In his praise for Own the Podium, Chris Rudge, the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, fails to grasp the true nature of humility (Our Unaccustomed Swagger - March 5). He joins a long line of those who want Canadians to boast about how modest we are and to lecture others about how polite we are.
Now, apparently without irony, he wants to add swaggering with class to the list of Canadian qualities.
The athletes' achievements were great to watch, but we can celebrate them without proclaiming "We're No. 1" to anyone within hearing distance. Arrogance is not a precondition for achievements that matter. We would do better to strive for modesty, generosity, and skepticism without cynicism, and let our image take care of itself.