INDOCTRINATION...BAD?

The other night I was at my first Canucks game of the season.  I am a huge hockey fan and eat, sleep and breathe Canucks for a good part of the year.  In front of us, sat two young boys.  One in an Oilers jersey, one in a Canucks jersey.  Obviously the kid in the Canucks jersey was cuter, and between you and me, looked far more intelligent.  Anyways, what was my point?  Oh yes, indoctrination.  Definition here. I had a little debate with my friend about the jerseys. (Incidentally, we decided afterwards that having this debate in front, or rather, directly behind these kids and their parents AT the game, was rather inapropriate, but that's really here nor there)  So, my friend believes that by putting a child in a jersey, or a onesie displaying team colours/logo such as this little number:

It is not respecting their right to choose which team they actually want to cheer for.  It puts us in a power position of deciding for them who is worthy or their support.  Now although I completely uderstand why in principal this is wrong, I dare you to deny the cute factor of these booties:

and I find it incomparable to indoctrinating other types of beliefs. (religion, politics etc) I was very lucky to have a mother who made it clear that these were my decisions to make in life, and am forever grateful to her for letting me find my own way in those regards.  So here's the bottom line:  My friend is right, but i don't feel like supporting a sports team is in the same category as the bigger questions in life, and furthermore there is a small window for this cute factor and I feel like especially at a very young age, there is probably no harm in dressing them in Canucks jerseys and such, taking a ton of pictures, only to keep them for years so down the road when your child has decided on their own that they loooove the Leafs, (bleck) you can torcher them with said pictures for your enjoyment.   Thoughts on this? Am I weak of will and mind? Corporate Whore?

A few more for the road:

and a whole other debate...

The Most Wonderful Thing

Two of the most incredible people in the world just did something amazing. They had a baby girl. My dear dear friends just spent an entire day bringing her into this world.
I can't explain the joy this brings me. (i am of course, going to try though)
I believe it's partly due to the fact that I've watched my friend grow from a sometimes angst ridden, grimy teenaged boy into a wonderful friend, husband, and now father! His wife is a rock of a woman, with wisdom coming out of her ears, and i truly believe that together, they are unstoppable.
Almost a year ago now, another friend of mine brought a baby boy into the world. i was overjoyed then too. i think though, that i'm even more excited this time, because i've had the chance now to understand (as much as an aunty with no kids of her own can) just what a profound event it is to have a child.
Now it's time to Celebrate!!!!