This article originally appeared on the blog on November 11, 2010, back when PITB was in its infancy. Because its message still applies, however, we thought we’d share it with you once again (with minor alterations for topicality). Please take a moment on this Remembrance Day to appreciate that the life you have is the result of others sacrificing theirs.
The Canucks line up for the national anthem prior to a game in Ottawa on November 11, 2010.
Way back in January of 2009, the Canucks went down to San Jose to play a Sharks team that, at that time, were the best team in hockey. The Canucks were sputtering; they had lost eight straight (and would go on to lose two more before this happened). It was a bad time for a measuring stick game, but Canucks fans needed to know their team wasn’t as bad as the losing streak suggested.
After Taylor Pyatt opened the scoring eight minutes into the first, the Canucks spent the rest of the game trying to make his goal stand up as the game-winner.
It almost did.
But, in the final minute, with the net empty, the Sharks applied heavy pressure and, with forty seconds left, Devon Setoguchi tied the game.
The collective groan of Canuck nation could be heard from space (where there’s no sound–that’s how loud it was). To make matters worse, Patrick Marleau scored three minutes later in overtime.
Fan response was bitter, though perhaps none were as vocal as the infamous Richard Beach. He went nuts, wrote a scathing letter, and canceled his cable. He was done.
Vancouver fans tore him nearly in half with their mockery, but I found it all a little hypocritical. From where I was sitting, his impetuous rampage was strangely admirable. He was unflinchingly upfront about Vancouver’s dirty little secret, a secret that was on full display this June: we take our hockey way too seriously.
I think we all felt at least a little of what he felt that day; I know I did. I was watching the game alone, and when Marleau scored, I threw the most infantile hissy fit of my adult life. Eventually, the blood rushed back to my brain, bringing perspective with it, I realized how seriously I take this team. ‘Tis a fine line between Richard Beach and I.
I tell this story because it’s Remembrance Day, and the worst thing that might happen to me today is a Canucks’ loss in Anaheim.
What a privilege to give so much import to something so trivial — only in a country overblessed with freedom. Consider a world where we can take hockey as seriously as we do, primarily because our lives are such that there’s little more grave to consider. We devote so much attention to the Canucks, I think we run the risk of forgetting the remarkable price some paid to afford us such lightness of being.
We live in a land so generally unburdened of persecution that the worst hate spewed in our direction will likely come from other hockey fans; a country where the only time most of us use military language is when describing a sports play; a country where the observation of freedom is so constant we run the risk of becoming unbeknownst to it, like water to a fish; a country where a regulation loss in January is the closest we come to the end of the world. It’s a remarkable privilege to expend so much emotion on a hockey game.
It’s not like this everywhere and it wouldn’t be like this here without the sacrifices of the men and women we this day remember.
Lest we forget.
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Petudy
November 11, 2011Sensitive, smart and funny– yet again. Thanks for this.
John Andress
November 11, 2011Absolutely first class! Well done. Thank you.
Zach Morris
November 11, 2011This deserves a wider audience.
This blog deserves a wider audience.
Tengeresz
November 11, 2011Thank you for this fine article (again).
I’m glad you are clever enough to relate this day to the subject that you properly cover, which I hope will bring it more relevance to people who have never faced the need for war, and warriors.
It has been said that those who serve have the most to lose from war, and are the strongest proponents of peace if possible. As one who served on potential combat duty overseas (although in a fairly safe deployment), I can attest to that — no one wants to die. It remains true, though, that there are problems that can only be solved by force, or at least the credible threat of force.
I wouldn’t want my son to join the armed forces; but, I appreciate the people who have done, and still do accept personal risk to serve the rest of us.
I also appreciate the people who use the tools they have to show appreciation.
You didn’t forget.
Anonymous
November 11, 2011Succinct and perfect. Thanks for this.
The Bookie
November 11, 2011Nice article. I do this all the time, not just for remembrance day. Whether it’s a Canucks loss, having to save $ by buying cheap beer rather than craft, wait an extra 10 minutes at the bus stop, etc. – if I catch myself really bitching, I’ll say out loud “Well, it’s a rough first world!”. Generally it works to put myself back in line.
Cathylu
November 11, 2011Thanks for repeating this (since I wasn’t following you yet last November it’s new to me). Very thought-provoking.
tom selleck's moustache
November 11, 2011Thanks for sharing this. It is very easy to lose perspective on good life really is in our part of the world and we forget that, in a sense, we really did win the lottery of life. It’s thoughtful posts like these that help to bring back a little sense into the big picture.
BeCanucks
November 12, 2011Absolutely true… at the end of the day, hockey is a game, war is a matter of life and death. Thank you for helping us keep things in perspective!