re: New Brunswick Schools
I am Canadian. I grew up singing the national anthem in school. People who want it erased because of religious reasons should realize what country they came to live in.
Sure I am tolerant of individuality but the buck stops here. Political Correctness can kiss my non-political rectum.
God Bless Us All. Oops, Erase God too. Satan Reigns!!! Let the bitchin begin!
—I am Canadian
This article appears in Jul 23-29, 2009.
I want to know what religious reasons there are for not singing our national anthem…
You choose to live here and there’s nothing offensive about our anthem. I just don’t get it. There were so many different ways that the principal couldve handled that situation, he picked the wrong one.
It all started with the then-principle Millet who felt he’d received valid complaints from minorities in his school and then felt it was his duty to protect them from Oh Canada.
However, I recall reading that either the NB Dept of Education or that particular school district is ordering the anthen played at the start of each day as of Sept.
Who cares about a stupid anthem and yeah I’m sure the OP is a huge Christian. Caring deeply about a few words in a song, words you don’t even believe in, even if it’s uninclusive to people who may or may not have migrated here, strikes me as similar to that BS flag pin controversy down south.
Hey guess what? I was born in Canada, and I don’t give a fuck if the word God stays in the anthem.
/late night rant
I think its everywhere now that the schools have to include oh Canada in the morning. I can’t even remember the words to oh Canada. I think its something that our kids should know but I’m impartial if its sung everyday in class. My childs school plays oh Canada and another song that I think the kids pick. The last day of school it was high school musical
your kids school is blowing it big time
If you came to our country, you should have to listen to our Anthem, and follow the laws of our country. I am sure as hell we would have to do the same in yours! Canada is a wonderful country and we should be proud to live here!!!!True north stong and FREE 🙂
It’s O Canada, not Oh Canada. O is attributive, meaning an inherent characteristic. Oh is used as acknowledgement and/or a question, such as, “Oh, really?”
FWIW, I would rather O Canada be sung in schools and at public events. A little more patriotism wouldn’t hurt any of us.
I would gladly go to any country and listen to their national anthem, even if it implied I should blow goats. I expect the same here of anyone coming here. Just go outside and come back in when the anthem is done if it bothers you that much.
Here Here! When I hear the anthem at hockey games it always brings tears to my eyes!!!
I’m all for immigration and multiculturalism but i’m SICK of Canadians having to alter OUR culture to accommodate others that immigrate to OUR country.
You don’t like it, go back to your own country. Be thankful you are welcome here
Hmmm.
I grew up here and sang Oh Canada every morning in school too. I am not a religious person, but I don’t really care that the anthem has a reference to God in it, because I just try to focus on its historical importance rather than the religious content.
Also, I don’t believe what the Bible says, but I think it is a good read. You can learn a lot about society and how it functions by taking the (any?) historical text and interpreting the shit out of it. Think of it as a game.
All in all I do not think the anthem should be removed from schools, because it is one of the things that unites all of the provinces that make up this enormous country.
I think they could just change two lines in the full anthem to remove the word God. It’s unnecessary. Then everyone could sing along without having to think about fairy tales they don’t agree with (though I really don’t see what harm it causes either.)
Totally in agreement with Lukin77, well said!
I remember the issue with this anthem was its sexism AND its GOD….all kinds of sons and gods…. YIPPEROPNI get it out of school now….
‘O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Official Lyrics of O Canada!
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Well said Lukin77, I am totally in agreement. Why is it that we keep altering OUR culture. Do Cdns that move to other countries receive the same treatment? Some might say that is what makes us unique/friendly I say if we keep on altering we are not going to have any distinctive qualities/traditions that are completely CDN. (example: RCMP officers now allowed to wear turbans)Where does it stop?
What makes us uniquely Canadian is that we are a mish-mash of dozens of cultures instead of one all-dominating monoculture. We absorb bits of other cultures and that makes ours richer. Otherwise we’d be 17th century England.
Canada lacks a national identity by virtue of the fact we are multi-cultural. In my opinion, that means that we are not changing we are adapting. I am not familiar with what happened but I think a good thing to do is to write a new anthem, one that actually represents our country as well as Canada in the future.
