An apology from south of the border

[c&m]

Thanks to the OP for showing so much respect for us Canadians!

I was not born in Canada but am now a Canadian citizen. I stand when the Canadian anthem is played out of respect for the country I have made my home (and it's a great home), and out of respect for my DH's family who have fought in many wars and helped to liberate many countries. We stand when the US anthem and any anthem is played for that matter.

When ignorance is shown, as demonstrated by those Le Cellier patrons who didn't stand, I can only chalk it up to a lack of education and understanding. Poor souls.

 

[c&m]

No, you live in a free country because of the price alot of people paid for it to be free. I am a proud member of the canadian armed forces and I love my country and I always stand. When you stand for your national anthem you are showing respect to not just the flag but to those that have fought and died for our country. So many people love to use it's a free country, when in reality your freedom came at a price. Think on that.

Right on! This is exactly what we are trying to teach our DDs.

 

[LSmith]

If forcing people to recognize that the flag and anthem mean alot more then just a song and a flag that people gave you that ability to be free, if this is wrong hell I have no idea what is right.

I think(my opinion) that its a sign of respect...something sorely missing in todays society. Just because you pay taxes does not make you patriot of your country, you pay taxes because you are forced to.

Take it for granted and cry when it is gone.

Now we should force people to stand? Last time I checked that would be against the law. You do follow laws, right?

 

[ahalla]

I don't understand how a meaningful message turned into such a debate.

I for one agree whole heartedly with rune_74. When we stand for O Canada, we are not 'worshipping' a flag. What we are doing is standing up for a wonderful country in which we are lucky enough to live in. And we are paying respect for the many men and women who have fought for our freedom.

Turn in around.... there are many oppressed countries out there, and if Canada became one of them, you would be more than willing to stand up for the Anthem, and give respect to those who protect this county to get your freedom back. Many men and women have paid huge prices for our freedom and if standing up for our Anthem is our way of saying thanks, then yah, it is extremely disrespectful not too. IMHO

 

[rune_74]

Now we should force people to stand? Last time I checked that would be against the law. You do follow laws, right?

Whatever, good to see this is what you get from some. Things don't really change. Keep enjoying your free freedom. You earned it.

 

[LSmith]

Whatever, good to see this is what you get from some. Things don't really change. Keep enjoying your free freedom. You earned it.

I will enjoy my FREEdom. Freedom from bullies shoving their personal beliefs down my throat.

You miss the whole point on freedom.

 

[chimo2u]

No, you live in a free country because of the price alot of people paid for it to be free. I am a proud member of the canadian armed forces and I love my country and I always stand. When you stand for your national anthem you are showing respect to not just the flag but to those that have fought and died for our country. So many people love to use it's a free country, when in reality your freedom came at a price. Think on that.

I 100% agree I can/will stand... if only to show respect for those who died to make our country free. My husband also served for 22 years, risking his life many a time to keep alive the democracy we've all come to expect living in a "free country."

Too often it seems people forget that our freedom was not "free" it came at a large price. It also seems so often lately religion/politics are quoted as reasoning for so many diverse attitudes... which ironically, is also the root of so many of the problems in the first place. Many a war has begun over disagreements on religion and politics. I don't know....

I just think that it does not hurt anyone to stand for a moment as the anthem is played... It has nothing to do with religion (as I too, am a Christian)...it just shows respect to those who gave me the chance to still freely be able to stand and listen to my National Anthem being played without worry of being Killed, stoned, thrown in jail or worse for expressing my free-will.

Just my thoughts, and no hard feelings as we are all entitled to our own beliefs (thanks in part to the fact that we DO live in a Free Country)

 

[rune_74]

I will enjoy my FREEdom. Freedom from bullies shoving their personal beliefs down my throat.

You miss the whole point on freedom.

You ARE free to be disrespectful, however, that does not make it right. If you feel bullied because someone believes that it is disrespectful to not stand for the anthem then I feel bad for you.

Feel free to act any way you want, freedom can be used in so many ways here. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

You are also free to not share my opinions. Just like I am free to not like yours.

 

[LSmith]

You are also free to not share my opinions. Just like I am free to not like yours.

Holy crap. That is what I was trying to say from the beginning!

 

[chimo2u]

Holy crap. That is what I was trying to say from the beginning!

Sadly, a wonderful, heart-felt original post is beginning to turn into a flame-fest. It seems like this happens so much lately. I wonder how long until this one gets shut down? Can't we all just Agree to disagree and keep the thread on topic.

Op: Thank you for your kind words, although you are only responsible for your own actions, it is nice to know that we are respected by most of our friendly neighbours to the south!

 

[pta-mom]

I think people should stand when a country's national anthem is played simply out of respect.

Agreed!!

As a citizen of Canada, I think it is our duty to show pride and repect for the country we live in, regardless of our religious beliefs.

Agreed!!

We will even stand respectfully when the flag is presented, so far as the act of standing, in that particular circumstance, is not itself the act of worship. This is in obedience to the scriptures that plainly say that God does not share his worship with images representing anything in the sky, on the ground, or in the sea.-(Exodus 20:4)

I am a strong Bible believing individual who takes Exodus 20:4 very literal...however, standing & singing the National Antham is not "worshiping" Canada but loving the land God gave us & respecting all the men & women who have died through the years to help keep it free...the freedom that God has allowed. GOD, KEEP THIS LAND, GLORIOUS & FREE.....OH, CANADA, WE STAND ON GUARD FOR THEE. "Worship" is a state of the heart....YOU can choose to "worship" whatever you choose...singing a song about Canada in National unity is not worship!

Both my grandfathers served in WWII.....I stand, I sing & give thanks to the Lord & all the men & women who fought to give me the right to stand & I would find it very offensive to be in a room where the anthem was playing, where people were asked to stand & instead, they thumbed their noses up at the asker. I would be even more offended if that person actually lived in Canada.

