O Canada!

[2R]

The principal has not really provided any facts as to the reasoning behind his decision to stop children enjoying their morning singing.To blame or give credit for this mess to anyone other than the muppet in charge is taking away from the arguement that this man is unfit to be in a classroom and should be FIRED.

The school board should also review its hiring policies to avoid unpatriotic scum from being employed by the public purse.

[V2-OMG!]

The news report I was privy to indicated that the parents took issue with Canada's position in Afghanistan, and felt "O'Canada" was "hawkish" in the circumstances.

I suppose they also take issue with the flag-draped caskets. What would they prefer; a plain brown wrapper??

Political correctness running amok again.

[AuxBatOn]

Schools have gone downhill since the muppets like this Principal took out the lords prayer from the schools as it may offend some who do not believe in God.
Now it is the National anthem that is being attacked .What next our rights to freedom of association.
Is this part of the official Green party manifesto ?more like the dangerous Reds manifesto and handbooks on undermining community values

Where does it stop? Pray Allah, Buddah and all the other Gods while we're at it? The state (yes, this includes schools) should be "laic" (ie: with no ties to religion). There are MANY religions out there and we are free to choose whichever we want. There is only 1 country in Canada, thus 1 national anthem. IMHO, the schools (or any state organization) should accomodate the majority of its customers.

[mcrit]

I recall from my school days that the JWs just scooted out in the hall when we sang Oh Canada and then came back in for class. Everybody did their own thing everybody was happy (pretty much the Canadian Ideal). I don't see my that can't work in this situation.

[bmc]

Out of curiosity, how many of you proud Canadians sing the national anthem every day?

[Driving Rain]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/s ... TopStories

N.B. school ordered to resume playing O Canada
Updated Sun. Feb. 1 2009 6:47 PM ET

CTV.ca News

This week the students at Belleisle Elementary School in New Brunswick will sing the national anthem, something they haven't done before classes in over a year.

The principal at Belleisle, Erik Millett, made the decision to eliminate O Canada from the school's morning routine after some complaints from some parents. It was a quiet decision in the fall of 2007,

But last week the story made headlines as other parents lobbied the school board to re-instate the anthem during daily announcements. The issue was even raised in the House of Commons.

School district superintendent Zoe Watson decided Sunday to reinstate the singing.

"It is very clear from the communication I have received that people want to see the national anthem played daily at this school," Watson told CTV News.

"I will act in the best interest of the Belleisle Elementary School community and reinstate the playing of the national anthem during daily announcements -- effective immediately".

Susan Boyd, whose daughter Julie attends Belleisle Elementary, is pleased with the decision, but her fight isn't over.

A petition is circulating and people in the community would like the province to introduce legislation on the playing of the anthem in schools. New Brunswick Education Minister Kelly Lamrock has said he will do everything in his power to make morning singings of O Canada mandatory.

[Siddley Hawker]

...how many of you proud Canadians sing the national anthem every day?

Not me, but my wife hasn't made a rule that says I couldn't.

[bmc]

...how many of you proud Canadians sing the national anthem every day?

Not me, but my wife hasn't made a rule that says I couldn't.

I say push the issue and if she says anything, tell her she can pack up and leave Canada.

[V2-OMG!]

Out of curiosity, how many of you proud Canadians sing the national anthem every day?

I DO! I DO! And in the Inuktitut tongue.

My suggestion: Best attempted when sober. Trust me on that.
"Uu Kanata!
Nangmini nunavut!
Piqujatii nalattiaqpavut.
Angiglivalliajuti,
Sanngijulutillu.
Nangiqpugu, Uu Kanata
Mianiripluti.
Uu Kanata! nunatsia!
Nangiqpugu mianiripluti,
Uu Kanata, salagijauquna!"

[Dushan]

Out of curiosity, how many of you proud Canadians sing the national anthem every day?

I don't, not every day.

However if it was a requirement at my place of work I would gladly do it. I would not insult those who are doing it by sitting down, leaving the room or any other form of disrespect.

Being a 56 year old man my sense of patriotism and devotion is well established (god, bad or indifferent), but a nine-year old's is not and he needs to learn it. That is why the anthem is sung in schools every day, similar to pledging allegiance to the flag in U.S. Allowing him to disrespect it by not participating in the act is wrong.

