National anthem, other symbols belong at election forums
By Lethbridge Herald on April 11, 2025.
Editor,
O Canada, what have we done to thee? At the all-candidates last evening, it dawned on me that something was missing; the evening began with the obligatory aboriginal land acknowledgement then proceeded directly into the meeting.
We are not simply wandering strangers meeting on someone else’s land; we are Canadians – meeting in Canada to take part in a debate about the ideas and policy proposals that will shape the nation for the next four years. I mentioned this to the moderator after the event and brought the facts to his attention and asked why we didn’t begin the meeting with the singing of O Canada. He couldn’t answer but thought the idea of singing the national anthem had merit. Well good, but there was no clear commitment to action, hence this letter to the editor.
The question must be asked, why this laissez faire attitude toward our national symbols? I believe the blame must be laid at the feet of the political party in power – the Liberals. A very partial list of their most egregious acts will make the case. Where have they failed? Rather, where have they not failed? PM Justin Trudeau saw no core identity to the country he was leading, calling Canada the first post-national state. Before he was elected prime minister, he said that he admired China’s basic dictatorship. When the residential school issue arose, he accused Canadians of being complicit in genocide, bringing the country into disrepute at home and internationally. When patriotic Canadians opposed his alarmist climate and Covid policies, he responded by calling them enemies of Canada.
Need I go on? Yes, I must. Using Canadian tax dollars, he benefited friends of the Liberal party at WE and again, scorned those who questioned his actions; when SNC Lavalin was in legal difficulty, ethical behaviour was shown the door along with Honourable Judy Wilson-Raybould, our first female, and aboriginal, attorney general and Honourable Jane Philpott, causing Canadians to become cynical about politics.
Is it a surprise then, that our national anthem isn’t sung at events concerning politics and government? Our anthem says, “We stand on guard for thee”. How is this possible with our armed forces undermanned and under armed? We plead with the Lord to “keep our land glorious and free”, but under the leadership of the Liberals, glorious and free are mere words.
Full disclosure, I am a former Member of Parliament and am extremely sensitive to things like this, but it doesn’t minimize what happened and it must not continue. We, all of us, no matter our political preferences, must resist the temptation to destroy our political opponents to avoid destroying the fabric of our nation.
Fly the flag and sing the anthem with pride and passion, especially at events like last night’s.
Derrek Konrad
Lethbridge
11-10
sure, you sing the anthem whenever you want, wherever…tough call whether before or after grace before dinner.
perhaps, though, we hear the anthem plenty enough, be it in school, at sporting events (as if that is necessary), and you can hear it all you want simply by plugging it in to your favourite playlist.
Biff in your continued ignorance, you have entirely missed the point of Mr. Konrad’s letter.
i’m singing it now, i sang it in the shower, i sing it while standing before every sporting event…even the ones i do not attend…it is such a catchy tune it is all i play on my stereo and in my car. the more i play it the fresher it gets, and the more souls that are saved, and the more my country is protected.
as for other symbols, i find it best that we leave beavers and moose and geese to live as they will but with far healthier habitats than we allow. i say maple syrup is a tasty treat. our flag is pretty, as far as flags go, but, of far greater importance than any symbols are the likes of freedom from the tyranny of the majority and a faux democracy, and, letting consenting adults do their thing so long as the rights of another are not infringed upon. all of these are sustained by tolerance and compassion, and have rather nothing to do with how often and loud are our symbols.
It was a debate for heaven’s sake. I suppose that was the Liberals fault as well? Take a deep breath and get over it. More pressing issues at hand , like our autocratic lying despot down south.
just in case folks missed this: https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-one-inquiry-to-rule-them-all-separate-probes-only-benefit-the-ucp
Mr. Guthrie shared his “concerns about the Government of Alberta’s procurement practices across all departments.”
(emphasis added)
Are you proud of what your Reform Party has done to all the good our Conservative heroes created for the good of the people and put Alberta in financial ruin by destroying Lougheed’s Oil Royalties and Corporate Taxes? As former Bankers we estimate that Albertans have been cheated out of $1 Trillion while a retired oil executive states it’s likely $1.2 Trillion.
While Reformer Danielle Smith is hellbent on getting Reformer Pierre Poilievre elected and wastes $7 million trying to help him our lawyer friends warn us about their game plan. Get Poilievre elected to help her steal our Canada Pension Plan, kick out the RCMP at a huge cost to taxpayers, and get Canadians to provide Alberta with Equalization Payments to help her replace some of the Billions she is helping the rich steal from the people. How stupid do they think we are?
They also warn that there will be nothing stopping her from cancelling the pension for those of us seniors who know we have received far more than the amount we paid into the plan in the first place, so why would we be dumb enough to want it stopped?
Supporting Reformer Pierre Poilievre who tried to help Stephen Harper destroy our Public Healthcare System and is promising to destroy jobs created by Conservatives is just plain stupid when lawyers warn how dangerous he could be for us seniors. Do you want to risk losing your Canada Pension Plan completely, my friends and I don’t?
Lawyer friends and relatives warn us that there will be nothing stopping Smith from cancelling Pension Plans for seniors who have received more money than they put into it like we know we have. Even these senior fools who blindly support these Reformers will be in trouble, that’s how stupid they are. Are you going to help Poilievre get elected so he can help Smith put you in financial ruin?
she is already getting our healthcare system ready for him to help her privatize it, like he tried to help Harper do, and they were kicked out and Trudeau elected.