Singing Anarchists

Those "anarchists and criminals" spoil everything.

More than 150 people were injured after rioting in downtown Vancouver following the Canucks' loss in the Stanley Cup Final. Rioters clashed with police, torched cars, smashed windows and looted stores. Where did those Vancouverites think they were - Detroit? Rioting after your pro sports team wins or loses a championship final is as American as apple pie, assault weapons in every home, or refusal of medical insurance due to a pre-existing condition. It's one of the reasons we kicked your Canadian behinds in The War of 1812. We can do it. You can't.

Vancouver's Police Chief blamed a small group of "anarchists and criminals" for the violence. Anarchists? Anarchy went out of style around World War I and you can't tell an anarchist just by looking at him. Why not do the American thing and blame a specific ethnic or religious group? It makes revenge on the innocent so much easier.

It's a different world north of the border. During the national anthems before the Canucks - Bruins game, Canadians stood respectfully for the Star Spangled Banner and didn't boo ot catcall. Like that would happen in Boston or Philly. After the first stanza of the Canadian anthem, the singer raised his microphone and the crowd lustily belted out its lyrics a capella. Those Canadians actually knew the words unlike we Americans who still haven't figured out whether our bright stars and broad stripes gleam through the perilous fight or night or both or neither.

Is it worth it to live in a country with anarchists if that country also has a singable national anthem? Oh, and you can Cuban cigars there, too.