BONNE FETE, CANADA

OK, I cannot do it. I cannot ignore Canada Day. Try though I might, I still harbour deeply patriotic feelings for "our home and native land." With all its faults, Canada is beautiful, somewhat liberal (in spite of the silly Conservative
government and that ridiculous, robotic Stephen Harper.)

Ah, well, I shall further disgust myself.

I rarely use the word "hate" because it is so overused for relatively minor annoyances, but...I HATE the attitude of CBC News toward us Sikhs. Negatively biased to the max!. Still, this old CBC sign off is the most beautiful "O Canada" video I have ever seen. So take a watch and a listen. BTW, "O Canada" is really easy to sing, unlike the national anthem of the Barbarians to the South, which can be handled only by a few professional singers.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0jhJA1Hjxk

The words:
(Note: Canada is a bilingual country. Since I was born in French-speaking Quebec, I actually learned the French version before I learned the English.)

(Further note: the meaning of the French words are completely different from the meaning of the English. This is symbolic of the deeper differences between the two groups. BTW, there are very few Sikhs in French Canada.)
Official (English)
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

And now, mes amis, this song as I learned it. OK I am indulging in a sort of homesickness I rarely allow myself. I am, after all, almost within walking distance of British Columbia, but it's a long way to Quebec. And a long, long way to Tipparary.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InoieKVMHbs


Official (French)
Ô 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.


Inuktitut lyrics
Uu Kanata! nangmini nunavut!
Piqujatii nalattiaqpavut.
Angiglivalliajuti,
Sanngijulutillu.
Nangiqpugu, Uu Kanata,
Mianiripluti.
Uu Kanata! nunatsia!
Nangiqpugu mianiripluti,
Uu Kanata, salagijauquna!