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The 180

'O Canada' is 'embarrassingly defective,' says former English teacher

There have long been calls to change "O Canada." Critics say it is sexist, for example, and excludes atheists and non-Christians. But 180 listener Margaret Young says there are also parts of the anthem that just don't make sense. The former teacher makes her case for anthem reconstruction.
CBC News ·
A 180 listener argues the national anthem is among the Canadian "infrastructure" that needs to be rebuilt. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
The 1803:25'O Canada' is 'embarrassingly defective,' says former English teacher

Margaret Young says the lyrics of "O Canada" are "ridiculous" — but not for the reasons you might think. 

We're all familiar with the calls to make the anthem less gender-specific, or more secular, but Young, a former English teacher, points out that some of the song's words just don't make sense. 

Can love be commanded? Can 'true patriot love be ordered into being?' This is doubly non-sensical.- Margaret Young

Her issue, specifically, is with the line "true patriot love, in all thy sons command."

Young says it's clear that the line is addressed to Canada — the phrase starts with "O Canada," after all. 

If that's the case, then it seems the song orders Canada to command "true patriot love" of its citizens.   

"But," asks Young, "can love be commanded? Can 'true patriot love' be ordered into being? This is doubly non-sensical." 

Canada deserves a better anthem, she says.

And what better time to do it? After all, we have a new government promising to refresh the country's infrastructure, and a 150th birthday coming up.

Click the blue "play" button above to hear this segment in its entirety. 

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