The Final Hip tour and reminiscing about Gord Downie

[nik-]

Made a thread, because this deserves its own slice of this forum imo

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=156189

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Where is the best place to buy all of the band's albums online? I want digital copies that I can transfer to whichever device I would like.

Thanks.

iTunes Store has a bundle of all of their albums.

[Igottago]

Can't believe this is it. Legends.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

iTunes Store has a bundle of all of their albums.

Ugh. iTunes.

I guess a guy has to do what a guy has to do...

[Flames007]

Last night was not only about saying farewell to The Tragically Hip, one of the most powerful bands of rock and roll. Last night was the time to celebrate a musical legend and his strength and courage during his battle with cancer. Gord Downie‬ danced last night, in the shadow of death, with his entire Country watching, celebrating, crying and reflecting on his many songs, poetry and energetic performances. Gord Downie - I commend you. ‪

[ernie]

Bump. Interview with Mansbridge tonight. Note he is struggling with his memory which I think many suspected based on the dropped lyrics which were far more than usual.

http://jam.canoe.com/Celebrities/201.../22674292.html

When Mansbridge asks Downie if he’s fighting what’s in front of him, the singer – who has undergone surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to slow the cancer’s progression – says yes. “For sure. I can get more time,” Downie says. “More time if I try this, I can get more time.”

But he admits that he is resigned to the eventual outcome of his disease.

“I am resigned to the direction this is heading, yes. I am. I really am,” Downie says.

“Because I can see it, and feel it, doing some… not doing some good, but it’s… creating something. An opportunity, I guess, and they don’t come around too often.”

[Kipper is King]

Oh man, that was hard to watch. What an amazing human being. He still has his sense of humour despite such grim circumstances.

He mentioned some recordings done by The Hip that have yet to be released...

Mansbridge: "So, we'll hear more from the Hip?"

Downie: "Yeah, to the point where you think 'is that guy not dead yet?'"

Oh, Gord.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I just came to post this as I came across the interview while flipping channels. The quip about not being dead yet shows the guy still has a sense of humour. He seemed acutely aware of his situation during the interview. He may be using music as a coping mechanism but definitely not as an escape. He's facing it head on.

Direct link if anyone cares:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/g...view-1.3804422

[Igottago]

Pretty powerful interview. I've said it before but my respect for the man has grown even further since news came out about his health. The way he is approaching it and the energy he is devoting to issues larger than himself its nothing short of inspirational. Great to see he's still writing, looking forward to hearing Secret Path.

[metallicat]

The one thing I will nitpick though, is his claim that we aren't racist towards indigenous people, or that racism isn't the cause of the decades of mistreatment. I think it definitely is racism. Not everyone in this country is of course, but what Aboriginal people have gone through has often been as close to state sponsored as you can get.

What Gord is trying to do is admirable and remarkable though. He knows he is dying, and is choosing to use his remaining time to help improve the lives of people who have been held down for so long.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by oilers_fan

The one thing I will nitpick though, is his claim that we aren't racist towards indigenous people, or that racism isn't the cause of the decades of mistreatment. I think it definitely is racism. Not everyone in this country is of course, but what Aboriginal people have gone through has often been as close to state sponsored as you can get.

What Gord is trying to do is admirable and remarkable though. He knows he is dying, and is choosing to use his remaining time to help improve the lives of people who have been held down for so long.

I remember in junior high a kid told a joke about killing thousands of natives (the one about the flooding a football stadium or something, can't remember the exact joke) and everyone including the teacher were laughing.

It was totally acceptable to joke about killing off thousands of indigenous Canadians yet if a student made the exact same joke about any other race/religion it would have been the most horrifying thing the teacher had ever heard and students would be shocked.

[jayswin]

Also, our junior high school gym teacher's go to insult when we were acting up was "you're running around like a bunch of natives".

That was also completely acceptable at the time.

[Major Major]

I took Peter's question to mean are we presently racist. That's the question he answered. And I think he's right that most aren't or the issue isn't driven by racism. Underexposure yes. And I think Peter was trying to point toward ignorance as well. Which I think is legit.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I took Peter's question to mean are we presently racist. That's the question he answered. And I think he's right that most aren't or the issue isn't driven by racism. Underexposure yes. And I think Peter was trying to point toward ignorance as well. Which I think is legit.

