Change the Anthem...Again?

It has started all over again. In the recent throne speech, Governor General Michaëlle Jean said, "Our Government will also ask Parliament to examine the original gender-neutral English wording of the national anthem."

Think now of "O Canada," the offending line is, "In all thy sons command." What about the daughters? That's the argument. Well, that line was inserted in 1914 during the years of the first World War. At that time it was sons that Canada was sending to war. But of course, that does not account for the women that serve our country. And in the interest of equality, the government now thinks we should re-visit this issue.

It is not the first time the line has been questioned. In 1993, then-prime minister Kim Campbell supported the O Canada Fairness Committee's attempt at an amendment that would change the line to "in all our hearts command." Obviously nothing happened. In 1990, the Toronto city council voted 12-7 to recommend to the federal government that the line be changed to "true patriot love in all of us command." Also in contention, the lines "our home and native land," and "God keep our land glorious and free." The former ignoring the contributions and sacrifices of the aboriginal people and the latter stating something that will never happen.

It's curious that the conservative government chose to bring up this issue after Canada's terrific performance at the Winter Olympics. Was it the thousands of people gleefully, and many times spontaneously, singing the anthem that sparked the interest, or was this planned all along?

On one hand, I hope the anthem stays the same. We've already lived through one change. In 1980, The National Anthem Act added the phrase "From far and wide, O Canada" to replace "And stand on guard, O Canada." I know I wasn't the only person that sang the old lyrics after the change. Given that I don't sing the anthem on a regular basis, it has taken a while to sink in.

On the other hand, I don't see anything wrong in changing the line to reflect something more gender neutral, like "in all of us command." But then there's the native and god thing. This could go on forever.

Maybe we should use that swinging version of "The Maple Leaf Forever" that Michael Bublé sang at the Winter Olympics closing ceremonies. How does that go?

In days of yore, 
From Britain's shore
Wolfe the dauntless hero came
And planted firm Britannia's flag
On Canada's fair domain.

Whoops. French Canadians won't be singing that.

Let's ask Neil Young to write a new anthem.

Mar. 5/2010 UPDATE:
The Georgia Straight reports that the anthem will not be changed.