It is just past 7:00 in the morning. The sun is slowly rising above the horizon and warming the hundred or so people I find myself with. Marijuana smoke hangs in the early morning air and finds its' way into my lungs. I am alone among strangers but surrounded by friends.
Iconic Canadian band, The Tragically Hip are coming to my small hometown of Cobourg to perform a concert. No one here knows why they have chosen our little community centre to play at but, they have and that's all that matters. That, and the fact that tickets go on sale in a few hours. Everyone is here, it seems. Some have camped out overnight. Everyone clutches their Timmies double-doubles. Music fills the air. Smiles abound. I haven't even had breakfast yet. But I have had my double-double.
It is in this scene of Canadiana gone wild that I take out my iPod and begin to type my entry for this weekend's Trifextra challenge. Super heroes come in all shapes, sizes and formats. I have chosen to pull my subject, not from the world of animation or cartoon but, from the golden age of cinema.
Hollywood has a way of romanticizing reality. One of the most famous Canadian examples of this came from the mythologizing of Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers in the movie, Rose Marie, starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald.
Nelson Eddy: King of the R.C.M.P.
Clothed in red serge
atop his trusty steed.
Women swooned.
Outlaws quaked.
Hollywood smiled.
In their circles,
tears of the First Peoples,
sparkled against their red skin
in the glow of dying embers.
I am a firm supporter of the men and women who serve in our police forces and armed forces. That they risk their lives to keep me and my family safe does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. However, sometimes, as in the case of the Nelson Eddy movies, being heroic comes at a cost to others. In Canada, as in the U.S., westward expansion was achieved at the cost of uprooting First Nations Peoples from their land and destroying a way of life that had existed for centuries. It used to be a source of national pride that Nelson Eddy and the RCMP "always got their man." However, with the passing of time, many countries, including my own, have taken a more reflective look at history and the cost of nation-building. First Nations culture is now being celebrated and respected to a greater extent in Canada than ever before. But, if you were to ask my 81 year old mother about seeing Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald as a young girl, her eyes would light up and she would say that he was a true Canadian hero. To her, he was.
On a closing note, here is The Tragically Hip and a most appropriate song for this esteemed group of writers, Poets. ***Note, there is a brief bit of nudity in the crowd, if that matters to you. Also, lead singer, Gord Downie, is a bit "out there" sometimes on stage. But, I love the Hip. O' Canada!
"Don't tell me how the universe is altered
When you find out it's the writers who get laid." Now, there is a great lyric! :)
Very interesting piece here and I enjoyed the history. Indeed, Hip is very hip (esp the lead guitarist) and I'm all for writers getting laid. Well done, Tom.
ReplyDeleteBtw, where ya been?
DeleteThanks for the comments, Lumdog. As for where I have been........life, what can I tell you.
DeleteSchool's been busy, my wife and youngest daughter have had a serious stomach flu recently that has upset our routines a lot and, finally, springtime has arrived and, with it, lawn care, garden prep. and lots of outside time for the girls (their bikes, parks, etc.) It has just been a busy couple of weeks. Glad that you noticed I was gone, however. But, on the plus side, I did win the World Book Night contest on Trifecta and got Hayley and Cheyenne on the Trifecta Tumblr so, I haven't disappeared completely. :)
Looks like a fun concert. I'm almost 60. Wonder what the crowd would do if a bunch of us seniors started stripping? I bet that would steal a little thunder from the front man.
ReplyDeleteThe RCMP are historical heros in my opinion. People will look back at our mores and scoff. We are a product of our environment. In any group of people, there is ignorance and cruelty.
I do feel sympathy for the first people. Its the shameful truth for the North American. I have native american ancestry. There are just no easy answers.
Leonard Cohen said it best,
Delete"My very close companion
gets me fumbling, gets me laughing,
she's a hundred
but she's wearing something tight."
You're never too old to be sexy. Strip away, my dear Ann! :)
Very good post - enjoyed immensely and the song was pretty good!
ReplyDeleteI think 'we' pay more lip service than actually reflect generally on First Nation or Native Indian people. The reality on the ground is, well, much better than 60 years ago, but in fact...
Europeans could still learn though, with regard to our Roma minorities.
All we have done here is take the first step. The building of bridges between cultures is far from complete. But, at least, invitations are being proffered to explore the ancient cultural philosophies and practices and we are discovering some of the wisdom and beauty that lay there. It is a start. Much work remains.
DeleteThe history that surrounds your piece is fascinating. I only wish the reflection had started sooner. There could be more progress by now if it had.
ReplyDeleteWe have begun integrating "Native Studies" into our school curriculum. I have learned a lot about the wisdom and beauty found in First Nations culture. It isn't practical, in all likelihood, to redress all the mistakes of the past but, moving forward with a greater sense of respect for other cultures is an important place to start. :)
DeleteGreat thoughts, Tom, on how heroes are chosen and perceived. (Am crossing my fingers that I can get this comment through today, as all of yesterday's disappeared into a mysterious File 13 with many of our true daily heroes.)
ReplyDeleteI must be your good luck charm because your comment arrived safe and sound. Thanks for your well-chosen words. They are appreciated, as always.
DeleteThis is so good Tom. Love the shift in perspective in the second stanza. First Nations people have paid a hefty price here in Canada — and it's so important to acknowledge that.
ReplyDeleteOn another note — the Hip! Lucky you! They are so much fun to see live.
The Hip live........I know!!!!!!! In Cobourg to boot!!!!
DeleteThanks for your comments regarding First Nations peoples. I appreciate your sense of understanding.
I saw the Tragically Hip with Tom Cocerane, April Wine and Ugly Kid Joe in an out door concert in BC sometime in the 1990's
ReplyDeleteI love this post. The idea of mixing poetry and prose is becoming my favourite form of expression its a Haibun in Japanese and the combinations are endless. I agree about the RCMP being heros but they have become a caricature. I boycotted Kevin Costner after the untouchables because of the disrespectful the way they depicted RCMP (but i lifted that when Robin Hood came out...)
Right now, I am boycotting Home Depot because I tried to order a custom storm door through them and they told me that they couldn't help me and walked away. We all pick our own special places to draw that line in the sand, don't we? :)
DeleteGlad you liked the post.
Every country,every era & every generation has their own heroes & it changes with time-your fabulous piece shows just how:-)An interesting read Tom:-)
ReplyDeleteHistory gets to be depicted by the victors. That has been true everywhere, all over the world as you have so correctly pointed out. Sometimes, one culture's hero is another culture's villian. The multi-dimensionality of our heroes is what I was attempting to go after in this piece. I have no real beef with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They have represented Canada well on the world stage. However, I do take issue with the romanticization of such institutions. Things are rarely as clear cut as they seem.
DeleteThanks for your insightful comments, as always.
I loved the quote at the end, it's brilliant!
ReplyDeletethank you for all the things you just taught me about the RCMP, and the poem was lovely..I loved how Hollywood smiled.
hope you had a great weekend my friend.
Thank you for your kind and supportive comments. I do appreciate them so. Glad you liked the talk of writers getting laid. I always knew you were my kind of people!!! :)
Delete