This is Canada's Maple Leaf Flag
He is Canada in Axis Power Hetalia with his pet Polar Bear, Kumajirou. And as you can see, he is waiting for his turn to say...The history of Canada have always been very interesting to me and its forms the very foundation of modern Canada today. Despite being a relatively large nation spanning across North America up to the north pole, blessed with abundance of natural beauty and resource, a functional liberal democracy and governance that ensures individual liberty and social equality, it receives little or no international attention what so ever and remains somewhat...elusive and invisible (in global issues/events), overshadowed by their over-bearing cousin (and global superpower twat) United States of America and relegated to being America's hat...until now.
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Here's Canada in real world.
And here's Canada as America's hat.2010 Winter Olympic finally give Canada the attention that it deserves, a chance to showcase the beauty and diversity of Canada and Canadian today. And for once, Canada finally lead the medal boards in any Olympic, breaking numerous world record in the process. Canadian pride have never been so high. There's has been enough coverage on Canada though so for now, I am here to highlight a few interesting bits of Canada (very much related to my personal interest) which are their selected anthems, past and present which generally reflects bits of Canada's history as well as its general demography as an officially bilingual nation of English and French.
Being a British dominion, it's first (unofficial) anthem, The Maple Leaf Forever reflects a (English) Canadian's adoration towards their founder/pioneer from the shores of Britain that opened up their vast nation across North America from ocean to ocean. In fact, it was almost selected as official Canadian anthem for various instances of history. Maple Leaf Forever being an explicitly supportive of British song, was not not favored by the French Canadian especially Quebecois due historical differences. (Actually it was the French that came first to Canada to settle the land...before the Brits came and overrun them in the rest of Canada...and the rest is history.)
And then there's O Canada, originally written (in French) as an patriotic anthem for Saint-Jean de Baptiste Day by a French Canadian before an English version came along. Since then, O Canada has caught the attention for all Canadian and has since regarded as de facto national anthem since 1939 but interestingly, it is only OFFICIALLY Canadian national anthem in the 1980. Since O Canada has two version (English and French), usually Canadian sings it by incorporate different lines of the two version into one, usually starting in English, refrain in French and ending in English again reflecting Canada as an officially bilingual nation.
And then there's the rise of Quebec Sovereignty Movement during and since the late 70's, rallied under Parti Quebecois to promote the unique identity of French Canadian/Quebecois due to again, historical differences from the rest of the (more Anglophone) Canada. And thus, Gens Du Pays, a folk song written by Quebecois folk singer, Gilles Vigneult for Fete Nationale du Quebec emerges as the unofficial national anthem of Quebec. Til this day, Quebec's unique position in the dominion as a culturally seperate and strongly regionalist province remains for the years to come.
Epilogue: That's all for today I think. Meanwhile, look forward for more post in the future (hopefully), after I collect enough motivation, idea, information and materials to compose a proper blogpost. *sigh* And ohh, I just realized that this is my first post in March and it's already a quarter of this month already. And it's filler *sudden realization* As for assignment, the rolling sound of pending doom is getting louder and louder. OMG. So tired. What am I gonna do!?
Being a British dominion, it's first (unofficial) anthem, The Maple Leaf Forever reflects a (English) Canadian's adoration towards their founder/pioneer from the shores of Britain that opened up their vast nation across North America from ocean to ocean. In fact, it was almost selected as official Canadian anthem for various instances of history. Maple Leaf Forever being an explicitly supportive of British song, was not not favored by the French Canadian especially Quebecois due historical differences. (Actually it was the French that came first to Canada to settle the land...before the Brits came and overrun them in the rest of Canada...and the rest is history.)
Lyrics
In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus:
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!
At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus
Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus
On merry England's far famed land
May kind heaven sweetly smile,
God bless old Scotland evermore
and Ireland's Em'rald Isle!
And swell the song both loud and long
Till rocks and forest quiver!
God save our Queen and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus
In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus:
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!
At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus
Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus
On merry England's far famed land
May kind heaven sweetly smile,
God bless old Scotland evermore
and Ireland's Em'rald Isle!
And swell the song both loud and long
Till rocks and forest quiver!
God save our Queen and Heaven bless
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus
And then there's O Canada, originally written (in French) as an patriotic anthem for Saint-Jean de Baptiste Day by a French Canadian before an English version came along. Since then, O Canada has caught the attention for all Canadian and has since regarded as de facto national anthem since 1939 but interestingly, it is only OFFICIALLY Canadian national anthem in the 1980. Since O Canada has two version (English and French), usually Canadian sings it by incorporate different lines of the two version into one, usually starting in English, refrain in French and ending in English again reflecting Canada as an officially bilingual nation.
French lyrics
Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
English lyrics
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
English lyrics
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
And then there's the rise of Quebec Sovereignty Movement during and since the late 70's, rallied under Parti Quebecois to promote the unique identity of French Canadian/Quebecois due to again, historical differences from the rest of the (more Anglophone) Canada. And thus, Gens Du Pays, a folk song written by Quebecois folk singer, Gilles Vigneult for Fete Nationale du Quebec emerges as the unofficial national anthem of Quebec. Til this day, Quebec's unique position in the dominion as a culturally seperate and strongly regionalist province remains for the years to come.
Paroles:
Le temps qu'on a pris pour se dire je t'aime
C'est le seul qui reste au bout de nos jours
Les voeux que l'on fait les fleurs que l'on sème
Chacun les récolte en soi-même
Aux beaux jardin du temps qui court
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Le temps de s'aimer, le jour de le dire
Fond comme la neige aux doigts du printemps
Fêtons de nos joies, fêtons de nos rires
Ces yeux où nos regards se mirent
C'est demain que j'avais vingt ans
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Le ruisseau des jours aujourd'hui s'arrête
Et forme un étang ou chacun peut voir
Comme en un miroir l'amour qu'il reflète
Pour ces coeurs à qui je souhaite
Le temps de vivre leurs espoirs
Le temps qu'on a pris pour se dire je t'aime
C'est le seul qui reste au bout de nos jours
Les voeux que l'on fait les fleurs que l'on sème
Chacun les récolte en soi-même
Aux beaux jardin du temps qui court
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Le temps de s'aimer, le jour de le dire
Fond comme la neige aux doigts du printemps
Fêtons de nos joies, fêtons de nos rires
Ces yeux où nos regards se mirent
C'est demain que j'avais vingt ans
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Le ruisseau des jours aujourd'hui s'arrête
Et forme un étang ou chacun peut voir
Comme en un miroir l'amour qu'il reflète
Pour ces coeurs à qui je souhaite
Le temps de vivre leurs espoirs
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Gens du pays c'est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d'amour
Epilogue: That's all for today I think. Meanwhile, look forward for more post in the future (hopefully), after I collect enough motivation, idea, information and materials to compose a proper blogpost. *sigh* And ohh, I just realized that this is my first post in March and it's already a quarter of this month already. And it's filler *sudden realization* As for assignment, the rolling sound of pending doom is getting louder and louder. OMG. So tired. What am I gonna do!?
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