Anthem ban 'political correctness run wild': Conservative MP

[Spade]

Not intending any offence, but the anthem is titled "O Canada."
Sniff!

 

[Praxius]

It's very simple grasshopper. The learn to understand these things (a province that they could and would care about) through education however these things (a province that they could and would care about) are not created by education. They (a province that they could and would care about) are created by actually building or developing it, not by singing songs or by brainwashing kids.

If you want to debate this crap with me any further, feel free to do so here:
http://forums.canadiancontent.net/steel-cage/81708-cannuck-what-you-wanted.html

You don't diserve any other responses from me within this thread other then this last post to you.

 

[Praxius]

Related Update:

N.B. anthem dispute opened divisions in community: parent
N.B. anthem dispute opened divisions in community: parent

Days after a school superintendent ordered the national anthem back into Belleisle Elementary, a member of the local parents committee in the southern New Brunswick town is criticizing the decision for damaging the school's welcoming atmosphere.

Kelly Cooper, the vice-chair of the Parent School Support Committee at Belleisle Elementary, said the anthem controversy that erupted last week subjected the school and its principal to unfair hostility and created an "us-against-them" mentality in the community.

"We all have our reasons to sing or not sing the anthem. But for me this is about how do we treat the people who are different in our community," Cooper said.

"How do we treat the people who disagree with us? Do we respect them, listen to their point of view, or does the majority say, 'We're the majority, too bad for you and we've got rights.' That doesn't make me feel very comfortable."

Principal Erik Millett's decision in September 2007 to scale back the playing of the national anthem to school assemblies opened a national debate last week on when O Canada should be sung in the classroom.

^ Ok, which is it that's the big issue here? Is it the playing of the anthem or is it forcing students to sing the anthem?

Playing it I agree with, but I see no right anybody has to force someone to sing..... that if it is the case, is going over the line.

Millett said he made the decision because some students had to leave the classroom each morning while O Canada played and were feeling excluded. Several New Brunswick Conservative MPs attacked the decision and two called Millett's actions "political correctness run wild" in the House of Commons.

Zoë Watson, the District 6 superintendent, stepped in on Saturday and ordered that the anthem be reinstated at the school. A parent who led the charge to bring the anthem back said this week she will continue the fight until the daily ritual is put into law.

Cooper said the welcoming environment at Belleisle Elementary has been damaged because of the anthem debate.

Then they shouldn't have made an issue out of it in the first place.

She said she would rather her two daughters miss out on the daily singing of O Canada than have other students feel excluded for a length of time each day.

Debate altered school's atmosphere

The Belleisle Creek mother said the divisions created by the debate have altered the close-knit atmosphere in the rural school.

"Two weeks ago that's what we had, a school where parents felt like a community. It was a warm place," she said. "Now we have division, but we have the anthem every day. And I hope the people who wanted the anthem every day feel that it's worth it."

Suck it up princess.

Earlier this week, Millett said in an interview that he didn't think the issue would become as big as it did.

"I think we need some clarity on what is an acceptable accommodation for students in this situation," Millett said.

"Me changing that decision here isn't going to change that for administrators around the province or for students around the province … who for whatever reason they are not allowed to partake in the anthem."

No disciplinary action against principal

The district superintendent, said there are no disciplinary measures being taken against Millett as a result of the anthem controversy.

"Mr. Millett was very strong in his decision and I did speak to him several times last week and attempt to have him reconsider the decision. Then on Saturday I felt it was time for me to act on behalf of the school district," Watson said.

When asked whether Millett agreed with the decision, Watson said "he will move forward and comply with my decision for sure."

So which is it?

Is the issue about playing the anthem and standing, or is the issue about having to sing during the athem?

I was never forced to sing the anthem except in cub scouts..... in school nobody had to sing it.... you just stood and then sat down.

If they are being forced or excluded based on if they sing or not, then that's not acceptable..... some people don't feel comfortible singing anything for many reasons, anthem or not..... I don't have a problem forcing kids to stand at attention while it plays.... but making them sing is over the top if you ask me.

 

[talloola]

The actual physical effort to sing the song is not important, it is what is in your
mind at the time, I am not a good singer at all, and sometimes I would sing and
sometimes I wouldn't, but just mouth the words, depends if I could blend in with
others or not, didn't want anyone to actually hear my voice, as I'm very selfconscious about that, it has no connection to taking part in the song.
I enjoyed being part of the group and hearing the song and humming or whatever.
I'm sure many of the guys never sang, (at certain ages), as their friends would
giggle and laugh at them, just the age where there are no 'brain cells' formed,
hopefully some came along later.;-)

 

[TenPenny]

The most important thing to note is that this policy change (to not play the anthem every morning) was made in SEPTEMBER 2007....almost a year and a half ago.

It became an issue because one student, who had a cousin killed in Afghanistan, thought they should play it every day.

So, in the end, some parents want the anthem played every day as a way to honour soldiers killed in war. Most parents don't care one way or another.

