Why is Canada thinking of changing its national anthem?
Canadians are at odds over two words in the country鈥檚 national anthem: 鈥渢hy sons.鈥�
In an effort to make the English version of 鈥淥 Canada鈥� more gender neutral, the country's parliament is on its way to changing the line 鈥� 鈥渋n all thy son鈥檚 command鈥� 鈥� to 鈥渋n all of us command.鈥�
The House of Commons two readings of the bill last week before it was sent to a heritage committee and returned to the Commons聽for a third reading, according to USA Today. If the Commons and Senate approve the legislation, the anthem in the fall, reported the Ottawa Citizen.
Following the readings, parliament members broke out in singing "O Canada," though some on the floor aren't pleased with the initiative. They question why a part of history must conform to modern-day political correctness. Others say that the change will not hurt Canadian heritage, but will mean a lot for half of the country鈥檚 population. 聽
鈥淲e are in 2016,鈥� Christine Moore, a New Democratic Party聽parliament member, said during a debate, reported the Ottawa Citizen. 鈥淭he Canadian population will understand why we want to make the change. It is not a big change, and there will not be a big difference in the national anthem, but the difference is significant for women all across Canada.鈥�
鈥淚t is the right time to do it. Let us make our national anthem inclusive,鈥� she said.
Since it was written in 1906 to accompany the French version of the song, 鈥淥 Canada鈥� has been revised twice. Before 1914, the lyrics were much like the proposed version. The disputed line was 鈥渢hou dost in us command,鈥� but was rewritten to 鈥渢hy sons鈥� apparently to聽 among Canadians off to World War I, reported USA Today.
Members of Canada鈥檚 Liberal Party have fast-tracked the bill because the health of its drafter, Liberal MP Mauril B茅langer, has deteriorated rapidly, Canadian media reported. Yet the Liberals weren鈥檛 the first Canadians to recommend such a rewrite. Former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper 聽the line be changed back to 鈥渢hou dost in us command" in 2010, shortly after the Canadian women鈥檚 hockey team sang the national anthem after winning gold at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
For Conservative聽MP Erin O鈥橳oole, political correctness in this case聽.
鈥淚t is wrong for a country to tread on its heritage and history, even when some of those heritage symbols, songs, and anthems may seem a little dated when looking at it through the lens of 2016,鈥� said Mr. O鈥橳oole, according to MRCTV. 鈥淭hat is really what we have come to with a debate about our national anthem.鈥�
In a column for the Toronto Star, Candice Malcolm agreed.
鈥渨here this politically correct obsession will take us,鈥� wrote Ms. Malcolm. 鈥淔rom a Remembrance Day ceremony honoring the brave men and women who fought and died for Canada, to the Canadian women鈥檚 hockey team belting the lyrics after winning the Gold medal on home ice at the Vancouver Olympics, O Canada has helped define our country and brought us all together.鈥�
Canada isn鈥檛 the only country to be torn over efforts to modernize its national anthem. Switzerland to rewrite its national anthem, a religious psalm. Former Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin (D) on his last day in Congress to retire the 鈥淪tar Spangled Banner鈥� for 鈥淎merica the Beautiful.鈥� He pointed out that the US national anthem doesn鈥檛 even include the word 鈥淎merica.鈥澛�
A majority of Canadians , according to a May poll commissioned by a national organization advocating for the change. But at least one Canadian woman said .
鈥淒on鈥檛 we have better things to do?鈥� Shah Vernon told the North Shore News in North Vancouver. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to do something for women, let鈥檚 give them decent wages.鈥澛�
