KEY TOPICS: Canadian anthem, gender equality, Restore Our Anthem campaign
*No summary included.
It's 2013. One hundred years ago the Canadian government adopted its English-version anthem. Back in 1913, women weren't able to vote nor considered 'persons' under the law. "True patriot love in all thy sons command" was only fitting. But, ironically, before 1913 the English anthem was gender neutral. "True patriot love thou dost in us command" was the verse Canadians sang. It's not clear why changes were made to Robert Stanley Weir's lyrics. Regardless, today's 'Restore Our Anthem' campaigners believe: "Restoring the anthem to reflect its original version is the simplest way to encapsulate the equality of all Canadians." With enough pressure, school children could soon be singing an anthem that commands our respect because we would see that it changed for us, not the other way around.
A similar campaign was started in 2002 by then-Senator Vivienne Poy and followed up by the Harper government in 2010. "In all of us command" was twice proposed and rejected. Each time, the federal government gave in to the people who said the English anthem was too beautiful to change. People who viewed the 'sons' battle as a waste of time because gender equality in Canada had already been achieved. As a third attempt is launched, similar opinions are surfacing. 'Why bother changing an anthem that's hardly sung?' argue some. While others ask, 'Why are women complaining when they're already equal under the law?' The reality, as I see it, is different. The anthem is sung everyday and civic traditions need to reflect the role that women now play. Moreover, this isn't a women's only campaign: Canadian men also support the cause. "This is a no-brainer. All thy sons? Citisons? All of us, of course," says author Wayne Johnston. While radio personality Jian Ghomeshi (before the unsavoury accusations) offers this view: "Making a small change to the lyrics of our national anthem doesn't undermine our tradition. It preserves it." To bring everyone into the fold with, "In all of us command," would certainly be fitting for our time.
It's been over a decade since we started battling over 'sons' and 'us.' Opponents seem to believe they're just words that we shouldn't take literally. 'Sons' is meant to include 'daughters'; it's meant to encompass all Canadians, they say. However, I agree with 'Restore Our Anthem' campaigners that these same people wouldn't be as agreeable if we were dealing with 'daughters' instead: "We have a feeling if the word was 'daughters' it would be taken literally" ('ROA' website). To illustrate the point, just imagine if we replaced 'mankind' with 'womankind'... It seems the words are more important than opponents either let on or realize. However, if we choose to ignore their biases, hidden or otherwise, this debate will continue to fall short on integrity. Our children need us all to do better.
Since 2002, individuals and groups have been standing up to a century-old tradition that, let's remember, is human-made or, more accurately, man-made. It's not impervious to change just as we Canadians aren't. I hope the current government takes a stand on this outstanding issue so we can finally exhale. It's simple: an anthem that we can all be proud to sing calls on all of us to guard this country and its values. Now that's an "appropriate" message for school children, don't you think?
*No summary included.
It's Wednesday, 8:45am. The national anthem rings through K. D. Public School's aging two-storey building. "...Our home and native land…" Nearly four hundred girls and boys suddenly stand at attention. Their conversations and unpacking put on hold. "True patriot love in all thy sons command..." In the lobby, between display cases, latecomers with worried expressions stop mid-stride. Nearby, a teacher reminds her students to remove their toques and headphones. "...The true, North, strong and free..." In this elementary school, the younger students' high-pitched voices are full of pride. "...God keep our land..." Some classroom teachers, too distracted to sing, scan their rooms to take a head count. Others, modelling "appropriate" behaviour, join the chorus: "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." The final verse sung, everyone relaxes in what feels like a mass exhale.
Each morning, it's the same ritual: public schools across Canada pledge allegiance to this country. No questions asked. As a teacher and activist, this troubles me. Questions invite discussion, debate and change. And sometimes even long-standing traditions, like our national anthem, need to be questioned. In a secular democracy, it's critical to ask questions. What really is 'patriot love'? What role does God play in civic life? Are all Canadians truly 'free'? And why does our English anthem address Canada's sons but not its daughters? Yet schools fall silent, as do most Canadians.
The 'Restore Our Anthem' campaign is not only raising questions but demanding change. Supporters, like Margaret Atwood, Vivienne Poy and Kim Campbell, are asking Canadians to pressure the federal government to remove the male bias in our 100-year old anthem - once and for all. I agree, it's time for Canada's sons and daughters to stand together as 'us' Canadians. However, taught from a young age about fair play, Canadian children might stand to gain the most by witnessing their government act in the name of fairness and equality for all.
Each morning, it's the same ritual: public schools across Canada pledge allegiance to this country. No questions asked. As a teacher and activist, this troubles me. Questions invite discussion, debate and change. And sometimes even long-standing traditions, like our national anthem, need to be questioned. In a secular democracy, it's critical to ask questions. What really is 'patriot love'? What role does God play in civic life? Are all Canadians truly 'free'? And why does our English anthem address Canada's sons but not its daughters? Yet schools fall silent, as do most Canadians.
The 'Restore Our Anthem' campaign is not only raising questions but demanding change. Supporters, like Margaret Atwood, Vivienne Poy and Kim Campbell, are asking Canadians to pressure the federal government to remove the male bias in our 100-year old anthem - once and for all. I agree, it's time for Canada's sons and daughters to stand together as 'us' Canadians. However, taught from a young age about fair play, Canadian children might stand to gain the most by witnessing their government act in the name of fairness and equality for all.
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| "Restore Our Anthem" Website |
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| Vivienne Poy, former Canadian Senator |
It's been over a decade since we started battling over 'sons' and 'us.' Opponents seem to believe they're just words that we shouldn't take literally. 'Sons' is meant to include 'daughters'; it's meant to encompass all Canadians, they say. However, I agree with 'Restore Our Anthem' campaigners that these same people wouldn't be as agreeable if we were dealing with 'daughters' instead: "We have a feeling if the word was 'daughters' it would be taken literally" ('ROA' website). To illustrate the point, just imagine if we replaced 'mankind' with 'womankind'... It seems the words are more important than opponents either let on or realize. However, if we choose to ignore their biases, hidden or otherwise, this debate will continue to fall short on integrity. Our children need us all to do better.
Since 2002, individuals and groups have been standing up to a century-old tradition that, let's remember, is human-made or, more accurately, man-made. It's not impervious to change just as we Canadians aren't. I hope the current government takes a stand on this outstanding issue so we can finally exhale. It's simple: an anthem that we can all be proud to sing calls on all of us to guard this country and its values. Now that's an "appropriate" message for school children, don't you think?
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