 

[talloola]

Related Update:

N.B. anthem dispute opened divisions in community: parent
N.B. anthem dispute opened divisions in community: parent



^ Ok, which is it that's the big issue here? Is it the playing of the anthem or is it forcing students to sing the anthem?

Playing it I agree with, but I see no right anybody has to force someone to sing..... that if it is the case, is going over the line.



Then they shouldn't have made an issue out of it in the first place.



Suck it up princess.



So which is it?

Is the issue about playing the anthem and standing, or is the issue about having to sing during the athem?

I was never forced to sing the anthem except in cub scouts..... in school nobody had to sing it.... you just stood and then sat down.

If they are being forced or excluded based on if they sing or not, then that's not acceptable..... some people don't feel comfortible singing anything for many reasons, anthem or not..... I don't have a problem forcing kids to stand at attention while it plays.... but making them sing is over the top if you ask me.

No, no one should 'have' to sing, but no one should stand there and make it
obvious that they think it is a waste of time either, have respect, stay quiet,
and listen, and if possible, think about what is happening in a positive way.

 

[eskavan]

How is singing the national anthem "not inclusive"? How does singing a national anthem detract from multiculturalism? It doesn't. It's a way of paying respect to the country we all live in and owe a lot to. The only cultural component to this is the cultural ritual of singing an anthem but since all countries (as far as I know) have national anthems and all kids in this school live in Canada there should be no issue even for the most diehard proponent of multiculturalism (which many have argued Canada stands for anyway).

 

[Colpy]

How is singing the national anthem "not inclusive"? How does singing a national anthem detract from multiculturalism? It doesn't. It's a way of paying respect to the country we all live in and owe a lot to. The only cultural component to this is the cultural ritual of singing an anthem but since all countries (as far as I know) have national anthems and all kids in this school live in Canada there should be no issue even for the most diehard proponent of multiculturalism (which many have argued Canada stands for anyway).

How can a country stand for nothing?

Multiculturalism is cultural suicide.

 

[TenPenny]

What about freedom of religion?

 

[eskavan]

How can a country stand for nothing?

Multiculturalism is cultural suicide.

A country is not a culture. A country is a geopolitical state. A country can have several cultures in it, and a culture can exist in many different countries (though in practice as soon as you transplant a cultural group that culture changes). If a country promotes the preservation of different countries within it it can be said to "stand" for multiculturalism (though ultimately no country really ever "stands" for anything...a country is its people and people all have their own views).

I think you mean to say a nation-state can't stand for multiculturalism. You'd be right, but Canada is not and never has been a nation state (we've always had Quebec).

I'm not a fan of multiculturalism either as it's popularly understood (ie., the bizzare idea that recent immigrants should make no effort to integrate into society and all public traditions should be scrapped because they are insensitive...you'd be respectful of culture if you traveled abroad so I think others should be respectful of ours...I do have great regard for indigenous rights however and support the preservation of indigenous culture and language in all parts of the world). My point was the national anthem in no way opposes multiculturalism, because in my personal opinion our national anthem is bland and stands for nothing. Trying to ban it is not only political correctness run amok, but wouldn't do anything because the anthem doesn't really say anything meaningful in the first place. But that's just my opinion...like the anthem if you will. I wish I did because it's my anthem, but I just can't make myself. It doesn't inspire me.

 

[mentalfloss]

There's more culture in hockey hymns than our national anthem.

 

[petros]

There's more culture in hockey hymns than our national anthem.

Would the anthem be more cultural if it's legislated that only Anne Murray/Celine Dion versions be played?

 

[mentalfloss]

Would the anthem be more cultural if it's legislated that only Anne Murray/Celine Dion versions be played?

No, but I wouldn't complain if Shania Twain took a stab at it. Of course, it would have to be televised and I would have my TV on mute, but these are minor complications.

 

[petros]

If you get her to fly in from Switzerland.

 

[mentalfloss]

She probably paid enough to get in, so she'll need another job.

 

[DurkaDurka]

The best way to ruin the anthem is by having Justin Beaver sing it lol

 

[eskavan]

What about freedom of religion?

Oh, please. Does anyone really care? If Canada were more overtly religious I might make a bigger deal about that, but I'm not at all bothered by "God keep our land"...it's more of a fancy way of saying "May our land stay [glorious and free]" than anything else. Perfectly harmless...a figure of speech. The part of the charter (I think it's the charter) that says "whereas Canada recognizes the supremacy of God" is a bit more problematic because of how it could (though will probably never) be interpreted and used with legal force.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Oh, please. Does anyone really care? If Canada were more overtly religious I might make a bigger deal about that, but I'm not at all bothered by "God keep our land"...it's more of a fancy way of saying "May our land stay [glorious and free]" than anything else. Perfectly harmless...a figure of speech. The part of the charter (I think it's the charter) that says "whereas Canada recognizes the supremacy of God" is a bit more problematic because of how it could (though will probably never) be interpreted and used with legal force.

The supremacy of Ron Hubbard, Jesus, Ganesha etc etc