Oh Canada!
"It shall be lawful for the Queen, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate and House of Commons, to make laws for the Peace, Order and good Government of Canada . . ." Oh, the stirring words of section 91 of the Constitution Act! Unlike our great neighbour to the South, Canada's constitution is not blessed with evocative words and as a country we don't really seem to have a coherent governing ideology. There are significant moments in the development of the country and there is a clear parliamentary heritage, but we are not a people steeped in poetic myth.
One of the few occasions that this is different is when we sing our national anthem. The World Cup is on right now -- so nationalism is rife at least among the 32 countries that made it to South Africa. Of course, when a Canadian hockey team wins an international tournament that is big nationalistic stuff here.
Music is certainly significant in our emotional identification with others who share our national, cultural or ethnic identity.
Our national anthem was composed by a Quebecois gentleman, Calixa Lavallée. The English words and the French words do not dwell on exactly the same themes. The melody has some measure of grandiosity but is generally flowing and pleasant.
This stands in some contrast to our neighbour. There is a whole range of nationalistic music that is part of the sentimental storehouse of most Americans. The words were written in response to a defence of Fort McHenry against the British navy as part of the War of 1812. The melody is strong and the tone of both words and music quite militaristic. "God Bless America", and "Hail to the Chief", are also well known. John Philip Sousa provided a whole list of marches including the US national march, "The Stars and Stripes" and the march of the Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis" -- "always faithful".
In Canada we now rarely sing "God Save the Queen". In the first decade of the 20th century one popular tune emerged that is still heard from time to time, "The Maple Leaf Forever", a somewhat jingoistic tune promoted by a political lobby referred to as the "Canada Firsters". Of course, in Britain, the land whence our constitutional existence arose, still lustily sings "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory", though these sentiments now seem pretty historical.
National identity does allow us to be attached to the common good in an important way. In an increasingly interdependent world, however, it is also clear that nationalism has some sensible limits and that an important personal and even spiritual identity many of us are now developing is more global in its perspective.
One of the few occasions that this is different is when we sing our national anthem. The World Cup is on right now -- so nationalism is rife at least among the 32 countries that made it to South Africa. Of course, when a Canadian hockey team wins an international tournament that is big nationalistic stuff here.
Music is certainly significant in our emotional identification with others who share our national, cultural or ethnic identity.
Our national anthem was composed by a Quebecois gentleman, Calixa Lavallée. The English words and the French words do not dwell on exactly the same themes. The melody has some measure of grandiosity but is generally flowing and pleasant.
This stands in some contrast to our neighbour. There is a whole range of nationalistic music that is part of the sentimental storehouse of most Americans. The words were written in response to a defence of Fort McHenry against the British navy as part of the War of 1812. The melody is strong and the tone of both words and music quite militaristic. "God Bless America", and "Hail to the Chief", are also well known. John Philip Sousa provided a whole list of marches including the US national march, "The Stars and Stripes" and the march of the Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis" -- "always faithful".
In Canada we now rarely sing "God Save the Queen". In the first decade of the 20th century one popular tune emerged that is still heard from time to time, "The Maple Leaf Forever", a somewhat jingoistic tune promoted by a political lobby referred to as the "Canada Firsters". Of course, in Britain, the land whence our constitutional existence arose, still lustily sings "Rule Britannia" and "Land of Hope and Glory", though these sentiments now seem pretty historical.
National identity does allow us to be attached to the common good in an important way. In an increasingly interdependent world, however, it is also clear that nationalism has some sensible limits and that an important personal and even spiritual identity many of us are now developing is more global in its perspective.
