Canada National Anthem LYRICS

[Masato]

Hey all

Kids repeat this every day here at public schools. - EVERY DAY. - for generations.

What do these mantras mean? What images, ideological or political assumptions are unconsciously made by repeating these phrases over and over?


O Canada
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

[Canuckster]

I think you're asking the question and already know the answer.

[Masato]

'Native Land'? - Is this not a big FU to all the REAL native canadians?

'In all thy sons command'? - Who are the 'sons'? Canadian men? Is Canada really under their 'command' (democracy)?

'Glorious and FREE'? - Is this not somewhat of a lie? Is Canada really free? Free from what?

'Stand on Guard for Thee'? - Is this not militaristic? Stand on guard against whom? Non-Canadians? Who stands on guard but soldiers?

'With Glowing Hearts' - is this not a cheap advertising trick to associate fuzzy feelings with the message?

It just seems to me that in this day and age, all these phrases and terms seem obscenely naive/backwards and counter-productive for people to understand their true situation.

I think ideas of nationalism and patriotism are harmful, it is government-nuthugging and pitting us all against each other. It lessens compassion for people in other nations, justifies acts of 'defense' (attack). We are taught to cheer and fight for flags, for colors, for 'leaders', when most barely have an inkling of how things really work...

And the fact that kids literally have to stand up and sing this every fucking day for YEARS during their most impressionable ages....

I think its a mind wipe, man. So many unconscious things these kids will have to work hard to undo to see the truth.

EY, in what ways to find patriotism and love of country good/healthy? Does it not instantly create an unconscious fear/hatred of others beyond your borders? Does it not unconsciously make confused connections between cultural/geographical 'country', and the criminal governments attempting to control it?

[Masato]

Canuckster, this forum is not just for me :)

Many sing this regularly without ever thinking or putting it into context.

Its like those damn poppies goin round these days, lol

[Som-Pong]

Great post dude. In Sweden we do not sing the anthem in school. During basic military training we do and it is widely understood to be for brainwashing. AKA instilling military virtues. This is fully admitted.

[Luigi]

'Native Land'? - Is this not a big FU to all the REAL native canadians?

'In all thy sons command'? - Who are the 'sons'? Canadian men? Is Canada really under their 'command' (democracy)?

'Glorious and FREE'? - Is this not somewhat of a lie? Is Canada really free? Free from what?

'Stand on Guard for Thee'? - Is this not militaristic? Stand on guard against whom? Non-Canadians? Who stands on guard but soldiers?

'With Glowing Hearts' - is this not a cheap advertising trick to associate fuzzy feelings with the message?

It just seems to me that in this day and age, all these phrases and terms seem obscenely naive/backwards and counter-productive for people to understand their true situation.

I think ideas of nationalism and patriotism are harmful, it is government-nuthugging and pitting us all against each other. It lessens compassion for people in other nations, justifies acts of 'defense' (attack). We are taught to cheer and fight for flags, for colors, for 'leaders', when most barely have an inkling of how things really work...

And the fact that kids literally have to stand up and sing this every fucking day for YEARS during their most impressionable ages....

I think its a mind wipe, man. So many unconscious things these kids will have to work hard to undo to see the truth.

EY, in what ways to find patriotism and love of country good/healthy? Does it not instantly create an unconscious fear/hatred of others beyond your borders? Does it not unconsciously make confused connections between cultural/geographical 'country', and the criminal governments attempting to control it?

I think people who have lived here for almost 500 years have no native land but Canada. As long as the older Native population takes priority in matters of nativehood I see no problem with this. If you oppose this you would have to say that Turks are not native in Turkey, Han are not native in Taiwan, and English, Dutch and Germans are immigrants from Scandinavia in their own respective countries.

The object of our sons command refers to "true patriot love". Patriotic love is at the command of Canadians and our continued descendants.

Free as in we have national sovereignty, as opposed to still being controlled by the British government.

It is militaristic. If not for militarism we would have been conquered by the United States or Germany.

My heart glows with passion when I think of the hardships my ancestors endured and the battles they fought for so that I could be alive and continue our lineage and way of life. I think it would be very unnatural if such a powerful message was not accompanied by strong feelings.

If you think nationalism is unhealthy consider the alternative: Globalization. We live in a time when nationality is under attack. The far left are advocating a system where you have no more rights in your country than a foreigner, we have open borders and abandon our culture, heritage and identity to simple accept a human identity and a global governance. They honestly teach in schools now that the idea of culture and identity being tied to the state is an idea that was invented in the early modern period in Europe to help facilitate imperialism. The mental gymnastics is astonishing.

Imagine a world with no nationality, no local identity. We would all be a monochrome mix with the same overarching culture of neoliberal McWorld. Fuck that. This kind of thinking is completely foreign to every culture in the world except the counter culture of the West(although Europe seems to have come to its senses).

[Masato]

Wonderful post, Luigi.

I am humbled.

[Luigi]

Thanks dude.