Too much emphasis on Native culture and not enough on British culture

[SpongeG]

the aussie games devoted a lot of its opening etc to the aboriginals

aussie is in the same way as canada - many cultures etc who made the country what it is

using the native story telling is only part of it and why not? thats what people in britain and the world would want to see

why do you think the tacky tourist shops around town are full of totem poles and stuffed moose?

[SpongeG]

either way it's an interesting story that plays out well

I thought the salt lake city show was too jumpy

[03SVTcobra]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Chinese have made no contribution to BC dating back to colonization??

Have you even taken a course in BC's history?

I get that they helped build the rail road and other various labor jobs. But they had no input on forming the government, laws, infrastructure, really the whole layout of the province. BC has a very distinct British feel to it and it should be reflected in the games.

[flight_from_kamakura]

culturally, the aboriginal aspect is pretty much the only thing that interests people about british columbia. ask the average german or spaniard about canada and that's what you'll get. plus, it's actually a pretty cool legacy. the multiculturalism stuff is happening in every single english speaking country, so it's really not that interesting.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by 03SVTcobra

I get that they helped build the rail road and other various labor jobs. But they had no input on forming the government, laws, infrastructure, really the whole layout of the province. BC has a very distinct British feel to it and it should be reflected in the games.

Hmm well I think you are neglecting the fact that essentially since its inconception the Chinese have been the largest minorty in the province (aboriginals excluded). Their mere exclusion and opression in the early days of BC has shaped the way in which this province functions. To deny their formative effect on this province in almost every way in which it functions is a major oversight.

[03SVTcobra]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Hmm well I think you are neglecting the fact that essentially since its inconception the Chinese have been the largest minorty in the province (aboriginals excluded). Their mere exclusion and opression in the early days of BC has shaped the way in which this province functions. To deny their formative effect on this province in almost every way in which it functions is a major oversight.

To compare their effect on this province to the British is an even bigger oversight...

[LeftCoaster]

No one said they has as big a formative effect on the province as the British... you said their effect was negligible and I am merely disagreeing with you.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Hmm well I think you are neglecting the fact that essentially since its inconception the Chinese have been the largest minorty in the province (aboriginals excluded). Their mere exclusion and opression in the early days of BC has shaped the way in which this province functions. To deny their formative effect on this province in almost every way in which it functions is a major oversight.

they were cheap labour and not "real" members of society - in that is how they were viewed for the majority of that time

anyway you can't please everyone - we are not targetting a BC audience we are targetting a global one and they want to see "Canadiana" and native culture

lucky for us the first nation west coast stories are quite interesting and will make for great visuals/theatrics

[03SVTcobra]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

No one said they has as big a formative effect on the province as the British... you said their effect was negligible and I am merely disagreeing with you.

I said their effect is negligible compared to the effect the British had on BC. Which is true. Dating back to colonial times up until now. You can't even compare the two. This is ridiculous

[LeftCoaster]

Up until now? Considering the British have about zero influence on BC now and the Chinese have a staggering effect I would say that is quite erroneous... but this would have to go down as one of the all time most ridiculous arguments on SSP so lets just let it rest. I think the Chinese had a major formative effect on BC... you don't. End of story.

[randito]

I would like to point you to the following article that changed forever my perceptions of BC history. We are all taught in school that there was nothing here, then the British showed up and the railroad was built, and civilization sprouted from nothing. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

http://thetyee.ca/Life/2006/01/10/StillSpeakChinook/

[metroXpress]

Interesting arguments you guys have there....

I agree with LeftCoaster that the Chinese did impact a lot on BC and just
think of the David Lam park or London Drugs...

[03SVTcobra]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Up until now? Considering the British have about zero influence on BC now and the Chinese have a staggering effect I would say that is quite erroneous... but this would have to go down as one of the all time most ridiculous arguments on SSP so lets just let it rest. I think the Chinese had a major formative effect on BC... you don't. End of story.

What is the staggering effect? All the founding fathers of modern BC are British. There are way more people in BC with British heritage than there are Chinese. What exactly have the Chinese done? Other than move here? Compare the effect British people have had on BC and Vancouver from its colonization up until now with the effect of Chinese people. Its laughable. Sorry if you're Chinese, but I'm not gonna let you take credit for things your people haven't done.

[osirisboy]

I fully agree with 03SVTcobra

[Hourglass]

Originally Posted by 03SVTcobra

What is the staggering effect? All the founding fathers of modern BC are British. There are way more people in BC with British heritage than there are Chinese. What exactly have the Chinese done? Other than move here? Compare the effect British people have had on BC and Vancouver from its colonization up until now with the effect of Chinese people. Its laughable. Sorry if you're Chinese, but I'm not gonna let you take credit for things your people haven't done.

Seriously dude, this is verging on sensitive territory.

If you want to give the British "credit," you should include less savory things such as the introduction of smallpox and other infectious diseases to an advanced and thriving aboriginal culture, and seriously discriminatory policies against people of Chinese descent that lasted well into the 20th century. Check out http://sen.parl.gc.ca/vpoy/english/Special_Interests/speeches/Speech%20-%20AAAS%20Toronto.htm if you want to find out just how discriminatory those policies were. Maybe one of the reasons why all the "founding fathers" of BC were British was because of minor points such as the fact that BC was a British colony at the time and Asians were completely disenfranchised, hmm?

Meantime, in the context of the 2010 Olympics, you should be asking yourself what is uniquely **CANADIAN** culture? While Canada owes its legal system and rule of law to its British heritage, it sure ain't "British" "culture" that people think about when they think about Canada. Rather it's the rich First Nations heritage and the multicultural diversity that defines Canada and BC -- of which British, Chinese and numerous other cultures continue to play a part.

To try to compare what culture has contributed "more" and who is taking "credit" for what is a farcical discussion that does injustice to all cultures and ethnicities who have contributed to Canada's cultural identity, fabric and freedom.

Enough said.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by Allen

Interesting arguments you guys have there....

I agree with LeftCoaster that the Chinese did impact a lot on BC and just
think of the David Lam park or London Drugs...

London drugs?

[SpongeG]

as for british columbia - when I lived in Ontario I had a room mate from ecuador and he thought British Columbia must be very British because of the name - he sort of saw it has Columbia - spanish (south american country) and British - Britain

the british name does imply a lot to some people

[Spork]

Think of British culture as being more or less analogous to "Western" culture, and you have your similarities immediately become more obvious. Anyways, a bit of a frivilous discussion, seeing as how we really just want it to be a Canadian representation of culture. We have no culture to really tie us together (maybe in 50-100 years?), so all we have right now is what is prevalent, and that is the traditional European influences (in the form of Quebec's culture and the Western infleunces), as well as the smaller pockets of people from China, India, etc.

[Hong Kongese]

Originally Posted by Allen

I agree with LeftCoaster that the Chinese did impact a lot on BC and just
think of the David Lam park or London Drugs...

Very funny! Allen, you forgot to mention T&T and Aberdeen Centre.

[SpongeG]

London Drugs was founded by sam bass and hy louie bout it in the mid 90's

how does that make it historically tied into BC?