Friday, May 31, 2019

WE the NORTH


The Toronto Raptors are in the NBA finals, and it’s generating so much energy and excitement around the City, the Province, even the Country. The catchphrase, "We the North" is on display on shirts, banners and murals all over town. Hopes and dreams have been invested in these player-warrior-mercenaries by its fan base, despite that none of them hail from Canada, let alone Toronto. The fact that the sole Canadian-based team is on the verge of ascending to the championship of the basketball world is a source of great pride. And it’s fascinating what powerful emotions that fandom generates. There’s no doubt that the entire community is enjoying a psychological lift. And I’ve absolutely felt the emotional slump that besets a community when their team loses a huge game or series.


But much of the rise or fall depends on the level of expectation. Toronto’s fan base is ecstatic because of what’s been achieved, but also because it exceeds the expectation. For that same reason, feelings of celebratory joy will absolutely erupt should we win this series, overcoming the juggernaut that is the Golden State Warriors; and disappointment will be tempered if we lose.

It’s kind of interesting that these events virtually coincide with the conclusion of the eight year series that was Game of Thrones. It’s another area – entertainment – where people project their desires and fears, invest their egos and sense of identity, and live vicariously through the exploits of the characters. In GoT, we also got echoes of ‘We the North’, the most loved and relatable characters hailing from the Stark family of Winterfell, which once ruled the northlands and aspires to doing so again.

Personally, I felt that the final season was brilliant if imperfect. But all around the world, hordes of fans were disappointed when the characters they idolized did not behave as was expected, and did not meet the fates it was felt they deserved.

Critically, I can agree that it’s a bit sad that sport and entertainment take so much of our energy and passion that would be much more productively and ethically invested in social and political issues. On the other hand, Art and Sport both are powerful symbols and microcosms of Life. I think that they are worthy of our attention and passion. And they needn’t replace real world concerns. They can even inform and energize them, as we see demonstrations of what skill, commitment, imagination and dreams can produce.

Go Raptors. WE THE NORTH!!!


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