Oh, Canada! You Should Know Better
March 7, 2010 2 Comments
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
When I was 7, I wanted to know where I fit in.
Proclaimed the national anthem in 1980, O Canada has constantly come under fire for its lack of gender neutral language. With the added scrutiny that comes with the Olympics, Canadians are beginning to wonder whether that song is damaging our reputation as America’s more enlightened neighbour.*
I learned the song in grade two when our teacher was shocked to learn that most of the class did not know our National Anthem. An inquisitive thing, I wanted to know what I was singing about.
Me: What is patriot love?
Teacher: It is love for your country. You can love your country like you love your Mommy or Daddy.
Me: Why do sons have it?
Teacher: Because they protect our country when they are soldiers.
Me: What about daughters?
Teacher: (exasperated) It doesn’t fit in the song.
And I left that conversation as unsettled as a seven year old can be. I kind of felt like there was no room in patriot love for someone like me. I felt diminished, although I wouldn’t be able to put it into words for a few years.
So I am not a patriot.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Canada is a great country, but I don’t feel patriot love for it. In fact, I don’t understand how someone could love a country.
There are lots of reasons why I abhor patriotism. I associate it with blind allegiance, wars, an us-and-them attitude. But on Canada Day, when everyone around me is flying their maple leaf flags, I wonder what I am missing out on.
And I wonder how I would be feeling if I was included in our anthem.
* I apologize to our American readers, but whatever patriotism we have stems from being different from you.
Indeed! Though not a woman, I’ve still never felt a patriot. Patriotism is the more easily palpable inbred cousin of conservative and Fascist politics. Why must we compete? Why must my identity be based on political territory (different political organizations came before me and no doubt another alternative to the nation-state will dominate at some point after my passing)? Why is the place I live any better than any other country, just because I live there?
Also, pursuant to the recent discussion of changes to the anthem’s lyrics, I would suggest that if gender inequity is remedied then a removal of references to God should also be done… God’s not very inclusive either.
Here here! Considering that less than 20 per cent of Canadians attend a weekly religious service, the big man in the sky should certainly be left out. (Mick)