Conservatives eye new lyrics for our national anthem (Canada)

Conservatives eye new lyrics for our national anthem

www.thestar.com

OTTAWA—Three days after Canadians belted out “O Canada” to celebrate the nation’s Olympic hockey win, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are asking whether the anthem should be changed.

The phrase “In all thy sons command” has some women calling for a gender-neutral version, Industry Minister Tony Clement says, citing an email from a constituent.

(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 4-3-2010 by jephers0n]

Ok... This is COMPLETELY ridiculous!

Some people just don't see the damage that all this over-the-top PC crap is actually doing to this world. Now, I see that this may not be accepted as proper fare for ATS, to some, but I believe it's showing just how much the people are being dumbed down.

In respect to the lady who said this in the article (and those who may agree):

“For 50 years ..... I’ve listened to our anthem and felt excluded by the line,” Tina Prietz, 60, of Huntsville, Ont., wrote to Clement. “Yes, you’ve guessed it, I’m female.”

I just don't see how it is so hard to actually LOOK UP the meaning of these words, rather than push for a 'gender neutral' way to say it. In the way the word (sons) is used in our anthem, it is not speaking of the male gender. Instead, it is speaking of the children of this nation (male and female). Were the word to include an apostrophe (ie. Son's), it would indeed be referring to the males ONLY. BUT, this is not the case with our anthem.

For our government to actually consider changing the anthem, to make some people happy, I find COMPLETELY ridiculous.

NEXT they'll try to tell us that the line "God keep our land, glorious and free", will have to change for the SLIGHT reference to religion.

What are your thoughts ATS?

Do you agree that this whole PC thing is being blown out of proportions?

I look forward to any and all responses, in hopes of generating a good debate about these PC issues.

Thanks,

Jephers0n

www.thestar.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Edit to clarify a point*

[edit on 4-3-2010 by jephers0n]

[edit on 4-3-2010 by jephers0n]

I feel we in Canada have become far too PC in many cases now, where we have ourselves asking, "whats is a Canadian?". Our anthem isn't PC, being a christian, is no longer PC. Tim Hortons and the words "merry christmas" is no longer PC. To have laws based on general safety (the helmet law) or dress code (RCMP outfit) well you guessed it is no longer PC. So my opinion is. We are a country that survived fine with our traditons, our religions, and what people do in the privacy of our own homes. We managed just fine for hundreds of years.

When are people going to sing our national anthem, and be proud of being a "Canadian". And not just proud, pierre trudeau gave them the right to ***** and complain about anything. We live in one of the most free countries in the world, I just feel far too many people take advantage of those freedoms, and would like to change hundreds of years of tradition that make us "CANADIANS". To suit the few who excercise there rights too freely.

Leave Canada the way it is, its just fine our anthem our laws (some of them that is) our way of life there all ok. Just get rid or our corrupt political arrangement, and actually have a group of concerned citizens who represent the people. And we'd be even better....sorry found the rose colored glasses near the end

Originally posted by SaneThinking

When are people going to sing our national anthem, and be proud of being a "Canadian". And not just proud, pierre trudeau gave them the right to ***** and complain about anything. We live in one of the most free countries in the world, I just feel far too many people take advantage of those freedoms, and would like to change hundreds of years of tradition that make us "CANADIANS". To suit the few who excercise there rights too freely.

Thanks for the reply, and may I mention that you definitely do your nickname on here justice!

I agree with each and every word of your reply, and applaud you for it!

I just hope that puppet Harper gets ousted soon. I'm sick of his crap.

The phrase “In all thy sons command” has some women calling for a gender-neutral version

Uhhhh, That is stupid, don't know what else to say about it, "In all thy persons command" That sounds like Shnitz, seriously. All this politically correct BS is driving me insane...

I shall always sing "oh Canada" the way I have always sang it.

In english and as loud as I can....

Nothing and no one will ever change that..

dam fools if you ask me..........

EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Nationalism is bull#. Period. WHAT ARE WE PROUD OF? A CENTRAL BANK THAT R.APES US? A MILITARY THAT SERVES UNDER BIG BROTHER AMERICA? CORPORATIONS ARE STEALING ALL OF OUR RESOURCES AND WE ARE BICKERING OVER A SONG SO HORRIBLY OUTDATED AND IRONIC THAT IT'S LAUGHABLE!!!!! C'MON, IT'S A JOKE. CANADA IS A CORPORATION, NOT A SOVEREIGN NATION. IT'S BANKRUPT.. a waste.

PMD OUT!

Originally posted by tribewilder
I shall always sing "oh Canada" the way I have always sang it.

In english and as loud as I can....

Nothing and no one will ever change that..

dam fools if you ask me..........

Agreed.