[Dust Devil]

I don't remember the JW's I went to school with leaving the room during the National Anthem. I also didn't leave the room when the Lords Prayer was said. I just stood and waited till it was done. I've never been a religious kind of guy but as has been stated when I'm in a church I do as the church people do.

I sing the National Anthem at a minimum of 10 times a year.

GO RIDERS!!!!!!!!

[Guido]

Being a 56 year old man my sense of patriotism and devotion is well established (god, bad or indifferent), but a nine-year old's is not and he needs to learn it. That is why the anthem is sung in schools every day, similar to pledging allegiance to the flag in U.S. Allowing him to disrespect it by not participating in the act is wrong.

In all seriousness, I'd like to ask a couple of questions. Why does a 9 year-old need to learn to be patriotic and/or devoted to his country?

And why is it disrespectful not to participate?

I ask because I question the idea that any one nation deserves my allegiance. I would fight for my family, I would fight for my friends... but I would not fight for a country. I think nationalism is dead. All the free-market economists tout globalism as the saviour for the world, but I prefer to think that another kind of globalism is more appropriate to us human beings. I am a citizen of the world. I care for all people's well-being in a way that is equal. I am no more important for being a Canadian than a destitute person who lives in Sudan. Neither are you

Cue that bullshit quote about young people being liberals and old people being conservatives, because they're smarter...

And Doc, yes you are a lunatic. This country was built by immigrants and their traditions, and it will continue to be that way. Get used to it.

[Doc]

And Doc, yes you are a lunatic. This country was built by immigrants and their traditions, and it will continue to be that way. Get used to it.

I really hope you're right Guido.....but the USA was built by immigrants as well. It's not the "traditions" I'm worried about. While I realize Texas is a little more "red neck" than we pretend to be (sometimes) you don't see this going on there?

And I agree, it's not a sign of disrespect for a 9 year old not to sing a song. It is however disrespectful for the parents to insist the anthem be removed from the school. You can see that....no?

[Dushan]

In all seriousness, I'd like to ask a couple of questions. Why does a 9 year-old need to learn to be patriotic and/or devoted to his country?

And why is it disrespectful not to participate?

I ask because I question the idea that any one nation deserves my allegiance. I would fight for my family, I would fight for my friends... but I would not fight for a country. I think nationalism is dead.

For the same reason a 9 year-old needs to know how to read write, add, subtract, say hello, please, thank you... You know the drill. It is disrespectful not to participate when everyone is participating. You say you don't see yourself as a citizen of one country, but a citizen of the world. Isn't that the ultimate in participating and not being exclusionary. Same with singing the anthem. Don't exclude yourself. And it has nothing to do with "fighting for a country". Patriotism is love for the country, not hate for another country. It is not an adversarial act.

And yes, nationalism may very well be dead, sadly because of people like you...

And finally cue up the tune... you will change your views... Very few don't.

[Cat Driver]

And Doc, yes you are a lunatic. This country was built by immigrants and their traditions, and it will continue to be that way. Get used to it.

You can get a head start on getting used to it by going over to England and having a look at their immigration nightmare......be careful riding the buses or the underground because some of their immigrants have a very nasty way of showing their appreciation of their new country.

[Doc]

And Doc, yes you are a lunatic. This country was built by immigrants and their traditions, and it will continue to be that way. Get used to it.

You can get a head start on getting used to it by going over to England and having a look at their immigration nightmare......be careful riding the buses or the underground because some of their immigrants have a very nasty way of showing their appreciation of their new country.

I just hope that one or two are bright enough to know what I'm saying. I rather doubt it though. I'm more concerned about certain religious extremists, than immigrants. Some of the finest people I've met were not borne here. It's not where a person is from.....but some of his beliefs scare the shit out of me.

[V2-OMG!]

Is it really about the singing or the verbalizationof the lyrics? Obviously, the latter.

If we are gagged under the guise of "political correctness" what good can become of the "global community" if idividuals are unable to say what they think? Civilization is unable to do what individuals cannot say.

Oral language is the only force capable of freeing society from the strangling effects of the written and the ideological. How can citizens enter into public debate if those concepts which define our society and decide the manner in which we are governed are open neither to understanding, nor to questioning? Society comes to a standstill. If prolonged, the results become catastrophic.

Isn't this not what brought those immigrants to Canada in the first place? They were fleeing those verbally oppressive regimes?

[bmc]

Edited....wrong audience...

