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.
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.