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It Doesn't Get Better....
July 2, 2012 - 10:16am
V
Yesterday, Canada Day, we came in for the free music at Alderney Landing.
Still pretty hot on the asphalt late afternoon, so we left the kids behind and hopped over the waterfront.
Spur of the moment hopped the ferry over to Halifax. Lots of people and buskers and face painters and what-all even with virtually no organized events that side of the harbour. A very pleasant time, where we didn't feel like we were missing the music back at Alderney Landing.
It was so casual and the ferry half empty when we came over, it was unanticpated [but predictable] the big lineup for going back. But that went quickly and we made it onto the first ferry. Packed.
As we approached Alderney Landing, there was a glorious sunset on the water, and a spontaneous round of Oh Canada broke out.
Yuck. I hate that song - stupidest anthem ever, although the two American anthems are more jingoistic. Anytime I hear them, I put on some Bob Marley to drown them out.
I find the French lyrics tolerable, and they even express a few sentiments I can support. The English words - Monotonous bad ideas, poorly written.
Hey Smith, what of the following do you support?
O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux.
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix.
Ton histoire est une épopée,
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
(English Translation)
O Canada! Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.
As in thy arm ready to wield the sword,
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits.
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights.
And corny at the best of times. Not to mention that growing up with the Star Spangled Banner gives you that much more jaundiced a view on expressions of nationalism.
Still, when it is a spontaneous expression....
@ Buttonwood
The last sentence, primarily.
And while I think there is plenty in our history which is horrible, I think parts of it are an epic of the most brilliant exploits, expecially when it comes to resisting and working to change that horror.
And I think there are plenty of examples in this country of valour (not necessarily military) steeped in faith (not necessarily religious), and that we should be proud of them.
@ KenS
Yeah. Thing is, Great words are also no guarantee of a great purpose. La Marseillaise might be a rip-snorting good tune, but look what it was used to sell. And the last time I was in Paris for Bastille day I saw a display of military might to rival the Americans, and the Soviets of the time.
And getting worse under Harper, Kenney, Baird, Clement, Oda, etc.....
I go for Stompin' Tom's "Canada Day, Up Canada Way"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGHMw_67fOk
KenS, I thought this thread was going to be a critique of the "It Gets Better" campaign by Dan Savage! :D
Anyhow, glad you had a nice time yesterday!
Heh. I'm in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario for this long weekend, where Canada's mandatory rock band, the Tragically Hip, played some festival for 18000 people. I think tickets were 80$ at the gates. Some good bands were there (apologies to Hip fans) like Death Cab for Cutie and the New Pornogaphers. We could hear them from the house we were staying at. Of course, the life of concertgoers is closed to us now, what with an eleven-month waddling around. Seeing merry-makers saunter across the park with travellers and lawnchairs reminded me of some other world I may have lived near at some time. Like a dream I once had.