Should "God keep our land glorious and free"?

[MarchHare]

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

No, he used an extreme example (genital mutilation) to make a point that respecting traditions just for the sake of respecting traditions is not always the right thing.

[fatso]

bingo. Well put MarchHare.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

No, he used an extreme example (genital mutilation) to make a point that respecting traditions just for the sake of respecting traditions is not always the right thing.

I get that but really it's a pretty unfair example. The reason for changing a tradition is totally different in both cases. Doing harm to others for the sake of maintaining tradition is wrong. Changing tradition because something might offend someone solves nothing. Someone else will just get offended anyway, and ultimately accomplishes nothing.

[MarchHare]

Well, if you prefer an example that doesn't involve inflicting physical harm then, what about traditional laws that denied women the right to vote, serve in government, etc.? Thankfully we abandoned those traditions decades ago, and modern Canadian society is certainly a better place for it.

Anyway, I think the debate about the word 'God' in the national anthem is pretty pointless. I don't see how it affects anyone either way, but I am curious why the line about God was added in 1982 instead of keeping the original English translation.

To me, a much more concerning issue is the preamble to the Charter which I mentioned earlier in this thread.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Well, if you prefer an example that doesn't involve inflicting physical harm then, what about traditional laws that denied women the right to vote, serve in government, etc.? Thankfully we abandoned those traditions decades ago, and modern Canadian society is certainly a better place for it.

Anyway, I think the debate about the word 'God' in the national anthem is pretty pointless. I don't see how it affects anyone either way, but I am curious why the line about God was added in 1982 instead of keeping the original English translation.

To me, a much more concerning issue is the preamble to the Charter which I mentioned earlier in this thread.

Again, the restriction of personal freedoms versus political correctness doesn't really do it for me. The reason for changing traditions should be well-thought and well-reasoned. But as you say, the debate about God in the anthem is harmless and is pointless to argue. Don't know why it was changed in 1982, but whatev. That was 25 years ago lol.

I'm wondering about the lyrics that Hack&Lube posted though. When were those written, 'cause those were very God-centric.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by 4X4

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.

gahaha, that is totally what i do! And i get looks too! (Surprisingly, usually thoughtful looks as opposed to angry looks)

It does depend though, sometimes I end the line before it loudly, don't start the next (god) line, and then quietly build again after that line so it is not such a sharp distinction. It does take a certain gumption so some days you just don't feel as up to it....

And it is not so much that i am belting it out or something, most people are just mumbling so i am merely audible above that low standard.


I am always left, for that 2 seconds, thinking i should totally just sing it because most everyone I know lies somewhere between 'lazy-christian' and 'outright atheist' and the more we constitute the majority and the more we sing it the less meaning god actually has in the religous context. I mean why not force all citizens to 'thank god' every time they enter a suburban mall? There is something to be thankful to god for - as millions starve and suffer we get to shop at the GAP! It is soo much easier to force everyone to say it than make them do anything about it, right? lol That was my original point really, it is religous types that shouldn't want it in the anthem, what do we care if we have to talk about their imaginary 'Flying Spaghetti Monster'? It is like humouring your child when they have an imaginary friend, losing that friend is a little too much of a shock for them and arguing with them won't help so you go with it until they grow out of it??

But as i said originally, god will eventually be removed from the anthem so it is not a battle that needs ot be fought/won now. 2 or 3 generations from now support for its removeal will be 10 times what it is now.



Claeren.

[Wookie]

Well seeing as until the recent past, lets say anywhere in the last 3 years - I thought it was "We stand on god for three" so since I'm standing on the guy as an atheist, I guess I don't really care if he populates some other verse in the anthem I just recently learned.

[Jayems]

we're still in the process of getting manholes changed to personholes or roadcovers.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Jayems

we're still in the process of getting manholes changed to personholes or roadcovers.

Manhole is being changed because it sounds too much like a gay sexual innuendo and obviously it offends my religious values.

