Should "God keep our land glorious and free"?

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by FireFly

On a more serious note, don't all the radicals who want change for change's sake have something better to change... like something that would actually make a difference in people's everyday lives? If you want the anthem changed because you're some sort of homo(sapien so as not to offend anyone,) what really needs to happen is you need to get a life.

Canada Day is my favorite holiday other than Christmas. Why? Because of what it represents. Canada is the greatest country on the face of the earth, and you know what? Maybe that's because it was founded on Christian principles. Regardless of that, this is a fantastic country in which you and I have the right to agree to disagree on anything at any time. That doesn't make you right though. :P

It may not be perfect but I can't really think of a place I'd rather live in the world right now.

Keep the anthem. If you keep stripping away Canada's identity for the sake of political correctness, pretty soon they'll be no identity left except some sort of generic crap.

Where were your arguments in 1982 when it was changed in the first place?

Wouldn't the desire to restore something like this anthem to its ORIGINAL form actually be supported by your argument?

And wouldn't someone who argues against restoring a national anthem to a less divisive version based solely on 'homos need to get a life' be the one who needs a life?



Claeren.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Claeren

I don't sing that line of the anthem, but sing the rest louder than anyone else around me (whenever it is sung).

Claeren.

I rate this comment a five-roll-eye...:rol leyes:

Get out of town... You actually stop singing, mid-song, and then proceed louder than everyone around you.

You're a hero. Stick up for what you believe in. Without pioneers like you we'd still be sacrificing our first borns.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by Claeren

Where were your arguments in 1982 when it was changed in the first place?

Wouldn't the desire to restore something like this anthem to its ORIGINAL form actually be supported by your argument?

And wouldn't someone who argues against restoring a national anthem to a less divisive version based solely on 'homos need to get a life' be the one who needs a life?



Claeren.

I was 2 and didn't have any at the time. I probably said NO a lot though...

I guess what I'm saying is that it doesn't really matter. Why this is a big deal one way or the other... I'm not sure. Why get all worked up about it? Aren't there better things to be worked up about? Maybe I do need to get a life. I must if I'm arguing about the wording of the national anthem on the internet, no?

I don't really care one way or the other if the anthem changes. There are excellent points on both sides of the coin. It's our history. It's what helped solidify us as a nation. If we're reversing the clock in this, why don't we just tell the Newfs to get a life too? They haven't been here that long and they're bleeding us dry...

I like having it in history. It's an excellent story to tell; the political motives behind changing the wording of the anthem. You want to take it out again, I say why bother?

Again, change for change's sake is silly. It's probably why the anthem was changed in the first place. This is what the leaders of our nation decided upon together, 26 years ago, and the people seemed okay with it then.

Anyway, now you've got me rambling when I said this is a dumb argument to be having in the first place.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by FireFly

I like having it in history. It's an excellent story to tell; the political motives behind changing the wording of the anthem. You want to take it out again, I say why bother?

This is so true. My first thought after I read this was the way the walls are painted in Stein Am Rhine. That is a little town in Switzerland. The whole historic center is painted with the stories and myths that they told their children. I fail to see how current events and current train of thought supercedes old legend and the basis on which a society forms.

It feels weird to argue to keep God in a song, especially since I don't believe in God. I just hate political correctness when it's being used as a tool to equalize things that are totally irrelevant.

Yeah, sure, there are lots of scientific reasons why God probably doesn't exist. It doesn't mean that our forefathers didn't believe in God. Why try to erase that? And why try to make it sound like there is oppression involved?

It's a song that we sing because of tradition. Just let it be.

[MarchHare]

^^

Except having God in the song is not part of the tradition. The line "God keep our land glorious and free" was only added to the English translation of the anthem in 1982, because at the time, it was the politically-correct thing to do. Prior to 1982, the line was simply "O Canada, glorious and free".

If you're big into keeping traditions alive, one would think you'd support restoring the lyrics of our national anthem to their previous state.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

^^

Except having God in the song is not part of the tradition. The line "God keep our land glorious and free" was only added to the English translation of the anthem in 1982, because at the time, it was the politically-correct thing to do. Prior to 1982, the line was simply "O Canada, glorious and free".

If you're big into keeping traditions alive, one would think you'd support restoring the lyrics of our national anthem to their previous state.

Aye. I suppose that being born in 1978 has stifled my knowledge of the true history of O Canada (which, presumably, has been discussed in this very thread).

Colour me surprised that in 1982, God got inserted into the anthem. Sounds more like an 1882 motion.

Either way, I still say leave it. Who here knows the lyrics of O Canada? Changing it now just seems... so.... 1882.

[chris lindberg]

O Canada!
Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.
As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic
Of the most brilliant exploits. - I really like these two lines, some recognition of our rich history that far too many hardly know of.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights.

[McMack]

Let's face it, Our Land is going to burn in hell once Morgentaler gets the Order of Canada... will having "God" in our anthem help us a whole Hell of a lot?

