O Canada has undergone a slight rewriting to make it gender neutral.
Instead of “…in all thy sons command,” we can now proudly sing “…in all of us command.”
Perhaps the change will grow on us, but right now it sounds kind of awkward.
Of course, we can see where this is headed.
There are many other things wrong with O Canada that will eventually require rewrites. In the not too distant future, O Canada might become unrecognizable if there is public demand to fix all the problems.
Let's start with the archaic title of the anthem.
The “O” in O Canada is a word that is disappearing from spoken English. It can best be described as a word of beseeching or endearment, such as in “O God” in prayer or the Christmas carol O Holy Night.
It is so foreign to the modern English speaker that O Canada is most often written as Oh Canada – not a term of endearment, at all. It is more like saying “Oh Canada!” What is that silly country up to now?'
Of course, that can be very easily corrected with just one letter. We propose the name of the national anthem be changed to OK Canada. That's modern, positive and completely understandable. It actually conveys the meaning of O Canada that is lost in modern English.
When we get into the lyrics of OK Canada – we'll start using the new name because we're sure it's going to catch on – there are problems galore.
We can't even get past “Our home and native land” without running into a multitude of difficulties. Calling Canada “our home” is exclusive of immigrants, whose first homes are elsewhere. That is not the Canadian way. Perhaps “home” should become “current place of residence.”
As for the term “native land,” where do we start? Is it really the “native land” of Europeans, as we have often heard non-Native people born in Canada described? Again, perhaps the change of one letter – this time removing it – can solve that perplexing problem. Instead of “native land,” let's say “naïve land.” Everyone – Native and non-Native – can agree that Canada is often that.
There are, of course, smaller problems with OK Canada. Saying we “stand on guard” might be too militaristic for some people. And while calling Canada the “True North” is fine for the North, it is not how people on the West Coast or East Coast self-identify.
Of course, we've left the biggest problem until last. What do you do about “God keep our land glorious and free?”
Whose God is that? We assume the God of Abraham, which covers the world's three great monotheistic religions. But what about all the other religions?
And should agnostics, atheists and people who just don't care about religion be calling for the goodwill of a god when singing about Canada?
We propose that God be replaced by the serving prime minister of the day. That would change the wording to “Trudeau keep our land glorious and free.” That honestly makes sense to us.
So OK Canada, let's all start singing the country's praises.