I will continue to sing it in the way that will respect and honour our ancestors and founding fathers the most; The way it was written. No one can stop me... Unless of course we continue along this whole nanny/police state direction.

reply to post by purplemonkeydishwasher


Good points, but the nation encompasses more than simply the laws which govern us. Or the fact that we're a corporation (Canada Inc, New York, NY is our home office... check into it). THAT is a whole different story, though.

To be Canadian is a frame of mind.

Also, I believe your caps lock may be stuck... You should check that out.

Seriously, pardon my caps in the previous statment, but I believe the tone of voice I would have used to convey those thoughts would have shared the same energy.. people are so out of touch with what is actually going on! C'mon Canadians! WE STOLE THIS LAND! IT ISN'T OURS! We talk of the Palestinians being displaced and killed: WHAT ABOUT THE NATIVE ABORIGINALS OF KANATA! Do you know what Canada means? TOWN. WE ARE TOWNIES. STOP ACTING LIKE TOWNIES AND START ACTING AND THINKING LIKE SOVEREIGN INDIVIDUALS.

I will continue to sing it in the way that will respect and honour our ancestors and founding fathers the most; The way it was written. No one can stop me... Unless of course we continue along this whole nanny/police state direction.

ANCESTORS???????????????????????????????????????????????
You don't have ancestors in Canada, you have grandparents, or great-grandparents. WE COLONISED THIS LANDMASS! READ: WE STOLE IT AND MURDERED THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS FOR THE CROWN. SHAME ON US!

I won't fly the flag, and I certainly won't sing a song glorifying the b.s.


THINK!!!!!

Originally posted by jephers0n
reply to post by purplemonkeydishwasher

 

Good points, but the nation encompasses more than simply the laws which govern us. Or the fact that we're a corporation (Canada Inc, New York, NY is our home office... check into it). THAT is a whole different story, though.

To be Canadian is a frame of mind.

Also, I believe your caps lock may be stuck... You should check that out.

No, to be a human being is a frame of mind. What exactly have you done that exemplifies you as a Canadian, that would set you apart from your brother in Africa? Not a damn thing. Stop clinging to cliches and terms that make you feel safe and warm! It's like celebrating the Gold Medals in the Olympics, and totally neglecting to cheer for the bombs and bullets we bought to be used in Afghanistan. Or the Tarsands that we acquiesce to being raped, without return of profit for our tax dollars at work.

There is a bigger picture you are missing, and nationalism/patriotism is part of the distraction.

edit to note: I do not expect, nor ever want a cent from the Tarsands. lol

[edit on 4-3-2010 by purplemonkeydishwasher]

reply to post by purplemonkeydishwasher


Ok, I see you've almost fixed that caps lock. However, you're still not adding much along the lines of the thread. I don't think you understand the language I'm using here, so I'll put up a quick definition.


an·ces·tor
   /ˈænsɛstər or, especially Brit., -səstər/ Show Spelled[an-ses-ter or, especially Brit., -suh-ster] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a person from whom one is descended; forebear; progenitor.
2.
Biology. the actual or hypothetical form or stock from which an organism has developed or descended.
3.
an object, idea, style, or occurrence serving as a prototype, forerunner, or inspiration to a later one: The balloon is an ancestor of the modern dirigible.
4.
a person who serves as an influence or model for another; one from whom mental, artistic, spiritual, etc., descent is claimed: a philosophical ancestor.
5.
Law. a person from whom an heir derives an inheritance.


Clearly, I have ancestors here. Perhaps YOUR family only arrived here 2 generations ago, but MINE has been here longer.

You are derailing this thread, please refrain from doing so. If you'd like to start your own thread, talking of all your points here, then go do that.

This thread is in regards to the anthem.
Regards

The original version was written in 1908 and it was gender neutral:

The earlier version of the anthem, written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, read: “true patriot love thou dost in us command.” The more familiar version was being used more widely by 1927, when it was used during the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation.
www.torontosun.com...

Original lyrics (English version)
Weir's 1908 lyrics consisted of the following three stanzas.[11][12] A fourth stanza was added later.

O Canada! Our home, our native land,
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
Refrain
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada. We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where Pines and Maples grow,
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
Thou art the land, O Canada,
From East to Western sea,
The land of hope for all who toil,
The land of liberty.
Refrain
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies,
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise;
And so abide, O Canada,
From East to Western sea,
Where e’er thy pines and prairies are,
The True North strong and free.
Refrain
en.wikipedia.org...

Now, that 'dost' in there sounds a bit archaic and I don't like the idea of going back to it myself. As long as I can remember (and that's a long time) there have been two ways to sing it:

..."in all our son's command"

And

..."in all our hearts command"

Since the Canadian Forces have women in armed combat and some have come back in coffins, I believe the second better suits our country.

If you want to focus on tradition, sing the 'dost' line, if you want to recognize women, sing the 'hearts' line and if you want to sing 'son's', that's your right too.