[fatso]

We should keep it. It seems indubitable God would like, and be pleased with, this current incarnation of Canada.

[Hack&Lube]

If you don't like religious references, check out the other verses of the song that most people don't know about

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and Lordly rivers flow!
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
The land of hope for all who toil,
The true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies,
May Stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise.
To keep thee steadfast thro' the years,
From East to Western sea.
Our own beloved native land,
Our true North strong and free!
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion, in thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in thee,
A lasting rich reward.
As waiting for the better day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land, glorious and free.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

[metal_geek]

Why have an anthem at all... Lets honor our founding principals and just say the lords prayer before every hockey game and on Canada day. Those are the only 2 times you ever really hear it anyway...

Our father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be they name
"BEEEP BEEEP BEEP" <-- Insert horn guy here...

Hell if it wasn't for the hockey games, and the Calgary Flames mickey mouse O Canada doll, my kids wouldn't even know the tune let alone the words.

I mean they don't even use the current one after late night infomercials anymore. They don't play it at the start of the school day, and we'll just ignore the time they play it when we win the gold medal for 8 man team short track speed skating. I guess every couple years we'll win some sporting event, but they don't use the words in most of those cases anyway...


Take away the hockey games, and if you got out of bed early enough, or were sober enough at the end of the Canada day party to sing it, when was the last time you stood up and belted out O Canada.. When was the last time you stood up and air guitared star spangled banner. Ok that might be an exaggeration but you get the picture..

How about we work on actually using the song and teaching the kids what it really means, and not about the political BS behind why some words are or are not in there.. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread about the next generation changing the words, thats conditional on anyone actually knowing what the words are supposed to be in the first place...
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Love Advice Advice

[troutman]

My 4 year old sings O Canada before all of our street hockey games.

[metal_geek]

Originally Posted by troutman

My 4 year old sings O Canada before all of our street hockey games.

I'd hazard to guess your four year old learned it from watching hockey games, and likley not from preschool..

My 4 year old thinks the Horn from the guy at the dome belongs in the song.
________
MEXICO HOTELS

[redforever]

[quote=metal_geek;1367852]Why have an anthem at all... Lets honor our founding principals and just say the lords prayer before every hockey game and on Canada day. Those are the only 2 times you ever really hear it anyway...

Our father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be they name
"BEEEP BEEEP BEEP" <-- Insert horn guy here...

Hell if it wasn't for the hockey games, and the Calgary Flames mickey mouse O Canada doll, my kids wouldn't even know the tune let alone the words.

I mean they don't even use the current one after late night infomercials anymore. They don't play it at the start of the school day, and we'll just ignore the time they play it when we win the gold medal for 8 man team short track speed skating. I guess every couple years we'll win some sporting event, but they don't use the words in most of those cases anyway...


Take away the hockey games, and if you got out of bed early enough, or were sober enough at the end of the Canada day party to sing it, when was the last time you stood up and belted out O Canada.. When was the last time you stood up and air guitared star spangled banner. Ok that might be an exaggeration but you get the picture..

How about we work on actually using the song and teaching the kids what it really means, and not about the political BS behind why some words are or are not in there.. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread about the next generation changing the words, thats conditional on anyone actually knowing what the words are supposed to be in the first place...[/quote]


And how about this start in the home and the family? Not everything in life should be taught by the state. Leave it to the state, many times it will not get done, too much political correctness and what have you.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by metal_geek

I'd hazard to guess your four year old learned it from watching hockey games, and likley not from preschool..

My 4 year old thinks the Horn from the guy at the dome belongs in the song.

lol

As an atheist it just doesn't bother me. Just a word, whether I believe it or not really doesn't matter one way or the other with me. Besides, when I sing that line I'm usually staring at Iggy or Kipper, so it fits.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Russic

lol

As an atheist it just doesn't bother me. Just a word, whether I believe it or not really doesn't matter one way or the other with me. Besides, when I sing that line I'm usually staring at Iggy or Kipper, so it fits.

I change "God" to "Gord" (Gordie Howe).

[b-e-n]

keep it

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by b-e-n

keep it

I was on the other side of the debate, but your highly persuasive and informative post swayed me to see the error of my ways.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

In some parts of Africa it is tradition to mutilate womens genitalia. Are you telling me that if we wiped away this practice we would only be causing violent changes and inviting chaos?

We did away with the traditional definition of marriage by allowing gays to marriage. Did our country fall into chaos? Or is that coming next week?

Are you going to tell me that if we removed "God" from our national anthem that Canadian culture would not be able to hold together and our society would cease to function?

Wow. Did you seriously just compare singing O Canada to mutilating genitalia?

You realize there's a difference between mutilating and being politically correct, right?

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

Wow. Did you seriously just compare singing O Canada to mutilating genitalia?

I was trying to tie together the 4 year olds singing with that particular comment, but I couldn't make it funny without being horribly insulting.