Here in Canada, during this time of year esp. in Toronto people place their ethnicity on their sleeve or should I say on the windows of their cars. Yes, it's the Euro Cup again, you know, futball, soccer, football whatever you call it. I'm not an avid follower but I love looking at the United Colours of Benetton flags flapping on every car on the streets of Toronto. Unfortunately, I live in Calgary now, so I miss much of the action.
Anyways, one of my good friends is a Canadian born Greek. He would often get upset with me when I tell another person he is Greek, yet during Euro Cup or the World Cup, he would proudly show his colours by hanging his Greek flag on his car. I often tease him that he is the guy who has often corrected me that he is Canadian not Greek yet he will be the first one to put a flag on his car. Sounds schizophrenic eh?
What is it about ethnicity and sports that make people come out of their "closets" and proudly say they are Greek, German, Portuguese, Italian etc...
Another thing that I noticed is that a lot of people get annoyed sometimes even upset when they see these flags filtering the streets of Toronto. Or the same people will cause traffic by having a "national party" in the streets or driving around with big flags and honking "Go "insert your country of ethnicity here". I would often hear people say "Fly the Canadian flag!" or "Go Home!" and other racial slur. I don't see anything wrong with it. My dad once said I admire the Americans they are very patriotic you wouldn't see them carrying a UK flag with the American flag together. Yet here in Canada, we fly the Canadian flag on one hand yet we carry the Italian or German or Greek etc... flag on the other hand. My dad like other older folks seem to find this unpatriotic. I keep telling him "Dad, maybe it's because we don't have a Canadian soccer team to be proud of (oops, I apologize to Toronto FC fans reading this, but in the international scene we really don't.), that's why this is the only chance they got to be a part of the football inner cirle."
Just some random thoughts that goes through my mind when the Euro/World Cup comes around. No, this doesn't happen when the World Hockey tournaments comes around, everybody is rooting for Team Canada here. I guess it's a sacrilage if you root for say Team Sweden. Care to comment?
BTW, Go France!!! Sorry, I can't resist.