Damn Gay people propoganda using sneaky roadcovers to promote their sinful lifestyle!!

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by Thor

Manhole is being changed because it sounds too much like a gay sexual innuendo and obviously it offends my religious values.

Damn Gay people propoganda using sneaky roadcovers to promote their sinful lifestyle!!

Don't even get me started on the fart box

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

No, he used an extreme example (genital mutilation) to make a point that respecting traditions just for the sake of respecting traditions is not always the right thing.

Kinda like how change for the sake of change isn't always better either...

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Kinda like how change for the sake of change isn't always better either...

Agreed! Just like when the God line was added arbitrarily to the anthem in 1982!

[jayswin]

Just leave the anthem the way it's always been (since 1982), god damn athiests.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Might as well just change the whole anthem:

Canada! More than meets the eye!
Canada wage their battle to destroy
The evil forces of the Canada!

Canada! Robots in disguise!
Canada! *cue rotating maple leaf logo*

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

Might as well just change the whole anthem:

Canada! More than meets the eye!
Canada wage their battle to destroy
The evil forces of the Canada!

Canada! Robots in disguise!
Canada! *cue rotating maple leaf logo*

Someone elect this man PM already!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Claeren

<reply to my previous post>

Claeren.

Fair enough. It's your right as a free Canadian to sing or to not sing. I guess I'm free to think that it's a pretty wacky way to protest.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Fair enough. It's your right as a free Canadian to sing or to not sing. I guess I'm free to think that it's a pretty wacky way to protest.

I am not protesting, as i have said the anthem will change in its own time, i just don't need to declare my patriotism to god? The only reason i brought it up was that it is crazy how someone who wants to sing it doesn't feel comfortable doing so while all the mumblers who can't find it in themselves to sing their own anthem insist on having god added to it? Not as a rule of course, just the impression i get when i am singing it....

If there was a line about worshiping unicorns or nazi's i wouldn't sing that line either? (And might need to move! lol)



Claeren.

[Hack&Lube]

Crashing through the night
Comes a fearfull cry
Québec! Québec! Québec! Québec!
Armies of the night
Evil taking flight
Québec! Québec! Québec! Québec!
No where to run
No where to hide
Panic spreading far and wide
Who can turn the tide?

CANADA!!! - A real American hero!
(Eh Joe!)
Canada is there!

CANADA!!! - A real American hero!
Canada is there!
Fighting for freedom
Wherever there's trouble
Over land and sea and air
Canada is there!

Can the world oppose
Deadliest of foes?
Québec! Québec! Québec! Québec!
Canucks will risk it all
To end the evil call of
Québec! Québec! Québec! Québec!
They never give up
They never say die
Walking tall with banners high
They sound the battle cry-
Eh Joe! Eh Joe!

CANADA!!! - A real American hero!
Canada will dare!
CANADA!!! - A real American hero!
Canada is there!

Fighting for freedom
Wherever there's trouble
over land and sea and air!
Canada is there

Canada is the codename for American's daring, highly trained
special mission force.
It's purpose, to defend human freedom against Québec-
a ruthless, terrorist organization determined to rule the world.

CANADA!!! - A real American hero!
Canada will dare!
CANADA!!! - A real American hero!
Canada is there!
Fighting for freedom
Wherever there's trouble
over land and sea and air
Canada is there!
(Québecois, retraite! retraite!)

CANADA!!! - A real American hero!
Canada is there!
CANADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hack&Lube]

I am Sir John A., Prime Minister of Canada

Fabulous powers were revealed to me the day I held aloft my magic quill and said the words: "BY THE POWER OF CONFEDERATION!!!!!!!"

CANA-DA!!!! DA-DA DAAAAHH DA-DAAAAAAH DUM DUM DUM DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DUM
AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Thor]

We need Run to the hills but with different lyrics, that would be KICK ASS.