No, you live in a free country because of the price alot of people paid for it to be free. I am a proud member of the canadian armed forces and I love my country and I always stand. When you stand for your national anthem you are showing respect to not just the flag but to those that have fought and died for our country. So many people love to use it's a free country, when in reality your freedom came at a price. Think on that.

I agree!! And thank you for serving your country, for doing your part in allowing me & my family to live in this still beautiful place in peace! May the Lord bless you & keep you safe!

 

[LSmith]

Sadly, a wonderful, heart-felt original post is beginning to turn into a flame-fest. It seems like this happens so much lately. I wonder how long until this one gets shut down? Can't we all just Agree to disagree and keep the thread on topic.

Op: Thank you for your kind words, although you are only responsible for your own actions, it is nice to know that we are respected by most of our friendly neighbours to the south!

Whom did I flame???

 

[rune_74]

Sadly, a wonderful, heart-felt original post is beginning to turn into a flame-fest. It seems like this happens so much lately. I wonder how long until this one gets shut down? Can't we all just Agree to disagree and keep the thread on topic.

Op: Thank you for your kind words, although you are only responsible for your own actions, it is nice to know that we are respected by most of our friendly neighbours to the south!

I fail to see how anything I said was a flamefest.

 

[disneynuts777]

I cannot imagine not standing or paying proper respect to another countries national anthem when it is played.
I have been to many countries and if there anthem is being played at an event that I am attending I always respectfully stand in my place and wait for the anthem to end. It is just common courtesy.
And we wonder why we cannot find peace and harmony in the world

 

[LSmith]

I fail to see how anything I said was a flamefest.

Wow, we agree again!

 

[chimo2u]

I will enjoy my FREEdom. Freedom from bullies shoving their personal beliefs down my throat.

You miss the whole point on freedom.

You ARE free to be disrespectful, however, that does not make it right. If you feel bullied because someone believes that it is disrespectful to not stand for the anthem then I feel bad for you.

Feel free to act any way you want, freedom can be used in so many ways here. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.

You are also free to not share my opinions. Just like I am free to not like yours.

Holy crap. That is what I was trying to say from the beginning!

I guess that was the wrong wording...perhaps bicker-fest would have been more appropriate. It just seems you were attacking each other's beliefs/right to feel differently. It felt like it was beginning to become a back and forth attack on one another.

This is the first time I have become involved in a heated discussion topic that I knew would be full of charged emotions and personal beliefs. As you read, I too, had a strong feeling about the topic.... I just hate to feel like a discussion is going south with back and forth bickering, which is what it sounded like from my "reader" perspective.

You are both entitled to your own thoughts/beliefs... I don't think anyone was trying to push their opinion or be a bully, or tell ANYONE how they ought to think.

Sorry if you feel offended, but it felt to me like the discussion was going off kilter into a not-so-nice tone. That's all.... now, this will teach me to stay out of heated topics on a discussion board from now on!

I am a bit new to the whole on-line discussion board thing. (in that I usually ask questions... not participate in debates, LOL!)

Sorry if I offended.

 

[LSmith]

I guess that was the wrong wording...perhaps bicker-fest would have been more appropriate. It just seems you were attacking each other's beliefs/right to feel differently. It felt like it was beginning to become a back and forth attack on one another.

This is the first time I have become involved in a heated discussion topic that I knew would be full of charged emotions and personal beliefs. As you read, I too, had a strong feeling about the topic.... I just hate to feel like a discussion is going south with back and forth bickering, which is what it sounded like from my "reader" perspective.

You are both entitled to your own thoughts/beliefs... I don't think anyone was trying to push their opinion or be a bully, or tell ANYONE how they ought to think.

Sorry if you feel offended, but it felt to me like the discussion was going off kilter into a not-so-nice tone. That's all.... now, this will teach me to stay out of heated topics on a discussion board from now on!

I am a bit new to the whole on-line discussion board thing. (in that I usually ask questions... not participate in debates, LOL!)

Sorry if I offended.

If you read my posts you would see I was defending everyone's belief.

By posting your opinion how are you different from anyone else on here?

 

[chimo2u]

If you read my posts you would see I was defending everyone's belief.

By posting your opinion how are you different from anyone else on here?

As I said, I was only posting my own belief...not attempting to make anyone have to follow it. and...As you said, it is a free world to say what one feels...which is the great thing about living in a free democracy.

I was only against the name-calling (which I was always told "flaming" is... "online namecalling". Maybe I was wrong in that respect ... which is why I apologized. When I posted that I thought it was turning nasty with calling names and disrespecting one another's differences of opinion. I do think I remember the name bully thrown in one of your posts, and personally I felt it was a bit harsh to call someone a bully for just voiceing his/her opinion.

Now you know why I said what I did, so there is no reason left to go back and forth on it.

 

[LSmith]

As I said, I was only posting my own belief...not attempting to make anyone have to follow it. and...As you said, it is a free world to say what one feels...which is the great thing about living in a free democracy.

I was only against the name-calling (which I was always told "flaming" is... "online namecalling". Maybe I was wrong in that respect ... which is why I apologized. When I posted that I thought it was turning nasty with calling names and disrespecting one another's differences of opinion. I do think I remember the name bully thrown in one of your posts, and personally I felt it was a bit harsh to call someone a bully for just voiceing his/her opinion.

Now you know why I said what I did, so there is no reason left to go back and forth on it.

Well, I will defend my post concerning feeling bullied. It was in regards to someone saying that people should be forced to stand for the anthem.

If you are saying that things are turning "nasty" and "harsh" could that be construed as name calling as well. Please.

 

[CanadianGuy]

This one has been fairly well flogged.

Knox