On Remembrance Day I’m typically at my home in Dartmouth, so walk down to the ceremony at the duck pond. A lot of people go—so many that if you’re not very early you’ll have a hard time hearing the proceedings due to the size of the crowd.
Anyway, I’ve been very disappointed that each year the ceremony includes a rendition of Onward Christian Soldiers. It’s not just the presumption that everyone in the crowd is Christian, but also the fact that Canada is presently at war in the mainly Muslim country of Afghanistan. Our adversaries would like nothing better than to categorize that conflict as a war between religions; it doesn’t serve the Canadian cause well by playing into that argument.
Re-reading the lyrics, I see it’s even worse than I remembered. Not only does the cross lead us in battle, but the song implores us to have just one “doctrine,” which is an about as un-Canadian as is possible, imo.
This article appears in Nov 6-12, 2008.
So we should toss out tradition to appease some? There are lots of people who know the song “onward Christian soldiers”, particularly our parents & grandparents generation. (even those who don’t attend church) Why should we rob them of the chance to share a traditional moment together? Everything will offend everyone at some point. Washing away our traditions is not the answer. No one’s expecting non-christians to give up their faith by hearing a song sung, it’s just an opportunity to see a different tradition in action – and maybe appreciate differences. And really, those that we’re at war against don’t care about a song, they’re much more concerned about our women being uncovered, our sexually liberal ways etc. and how our infidel ways are influencing their country.
This is an old hymn that celebrates the spread of Christianity and what many were willing to give up in order to defend it. When remembering the sacrfices of the millions who served in the forces, in the merchant marine, on the docks and in the factories and farms this ode is not applicible.
Did those who served do so out of religious conviction or to suppress an inthinkable evil?
I think a song that would recognize the sacrifices without singling out one section (albeit a major section) of society is more appropriate and would better symbolize the reasons for so many to give up what they did.
I go to Sullivan’s pond every year and leave when they start up this hymn. I feel that this song is wrong for the occassion.