.
(to the tune of King Herod's song)
DAVID DUCHOVNY:
Jebus, I'm just overjoyed
To see you on this show
It's vital that without me there
The X-files should just blow
Silly Man-Bats, slugs inside your head,
And now I understand you're God
At least that's what they said.
Anyway. Ahem.
And in other news, yesterday the paper was filled with truly uplifting stories about the rise of anti-Semitism and anti-Arab incidents in Canada and around the world. Because there just isn't enough hatred and intolerance to go around, you know? Today's paper was a little better, with articles more conducive to derision than dread and nausea.
Pro wrestling has rebranded 'good guy' wrestlers Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit and others to claim U.S. home towns. But many 'heels,' or bad guys, remain Canadian, writes MIKE MCINYRE.
Canada has been eye-gouged by World Wrestling Entertainment, which is forcing some popular Canuck grapplers, including Winnipeg's Chris Jericho, to bill themselves as Americans.
Mr. Jericho, one of the stars of the Vince McMahon-led company, is now announced as being from New York.
Wrestling insiders and fans say the move was made by WWE management to further encourage American fans to cheer for "good guys" - or "babyfaces," as they're known in the business - like Mr. Jericho and current WWE world champion Chris Benoit. Mr. Benoit, who is from Edmonton, is now announced as hailing from Atlanta.
The fact politics have entered the squared circle has hit a nerve with hundreds of wrestling fans north of the border, who have organized a petition that blasts WWE for anti-Canadian behaviour.
"We believe this is an attempt by the WWE to ... try and hide the fact that they are Canadian. This message proves that the WWE doesn't care about Canada," the petition reads.
Two other fan favourites, Toronto residents Edge and Gail Kim, are now announced as being from Florida and Korea, respectively. A handful of despised WWE wrestlers - called "heels" in the business - are still billed as being from Canada on the assumption that U.S. fans will have an easier time booing them.
The anti-American tag team called "La Resistance" - their shtick includes waving the French flag and blasting the Yanks for their role in the Iraq war - recently had their announced home towns changed from Paris to Montreal.
Mr. Jericho, 32, was born Chris Irvine, the son of former NHLer Ted Irvine. He grew up in Winnipeg and has a journalism diploma from Red River College.
He joined WWE in 1999 and was always announced as being from "Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada" until recent weeks. He married a Winnipeg woman two years ago and still returns to the city several times a year.
David Meltzer, a U.S.-based journalist who has published a weekly wrestling newsletter for thousands of readers in 30 countries for the past 22 years, said WWE has obviously underestimated its Canadian fan base while attempting to capitalize on American nationalism.
"Even when I don't agree with decisions WWE makes, I usually understand the rationale. This one totally mystifies me," he said.
He said the wrestlers had no say in the decision by WWE management to suddenly change their home towns.
WWE officials didn't respond to requests for comment on the issue.
THE CANADIAN PRESS
I wonder how apes must feel, knowing that we claim to be "evolved" from them. If I were them, I'd be rather pissed.
On a lighter note: it's not easy to read the JEBUSLUG, SUPERSLIME, the musical X-Files parody of Jesus Christ Superstar, while a little guy is sleeping next door. I had to muffle my shrieks of laughter. Thanks,
bear!(to the tune of Pilate's song)
DOGGETT:
I dreamed I met Chris Carter,
A most annoying man.
He had that look you rarely find,
The really egocentric kind.
(to the tune of King Herod's song)
DAVID DUCHOVNY:
Jebus, I'm just overjoyed
To see you on this show
It's vital that without me there
The X-files should just blow
Silly Man-Bats, slugs inside your head,
And now I understand you're God
At least that's what they said.
Anyway. Ahem.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-04-11 02:29 pm (UTC)I...wha?...but...huh?
I thought we liked Canada.
Now we're bashing our next-door neighbors/allies?
::whimper:: I wanna new country, please.
no subject
Date: 2004-04-11 04:02 pm (UTC)Oh, gosh, no. Not for a while now. I'm frankly surprised Canada geese and Canadian bacon haven't been renamed Freedom geese and bacon. Although I read somewhere that for the bacon it's because nobody eats the stuff anyway - and I'd have to agree ;)
And we Canadians, in a frenzied effort to prove we're just ever so much more mature than Americans, have booed the American anthem at hockey games and penned all sorts of letters to the editor complaining about how close-minded and prejudiced Americans are - all of them. I keep having unpleasant flashbacks to my dad insisting that Asians were beneath contempt because they were all so racist.
?
Oh, and last month in Montreal a bunch of high school students attending a Celebration of Multi-culturalism booed the 13-yr old girl who carried her country's flag in a procession because it was the Stars and Stripes. I would try to comfort myself by thinking they'll outgrow that type of behaviour... but I gotta say, looking around at the conduct of so-called 'adults' on both sides of the border... there's not much comfort in that.
::whimper:: I wanna new country, please.
I want a new planet ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-04-11 04:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-11 05:30 pm (UTC)(excuse me, I just finished watching Star Trek ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-04-11 08:02 pm (UTC)Oh, sigh. I'm with
And even though Canada seems much nicer from this side of the border, I guess no place is perfect. A new planet may be the only solution... ;)