credmond@watmath.UUCP (Chris Redmond) (09/25/85)
Second stanza of the Canadian national anthem, quoted recently: > O Canada > Where pines and maples grow > Great prairies spread > And lordly rivers flow > How dear to us thy broad domain > From east to western sea > Thy land of hope for all who toil > We stand on guard for thee It's salutary to be reminded that fans in Toronto, as well as fans in New York, have booed O Canada -- at least once when this second verse was sung, and also once when the anthem was sung in the bilingual version (some lines English, some lines French) which the government often prefers to use. American net-readers may be amused, or stunned, to learn just how controversial a national anthem can be in its own country! Personally I've always loved the above-quoted second verse (although I think the final line should be "Thou true north, strong and free", rather than as quoted here). It says something, which is more than the familiar English words do. Of course neither English version can hold a candle to the French words, which were written first. I will post them if anybody wants me to, or send them by mail -- but maybe the national-anthem discussion is wearing out the patience of people who thought they were here to read about baseball. Chris