Prouder today?

A public question issued by another media outlet on Monday really brought to light how caught up people must be in Canada's national gam, when it asked if you are prouder to be a Canadian today because Canada won hockey gold on Sunday?

Proud, yes. Prouder, no.

That's what any red and white blooded, maple leaf touting Canadian should have responded.

There's no doubt there's a lot of pride that goes with winning gold in the sport identified as the country's own, especially when it's on home soil. But any clear thinking Canadian should not be any prouder of any of the results at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics than any other.

How about the other 13 gold medalists - didn't they make you proud? Or the seven silver and five bronze medalists?

Then there's the organizing committee and volunteers that showcased Canada to the world, and even though there may have been a few bumps along the way, it was a proud two weeks to be Canadian.

However, when one ponders the question a little longer, and does not provide an answer from emotion, the success of the Olympic Games, both on and off the podium, shouldn't factor into the answer on Canadian pride.

It's the privileges and freedoms we have as Canadians that should make us proud every time we wake up and walk out our front door.

An overwhelming pride in the fact you can walk into an emergency room and receive free healthcare; send your child to school everyday for a free education; come and go within our country as you please; the choose what you wear; and the equality there is as men and women in this country.

All of these are factors to be proud of in greater levels than whether a hockey team finishes first, fifth or eighth. Hockey may be a passion for many in Canada - fans emit tremendous pride on its success and vast disappoint on its failures - but it doesn't define Canada as a country and what it stands for.

Be proud of our country's hockey players, as well as other Canadian Olympic athletes that kept many on the edge of their seats for two weeks in February.

But to be a prouder Canadian because of one golden moment when 20-odd of our country's hockey players were just one goal better than 20-odd American hockey players doesn't do Canada, as a country, justice for what it has built through its history.

Ride the proud emotional wave of the hockey team's success, but be a very proud Canadian every day for what you have and enjoy.