I live in Switzerland. I am a Canadian. I hear and read the same statement here in Switzerland all the time. I could almost word for word mirror this to comments from the far right party here. When pressed about it, immigrants from some countries are fine. Other countries, mostly non-white, seem to be the cause of all the problems. The problems being:

1. THEY DON'T INTEGRATE. I love this one. I am an immigrant and I desparately want to integrate. Nobody on Avcanada (because I have asked more than once) or my co-workers that are far right can tell me how to do it. I speak French (I'm in the French part), I shop locally. Yet, as an immigrant I don't integrate. Should I knock on my neighbors door and ask to be let in? How do I do this? Now...I'm not a threat because I am white, so it appears that I am integrating fairly well.

2. THEY STEAL OUR JOBS. It's true. We immigrants, when standing in line for jobs, push locals out of the line, grab the people hiring and tell them THE HAVE TO GIVE US THIER JOBS.

3. THEY COME HERE TO GO ON WELFARE. Prove it. And, if the local welfare laws are that lax, change them. But, the cowrdly approach is to just blame the immigrants.

Ignorance is not unique to one country. Lots of it to go around. Instead of taking responsibility for the actions of your country, take the easy way out and blame everybody else.

[Dushan]

I live in Switzerland. I am a Canadian. I hear and read the same statement here in Switzerland all the time. I could almost word for word mirror this to comments from the far right party here.

bmc,
it is unfair to compare Switzerland to Canada when it comes to immigration. Canada is a country that was created by immigrants. Switzerland is one of the most closed and xenophobic societies in Europe and possibly the world. Switzerland sees immigration as a "problem" Canada sees it as an opportunity.

Some of the posters here blame the immigrants for this situation in NB. I don't think that it is the case at all. Here are a few possible scenarios:

1. Someone who objects to the word "God" in the anthem.
2. Someone who sees the "stand on guard for thee" as battle cry.
3. Someone who, like our learned friend from Waterloo, objects to patriotism in any form.
4. Objectors such as JWs who just object to anything "formal".
5. Someone who wants to be so PC that they objected because they "thought" one of the above may be offended.
6. And finally, the whole "objector" thing is an invention and the principal is pursuing his own agenda.

Take your pick. It is probably a combination of a few of these. I don't think that we can attribute this to immigrants, recent or not.
I think that the media has done a terrible job of reporting this. Someone wrote earlier that CBC reported the "facts" without any deeper investigation because it suits their agenda. OTOH they have been known to inject their opinions in the news items because it suited their agenda.

I would really like to find out what happened here and why. It seems that our beloved "Ministry of Truth" is not interested.

[GreenStar]

Immigration can be two sided sword. There are those that can be an asset to a country and those that can add to the social problem. For those that want to completely open things up, California has some they will loan you.


From the L. A. Times
1.40% of all workers in L. A. County ( L. A. County has 10.2 million people )are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants working without a green card.
2.95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.
3.75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.
4.Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal , whose births were paid for by taxpayers.
5.Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.
6.Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.
7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.
8.Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.
9. 21 radio stations in L. A. are Spanish speaking.
10. In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9 million speak Spanish.
(There are 10.2 million people in L. A. County )

(All 10 of the above are from the Los Angeles Times)

Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare.. Over 70% of the United States annual population growth (and over 90% of California ,Florida and New York ) results from immigration. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

[Wilbur]

Why did this turn into a rant about immigration when there isn't one shred of evidence from any news reports saying it has anything at all to do with immigrants. There are plenty of other explanations. It could be nothing more than an issue fabricated by the principal because he's tired of taking 3 minutes away from his coffee and donut each morning to turn on the PA system. That was exactly the case at my kid's school until a few parents ripped the lazy bastard a new arsehole.

[bmc]

Why did this turn into a rant about immigration when there isn't one shred of evidence from any news reports saying it has anything at all to do with immigrants. There are plenty of other explanations. It could be nothing more than an issue fabricated by the principal because he's tired of taking 3 minutes away from his coffee and donut each morning to turn on the PA system. That was exactly the case at my kid's school until a few parents ripped the lazy bastard a new arsehole.

+1

Best post so far. Thank you.

[2R]

The decision was made behind closed doors by a few .A decision that affected the many.
That is how most civil wars begin.Non elected elitests doing what they consider to be the best for the rest of the great unwashed

A glimpse of things to come if the Greens ever managed to get elected

[Dash-Ate]

It seems someone is trying to destroy our culture and peace. Those who hate our freedoms are in our own country.