I would argue racism is still a major factor. It's less than before but it's still very prominent and acceptable in our society. Racism towards Indigenous Canadians is on the same level as racism towards African Americans in a lot of the US (at least in terms of the way people think and speak, the physical actions often go further down there), we just don't see it that way because it's always been varying levels of acceptable here.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I took Peter's question to mean are we presently racist. That's the question he answered. And I think he's right that most aren't or the issue isn't driven by racism. Underexposure yes. And I think Peter was trying to point toward ignorance as well. Which I think is legit.

I hope they at least teach about residential schools in the curriculum these days. I know when I was in school, it was never mentioned. It's kind of a big deal and it should be taught starting at the elementary level. How can people move forward if they don't know the past?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I would argue racism is still a major factor. It's less than before but it's still very prominent and acceptable in our society. Racism towards Indigenous Canadians is on the same level as racism towards African Americans in a lot of the US (at least in terms of the way people think and speak, the physical actions often go further down there), we just don't see it that way because it's always been varying levels of acceptable here.

Self-interest is a pretty big factor. Just look at the vitriol tossed towards indigenous bands who object to pipelines going through their territories on cultural or environmental grounds (which often intersect), or when people object to the so-called "special treatment" First Nations get with regards to tuition, etc.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Self-interest is a pretty big factor. Just look at the vitriol tossed towards indigenous bands who object to pipelines going through their territories on cultural or environmental grounds (which often intersect), or when people object to the so-called "special treatment" First Nations get with regards to tuition, etc.

Lots of ugly stuff. If no one saw this post and we started a thread on Indigenous Canadians wanting something or fighting for something you'd see that ugliness rear it's head on CP.

When these topics have come up in the past it comes out in even decent posters. Really sad.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I hope they at least teach about residential schools in the curriculum these days. I know when I was in school, it was never mentioned. It's kind of a big deal and it should be taught starting at the elementary level. How can people move forward if they don't know the past?

They do. I was surprised at the level of detail they were even going into in my son's grade four class. They were telling eight and nine year olds how native children were taken from their families, how the last one closed in the 90s, etc. Definitely good for them to learn starting so young.

The school system has really sparked a lot of interest in native culture for my kids.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Sliver

They do. I was surprised at the level of detail they were even going into in my son's grade four class. They were telling eight and nine year olds how native children were taken from their families, how the last one closed in the 90s, etc. Definitely good for them to learn starting so young.

The school system has really sparked a lot of interest in native culture for my kids.

I'm really glad to hear that they are teaching this to children in school, the only way to fix a generational problem like this is to make sure people are educated about it early in life. It's a form of inoculation, if a child is explained the facts before someone(a parent or friend) can give them a prejudice version of the "facts" they will be less likely to believe the biased statements. Which would hopefully lead to more empathy and attention being brought to the issue, rather than the mindset of "it's a big mess and can't be fixed" that most people have.

Which school system are your kids in? Public, Catholic, private?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I'm really glad to hear that they are teaching this to children in school, the only way to fix a generational problem like this is to make sure people are educated about it early in life. It's a form of inoculation, if a child is explained the facts before someone(a parent or friend) can give them a prejudice version of the "facts" they will be less likely to believe the biased statements. Which would hopefully lead to more empathy and attention being brought to the issue, rather than the mindset of "it's a big mess and can't be fixed" that most people have.

Which school system are your kids in? Public, Catholic, private?

Regular old CBE public.

I took them to Batoch (Riel Rebellion) in early September for a bit of history on Metis since they are so interested. Beautiful spot and they really liked it. So I guess we're encouraging the interest.

I was raised listening to Brocket and having a negative view of natives so I'm really trying to combat my own prejudices, which I still see creeping into my thoughts sometimes.

We were talking about some of the troubles a lot of native children have and what we could do to help. I was thinking, 'well, they can face a lot of issues at home with addiction, alcohol, gangs, etc. Maybe we could get them off the reserve for a bit and into a healthier environment. Give them a better education, perhaps.' I basically reinvented residential schools do I don't have a clue what can be done about any of the problems. My kids should have a way better chance at finding solutions with where they're starting from.