Ever Heard of Gander, Newfoundland?

[James NM]

Saturday, February 27.

I was just watching the East Coast feed of the Olympics on NBC, and they ran a story on 9 11 and Gander, Canada. All I can say is wow, what a surprise - on two fronts.

First, I have never heard of Gander, and didn't realize the contributions Canada made to the US after the terrorists attack on September 11, 2001. Second, I'm shocked that NBC actually had some non-sports related programming worth watching.

I can't stress enough how great I thought the piece was. It came on approximately 2:40 PM eastern time, and lasted about 50 minutes. That would make it airing again at 3:40 central, 4:40 mountain, and well, you know. If you have the chance to catch it, I think you'll be glad you did. I guess this heads up will only be of use to those in mountain and pacific time zones. But, since NBC is showing re-runs, I guess there will be a second chance for anyone interested.

 

[jamie2112]

Its on now .......very good indeed

 

[GO-NAD!]

My home town is about 40 miles from Gander. I was in the UK on 9/11/2001. But, my Dad told me that he was out fishing with a friend that day - they live by the ocean - and they kept seeing aircraft after aircraft flying over them in the direction of Gander and thought how peculiar it was that so many were headed in that direction. Gander, during WW2, had the largest airport in the world, but 60 years later, was just a shadow of its former self. So much air traffic was very unusual .

With all the passengers and aircrew, the population of Gander pretty much doubled, so many of those people ended up staying in some of the smaller towns outside Gander. It was traumatizing for the visitors, but it also had a dramatic impact on the local people. They thought they'd come to the end of the earth. As far as Newfoundlanders are concerned - it's God's country. I haven't lived there for 29 years, but I still miss it dearly.

Newfoundland is not a wealthy place (that may change with all the oil offshore), but people there will give you the shirts off their backs. They know what hard times are, so are quite prepared to help others in a rough situation.

 

[majorloser]

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[darien87]

I saw that piece on the Olympics coverage too. Pretty cool. I was all hopped up on Canadian kindness, and then I heard a recording of Canadian hockey fans chanting "F*** USA" after they lost that first hockey game.

It doesn't matter where you go, there's crappy people everywhere.

 

[j_garcia]

Hockey is like religion in Canada though, and they take it WAY too seriously. They sure were quiet once they lost weren't they? (Yes they still went on to get gold, so they can get over it).

 

[GO-NAD!]

Hockey is like religion in Canada though, and they take it WAY too seriously. They sure were quiet once they lost weren't they? (Yes they still went on to get gold, so they can get over it).

Yes, hockey is a religion here. If Team Canada had not won the gold medal, the olympics would've been regarded as a bust up here - regardless of how many other medals were won. That loss to the US was not well received. The trash talk after the game was in poor taste, but is not indicative of most Canadians' attitudes. I don't believe in sour grapes and the US team won it fair and square.

Newfoundlanders wouldn't talk like that. (I would like to think, anyway)