One Day Pride?
What 's up with Canadians and how we show pride (or don't) in our country? Why do most of us scramble to find our flag, iron it, and then hastily place it outside JUST for Canada Day, only to take it down the next day and discard it on the basement floor?
This would never and just doesn't happen in the United States. When I went to Lake Placid, I was struck by the observation that every single cottage had a flag on the lawn, the dock and on every boat! Most homes had flags and I know each teacher's desk has one as well as in each classroom.
Here, you will probably see more flags on boats in cottage country than anywhere else. Hardly any classrooms have them anywhere. We don't even know where to tell the children to face while we sing our national anthem each morning! It really seems ridiculous to me. Why are we so hesitant to display our pride and allegiance?
We need to take more cues from our American neighbours to the south!
God Bless America.
Mother of Invention, feeling a little embarrassed!
posted by Mother of Invention at 9:28 AM
19 Comments:
Hey - don't feel so bad.
The quiet patriotism, in my mind, is better. :)
Monday, July 03, 2006
I'm ashamed to say that we don't own a flag. There's long been a controversy about displaying the flag, with its roots in the Vietnam War. Today some people who aren't actually so patriotic try to hide behind the flag and pretend. But I agree that it is nice to see it flying!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Teri: Yes, maybe that counts for a lot..but it is so much that way here, I think we could stand to be a just a little more demostrative in that regard, as many of you are.
Barbara: It is great to see it flying, but you're right, some may be just being outwardly patriotic and not really be as they profess to be...just as some people who go to church, aren't really living the way that they should the rest of the week.
I wasn't that aware of the roots of the controversy .....was it that by the end of Vietnam, the many people who were against fighting there didn't feel right flying the flag? (And that in doing so, it might be taken for supporting that war?)
Monday, July 03, 2006
Wait a minute - someone in the world who is not from America likes us? That's new!
If it makes you feel any better, when I was just in Ontario, I spotted three flags on the highway and two were the Canadian flags. They were displayed at businesses. We didn't pass many homes, so I couldn't speak for what would be there.
Monday, July 03, 2006
At the time Americans started displaying their nation's flag, it was needed. Display of Nationalism, like love and religion should be a personal choice, if it become enforced then it loses some meaning. Fly your flag all year, maybe your neighbors will follow suit.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Brooksba: Hey, don't be surprised! There are lots of things people like about the Us and its people! This is one that really strikes me though. Nice that you spotted some flags flying, but in industries that's common....sad to say you wouldn't have spotted many in residential areas.
Cancer Sucks: Not quite clear what you're thinking is on Canada...we have a vast amount of multiculturalism and the problems that go alongwith that...mainly trying to assimilate into the big melting pot while retaining one's own culture, but to me, this could be solved in part, by all of us rallying 'round what unifies us all. Maybe then we would learn and respect the individual cultures while doing so.
All new citizens are given flags and are excited at first, but maybe their hesitance and reticence is a learned response from Us regular Canadians of old!
Maybe we are just quietly patriotic and this will never change. We are very humble and never want to be seen as bragging about ourselves....but we could get by with a little more, "Yah, Canada!" in our mousy voices while waving a tiny flag to match!
Old Lady: You are right, of course, and if we felt like we had to fly flags, it wouldn't mean a thing...but I do always get the impression that Americans fly their flags because they want to show how much they love their country. I guess I would just like us to be a little more demostrative to each other and for othe countries to see..... and I shall try to prevent someone else who lives here to leave it up!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Old Lady!
I meant prevent ENCOURAGE him to leave it up!!!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Interesting observation. We don't have a flag, either. I'm not much for flag waving, mostly for 2 reasons: First is that I've found many (no, not all) of those who do aren't those who I share political views with and, second, is that until a year ago, I was married to a Canadian (he's since gotten his dual citizenship, so he's 1/2 and 1/2) which made me a bit sensitive to such things. Pity, really, as I do think our flag is quite aesthetically pleasing. We do have an old Canadian 'Union Jack', though, which used to adorn the wall of our apartment. Now it's in my son's desk drawer. I need to put it up.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Cancer Sucks: Here's hoping you're proud of that!
Diana: You are in an interesting position in which to observe both countries' ways, then! The Union Jack is a good compromise!
Here, yesterday, there were many vehicles honking horns and sporting Italian flags for their soccer win! Nothing like World Sports to get a nation flagwaving!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Heya,
I do prefer the quiet patriotism to the ....hmmmm.... more exhurbant demonstrations of our neighbours to the south.
I think that not having the flag all over the place makes us value it more.
I think that not having it all over the place makes our cultural diversity feel more welcome, and not obliged to assimilate.
But I also don't take the flag down the very next day - it's still up. It'll be up until I feel like taking it down.
It's on my house - I don't own a boat or cottage.
Karen
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Karen: I hope you keep it up for a long while. I like when new Canadians put up both a flag from their heritage, and our national flag. I'd not want them to completely forget their proud roots but see their need or desire to assimilate to a degree that's comfortable for them. The mosaic is unique.
Cancer Sucks: I like how you put that.And then, there are subsets of that subset.You do indeed need National unity and pride to defend your country when necessary. Hope your family members stay safe.
My dad was a pilot and flew a Lancaster Bomber in WWII and was very proud to have done so. He is 87 and still goes to flight crew re-unions. He is a very special man (see a poem he wrote for Remembrance Day on my blog Nov. 11/05)
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Canadians are more patriotic than they are religious. You can see this at church - at best, they inaudibly mumble their way through the hymns (if you are lucky), but whnever the national anthem is sung, their chests puff out and they sing with great enthusiasm.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Richard: I certainly see what you're saying about the "Church-goers"..a personal bug-a-boo of mine as I am not a regular there but am actually more spiritually connected to this world than many that are sitting in those pews each Sunday professing to be such kind Christian-like people and perhaps aren't such nice folks outside those doors. It's how you live day to day that counts to me.
But, interesting that you should see Canadians as puffing up with pride and belting out the anthem. I tend to think that most are reticent to sing out even if they do know the words, which many older folks don't since they changed the lyrics they grew up knowing. I can only hope you are seeing a growing trend! As a teacher, we make sure the kids know the words and what they mean.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Not sure why it is, I suppose people feel a stronger sense of allegiance to Canada than to the church.
The anthem is only sung to commemorate Canada Day, New Years Day, and Remembrence Day.
As one who struggles to add my meagre voice to the hymns and wishing others would join in to drown me out, I always surprised at how much the congregation joins in for Oh, Canada.
Monday, July 10, 2006
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Monday, July 10, 2006
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Monday, July 10, 2006
Not sure why it is, I suppose people feel a stronger sense of allegiance to Canada than to the church.
The anthem is only sung to commemorate Canada Day, New Years Day, and Remembrence Day.
As one who struggles to add my meagre voice to the hymns and wishing others would join in to drown me out, I always surprised at how much the congregation joins in for Oh, Canada.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Aaack! Sorry, blogger is acting up with comments at the moment. I had replied to a bunch of comments on my blog and it died – erasing all my comments. This time it posted the same comment thrice.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Richard: Don't know what that says about Canadians, {being more patriotic than religious}, but I like that we play and hopefully join in the lyrics at school every day, school assemblies, Sports Games, Olympics, and festivals etc. I've never heard it sung for New Year's Day or at church. I'm really dating myself here, but when I was in school, we sang God Save The Queen and recited the Pledge Of Allegiance to the flag, which I must admit, I can't fully remember!
Blogger woes...sometimes it's not the friendliest program! My pet peeve is when it doesn't edit what you tell it to, only some! No rhyme or reason!
Monday, July 10, 2006
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