tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6965884.post5409166759308436580..comments2023-10-09T00:45:13.334+09:00Comments on gangwon notes: A New Brunswick school decision has me facing my own prejudiceskwandongbrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10193395682122475477noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6965884.post-83193267713396424482009-02-05T07:37:00.000+09:002009-02-05T07:37:00.000+09:00The palsy is entirely cleared up. I think I am sq...The palsy is entirely cleared up. I think I am squinting more in the sun now and I seem to squint more on that side of my face, but I'm not sure. Thanks for asking.kwandongbrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10193395682122475477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6965884.post-45855324899935969842009-02-05T01:06:00.000+09:002009-02-05T01:06:00.000+09:00Ooops, I forgot to add, how's the palsy?Ooops, I forgot to add, how's the palsy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6965884.post-70320184375461191622009-02-05T01:05:00.000+09:002009-02-05T01:05:00.000+09:00I posted about the anthem on my blog today. I also...I posted about the anthem on my blog today. I also decided to write a letter to the Bracebridge Examiner so I'll see if it gets published for the weekend paper or maybe next Wednesday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6965884.post-34869742340289492532009-02-02T07:17:00.000+09:002009-02-02T07:17:00.000+09:00When I said, "ditch the anthem" I meant to remove ...When I said, "ditch the anthem" I meant to remove it from schools not get rid of an anthem all together.<BR/><BR/>In Ontario, it's the law that every student must sing the national anthem every school day. It's a sort of nationalization indoctrination using a song with a questionable message. This is why I disagree with it.<BR/><BR/>Now, if the anthem were improved would I welcome it? Probably not because I really don't understand what it does for the kids. They aren't learning for the good of Canada.<BR/><BR/>There are probably great times for an anthem (sports, ceremonies, dedications, etc) but I don't see how it's important in schools and maybe downright unconstitutional to demand that students sing it, by law!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6965884.post-54446452236018969852009-02-01T10:37:00.000+09:002009-02-01T10:37:00.000+09:00If I can paraphrase you, we want our youth to like...If I can paraphrase you, we want our youth to like our country but not be satisfied with it. "We're good, but we could be better". I like the idea.<BR/><BR/>Still, I also like the idea of a national song. Competitive swimmers are the nerds of the swimming world (well, runners are, but they are more like super-nerds) and swimming is not much of a team sport. That said, I think singing team songs and cheers made me swim better - they helped me concentrate and feel better. I suspect there were more tangible benefits, such as increased heart rate and body temperature, important to maintain readiness to race.<BR/><BR/>Maybe that last bit was off-topic, but I do think there is a place, an important place, for a national anthem; it does not have to be "we are better" but "We are a team, a group, a nation."<BR/><BR/>We can certainly agree that the people of Canada don't have a lot of other things binding us together; two official languages (Do the Inuit have an official language in Nunavut?), very spread out population, a variety of backgrounds...<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I don't want it ditched, but you have weakened my already-wavering-desire to demand it be played every morning at school.kwandongbrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10193395682122475477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6965884.post-889646335428508702009-02-01T07:54:00.000+09:002009-02-01T07:54:00.000+09:00When I went through Teacher's education, the music...When I went through Teacher's education, the music instructor had us go through the anthem, line by line, and question it.<BR/><BR/>"Our home and native land" - home, yes, but native land? According to the history we teach, native Canadians were the Iroquois, Huron, etc and we didn't exactly 'come in peace'.<BR/><BR/>"True patriot love, in all thy sons command" - patriotism demands we do what the state decides and to question it is 'unpatriotic'. I'm sure women would dispute the 'sons command' part.<BR/><BR/>"With glowing hearts, we see thee rise, the True North strong and free" - see who/what rise? What exactly is 'True North' and why do we declare it?<BR/><BR/>"We stand on guard for thee" - Not exactly a peaceful statement (repeated THREE times) but, fortunately, a defensive position<BR/><BR/>"God keep our land, glorious and free" - hmm, shouldn't WE be responsible for the land?<BR/><BR/>I say ditch the anthem. Even if it's rewritten, what's the point? We don't want to indoctrinate kids into thinking their country is better than the others (us vs. them). Instead, we want them to challenge the politicians and the laws to constantly improve it. Respect people, not ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com