Patriotism on parade in advance of Vancouver's Olympic anniversary

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel," as Samuel Johnson aptly noted over two hundred years ago. American writer Ambrose Bierce later added, "... I beg to submit that it is the first." H. L. Mencken had the final word: "But there is something even worse: it is the first, last, and middle range of fools."

Indeed. The patriotism on parade is that allegedly of Canadians, particularly Vancouverites, in regard to last year's Olympic Games, in which the impulse for flag waving came before, during, and now after the Games have departed.