How unfortunate that a well-intentioned wordsmith, Shane Koyczan, announced at the opening ceremonies that Canadians are distinguished by the fact we say "please" and "thank you," genteel nation that we are. The implication was that other nations - specifically the Americans - may not share this trait.
Tact and diplomatic common sense would dictate that Canadian hosts would not proclaim such self-perceptions to international visitors, much less broadcast them to a global audience. Notions that we-are-Canadians-because-we-are-not-
Americans-who-say-zee are naive, inaccurate, and unworthy jingoism. Other nations also exhibit politesse and hospitality, and surely good sportsmanship is comprised of recognizing and delighting in the merits of one's competitors.