The national anthem has changed before and it'll likely change again. I don't care what the 'official' anthem is... all English, half French, inclusive of minorities or sexual preferences, or even in recognition of religion. It doesn't matter so much what the words are, it matters what you feel when you sing it.

I'll stick with 'in all our hearts command' and feel damn proud of what I'm singing.

reply to post by masqua

It doesn't matter so much what the words are, it matters what you feel when you sing it.

Now that is spoken like a true Canadian and is very well said.

I quite agree, it comes from the heart.

lol. Carry on talking about distrations then. Sorry to have interrupted.

Nationalism will be the downfall of this 'great country'...of thieves and murderers.

Originally posted by masqua

The national anthem has changed before and it'll likely change again. I don't care what the 'official' anthem is... all English, half French, inclusive of minorities or sexual preferences, or even in recognition of religion. It doesn't matter so much what the words are, it matters what you feel when you sing it.

I'll stick with 'in all our hearts command' and feel damn proud of what I'm singing.

This is true. Thanks for your input, masqua!

But,
Since these changes have been brought on because a small amount of people feel 'left out'... I wonder how far they will take it, to appease everyone?

I mean, think of it this way;

If I were a Liar, from the South of Canada, Skinny and weak, and a prisoner... should I then petition the government, that I feel left out, and offended that they would include 'True North, Strong, and Free' in the anthem?

Political Correctness is making the world into wussies.
There is no way to make EVERYONE happy.

Originally posted by jephers0n
If I were a Liar, from the South of Canada, Skinny and weak, and a prisoner... should I then petition the government, that I feel left out, and offended that they would include 'True North, Strong, and Free' in the anthem?

Political Correctness is making the world into wussies.
There is no way to make EVERYONE happy.

I get your point... really, I do.

The reason the lyrics were changed to 'son's' was in recognition to the WWI veterans... a war where women didn't serve in combat roles (officially) although there were lots of women who died in the service of their country in both WWI and WWII. Their service was not recognised in the same way that the Merchant Marine wasn't given any credit. Thousands drowned and died, but the military and polititians didn't consider them important enough.

Today, women are in active combat roles. For that alone, I'll sing "True patriot love in all our hearts command". In fact, I don't think I EVER consciously sang 'son's'.

Now, compare those brave souls, men and women alike, to your weak skinny convict liar and the choice of who should be able to request a change starts to stand out.

sp



[edit on 4/3/10 by masqua]

Originally posted by masqua

Originally posted by jephers0n
If I were a Liar, from the South of Canada, Skinny and weak, and a prisoner... should I then petition the government, that I feel left out, and offended that they would include 'True North, Strong, and Free' in the anthem?

Political Correctness is making the world into wussies.
There is no way to make EVERYONE happy.

I get your point... really, I do.

The reason the lyrics were changed to 'son's' was in recognition to the WWI veterans... a war where women didn't serve in combat roles (officially) although there were lots of women who died in the service of their country in both WWI and WWII. Their service was not recognised in the same way that the Merchant Marine wasn't given any credit. Thousands drowned and died, but the military and polititians didn't consider them important enough.

Today, women are in active combat roles. For that alone, I'll sing "True patriot love in all our hearts command". In fact, I don't think I EVER consciously sang 'son's'.

Now, compare those brave souls, men and women alike, to your weak skinny convict liar and the choice of who should be able to request a change starts to stand out.

sp



[edit on 4/3/10 by masqua]

I understand, and agree. I randomly picked that line out of the anthem, and chose to take offence to as many words as possible, to simply make the point. When comparing my reference, it is entirely clear which person should be heeded, but in as such, it was just to illustrate the point.

Personally, I will continue to sing it in the same way, as, like your previous post stated, it's about what you MEAN when you sing it. When I sing 'thy sons command', in my heart, the people it goes out to, and respects, are ALL of those sons (children) of this country, who have, can, and will, give the ultimate sacrifice, so that we can be free (arguably, now ).

To be forced to accept it based on it not being PC, is where I take issue with this topic.

Originally posted by jephers0n
Personally, I will continue to sing it in the same way, as, like your previous post stated, it's about what you MEAN when you sing it. When I sing 'thy sons command', in my heart, the people it goes out to, and respects, are ALL of those sons (children) of this country, who have, can, and will, give the ultimate sacrifice, so that we can be free (arguably, now

).

To be forced to accept it based on it not being PC, is where I take issue with this topic.

You have every right to sing it anyway you want. Period. And I applaud you for doing so.

On another note, this whole issue should have been handled during some quiet time, not the bloody throne speech. It just goes to show that Harper & Friends will stop at nothing to deflect attention away from the more important and urgent issues that we face as Canadians.

reply to post by masqua


I agree fully, and once again thank you for such thoughtful replies to the thread!

Stars for ya!