I think a lot of these anti-multiculturalism arguments come off, if unintentionally, as being racist or xenophobic. I mean, what exactly is the “one true culture” of Canada? WASPs?
Agreed Mole Rat. It makes people sound like rednecks.
So, Lukin77 and Lady Jane, What exactly is “our culture?” Comments like yours make me laugh–not in a good way either.
I agree with what you say nai blanc. Change is not always bad, and it’s often inevitable.
For instance there is not one mention of women in the anthem. One of the things we are proud of as Canadians is our values of treating both sexes equally. If this is something to be proud of, who’s hurt by changing our anthem to reflect this?
To me “our culture” in Canada is so great because we have the freedom to do basically whatever the fuck we want.
Standing for the playing of the national anthem is a sign of respect though. Respect for the freedoms that being in Canada provides you. It’s no different than removing your shoes when you’re in a Japanese person’s home. Or bowing your head and pretending to say grace when grandma comes over for Christmas dinner.
A lot of people immigrate to Canada to escape oppression in their home countries – be thankful that you’re in Canada now and show some respect. Standing for 2 minutes at the beginning of the school day is a small sacrifice for freedom.
I think that in Canada we’re taught to embrace/tolerate other cultures, show respect for other people’s customs. We expect others to respect our traditions as well. And I personally don’t believe showing respect is an offensive gesture.
If we agree we are living organism then we must by virtue of that truism be forever evolving which means change is a part of who we are. Stagnation or status quo goes against the rules of evolution.
Defeatist behaviour occurs when one chooses to stay within status quo when it has been brought to light that a certain change is advancement. The subjective debate becomes what constitutes advancement.
I do not sing this song, it IS exclusionary both from a gender POV and a religious POV. Does that make it wrong?
NOPE..it makes it outdated….so what do we do about it?
Given we have women in the armed forces I think it is outdated as women stand on guard for thee as well. Not just christians go to war. So, if this is to be an anthem that reflects Canada then shouldn’t it reflect Canada in the here and now?
IT only requires inclusive language and not a complete overhaul.
It is about selecting your politic: ie. I never buy stamps with the queen on it because I am not confused about what a disgrace and farce the English monarchy is…..that is my choice not to buy her face. I also never sang ‘God Save the Queen’ for what should be obvious reasons…..
The question is not why some do not sing it but why some of you defend it here and prolly have not sang it in decades….what do you do to show you are CDN because surely a song cannot be the total sum of patriotism ?
Interesting thing about shoes off means Japanese? Other cultures and in particular Scottish take the person wearing shoes in your home to mean, historically, you are the landlord…..To wear shoes in a person’s home is disrespectful as no one liked the landlords and it assumes you have more rights than the person in their own home.
Sure it’s not. But tradition doesn’t have to be static.
Actually, Lukin – this country still belongs to the Aboriginals and always will. We never had a national anthem and never will. The national anthem in schools is just a waste of time and nationalistic crap.
German schools prior to WWII would force German youth to learn the anthems and they were very nationalistic and very socialistic.
Last time I checked, this was a free fucking country still and that YOU should count your blessings that YOU are still here – free and fine. The whites who claim to own Canada established this dominion as a haven for settlers to escape their old countries and start a new life and lineage. Now the descendants of those invaders now believe that they’re the rightful rulers of this nation and believe that we should close the borders.
FUCK. YOU.
As a proud minority I’ll end with this. If you don’t like it, go back to where YOU came from. Better yet, go commit suicide and you won’t have to put up with any more of your fellow “lousy immigrants”.
Aboriginals I speak with are way more open to immigration today than most ignorant-ass white people. Considering they didn’t have the option 500 years ago.
Get the fuck outta here….
Anyone who’s taken a basic fucking employment-related or canadian issues economics course KNOWS immigrants are VITAL to the Canadian economy. There simply isn’t enough skilled workers and immigrants bring skills and money into this country.
Canada’s “culture” is that OF immigrants — we’re multi cultural. Sure there are more white people here, but that doesn’t mean Canada doesn’t embrace all cultures.
