Canada's National Anthem: A Controversy!

There is a kerfuffle in regards to the proposed alteration to the lyrics of our believed national anthem. Our citizenry up in arms! Blood in the streets! Etc!

Firstly, the proposed change: "in all our sons' command" -> "dost thou in us command." It scans a bit weird, but - wait! No! Enough of this political correctness run amuck!

Well, except for the fact that "dost thou in us command" was used in the original 1908 version. And it wasn't even our national anthem until 1980 - prior to the year, there was a debate between that, God Save the Queen, and the Maple Leaf Forever. And the fact that it was changed in 1980 to add references to God.

Some got pissed about that then, with a bit more cause. Some of the some continued singing the old lyrics and the rest? They sung the new ones and most forgot that a change had been made to begin with. Certainly, our generation has come under the impression that the anthem is writ in stone and is sancrosanct.

It's not. And if it's changed, it'll mean for us a short period of adjustment before we forget there was even a change to begin with.

There are reasons to be angry with the proposed change, although it more has to do with the sentiment behind the measure than the content of the measure itself. "Women of Canada," they are saying. "Forget about the national childcare program we scrapped! Or our measures against women seeking equity! And the murdered aboriginal women! And the fact that our definition of 'women's health' doesn't include access to safe abortions! We can change three words in a symbolic gesture and that will make everything all better!"

And for that, I flip the Conservative government the bird, for that is exactly the sort of condescending nonsense that landed Sarah Palin the vice presidential nominee gig.