That being said, I think the national anthem is important to the country and I think there is a place for nationalism in Canada. Many immigrants I know, especially ones who have canadian citizenship are grateful and happy to be here, and we cannot force people to just abandon their culture just because they relocated.
Countries around the world are accommodating to westerners and their culture, so I don’t see why we can’t be tolerant of theirs. I mean is it REALLY hurting us in the end? We live in a multi cultural country FFS. I’d hate to see some of you who are all “if you don’t want to live like us go back to where you came from” in a larger city like Toronto or even Vancouver. Probably crap your pants in some of the neighbourhoods where *gasp* white people aren’t in the majority!
This land as with all land belongs to no one.
Ownership is socially constructed concept based on capitalism and conquering. But if we say Squatters Rights Rule then the First Nations have dibbs with the wildlife. All we do is steal from this land that does not even belong to us.
WE make pathetic attempts to replace something we took but we do so more out of law than out of conscientiousness.
Yet the anthem is defended.
I participated in a submission about how Canada could compete in the world. I simply stated that Canada is not mature enough to do so and should look after its own business before thinking about playing with the big boys….or better yet strive to set new world standards of humanity and quality of life.
We have peoples going extinct, on the endangered list, in this nation, where is that in the anthem?
Where is the truth in that anthem because it sounds like a bunch of malarkey to me. Glorious …Yeah I will give you that….Free…not until we stop being America’s lil bitch we aint free..
Canada is the total sum of Oppies: Other People…and it is yet to experience real civil unrest which creates character and maturity, a personality of unison among its inhabitants. It is but a fetus in the world still developing a backbone.
fuck it close the borders….. enough is enough.
NGF of course the Natives want more immigration, that way there will be more taxpayers for them to leech off.
Wow, the LCD on this board have arrived.
The only ones I know leeching off any system are the able-bodied.
Soooooooo… doing the math there are more whites in the big Village ergo more able bodied leeching that are white or do you want to count the numerous native and black who are incarcerated too cause they must, in their over-representation, be leeching off tax payers too being they get their 3 squares and cot paid for?
To suggest the Natives and the generality in your post suggests ALL Natives are leeching is as racist as it gets. But I guess if I needed to hide behind a faux nick I would also need to act like a fecking infected hemorrhoid too.
So, who said this anthem issue has anything to do with immigration or Christianity? Did I miss something?
Last I heard of this story, the reasons for banning the anthem weren’t completely disclosed.
FWIW, certain groups, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses, don’t sing the anthem and are much more common in small maritime towns. Usually the kids just excuse themselves from class during the playing of the anthem.
Miles – Millett, the former school principle has said on several occasion that he banned the anthem so he could protect minority students and their rights. Many of those students and their families are newcomers to Canada.
Maybe it’s just me but if I move to another country I certainly wouldn’t expect them to change their laws to suit a newcomer, in fact I’m certain in many nations I’d be expected to change my habits/beliefs to match the norm in their land.
I wonder if it could be seen as a sign of solidarity with all those women of that faith that likes their women completely hidden, masks & all. If we could only play & sing ‘O Canada’ masked, take out any mention of god…& not allow any photo’s of anyone singing it.
Sorry guy’s, really poor sarcasm… I just reading the news. Specifically persons not wanting their picture on their drivers license, arguments over which Prophet was right & on those 3 young girls & their “aunt” killed by their parents & oldest brother. Because of some ‘honor’ bullshit in their conflicts with the girls integrating into a Canadian way of life & it pissed off dear old Mom & Dad & son ,who loved their power trip more than their own family members. So you disobey…you die , that really sounds like a religion of peace !
I would like to know/ask them “Why did you even bother to come here” ! ! !
You don’t like our Country, our customs, & our way of life … please GO SOMEWHERE ELSE !-end rant-
Basil: I would have preferred to see the Natives butcher and slaughter the invading “settlers”. Wouldn’t you?
Natives are damned for almost everything.
I don’t understand why the spirit of the anthem cannot be appreciated and expressed by all Canadians. If one word offends don’t sing it. If the whole song offends, you don’t belong here.