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We stand on guard … but why bother before a game?

ROY MacGREGOR

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 2:45 AM EDT 05/05/08

We stand on guard … but why bother before a game? ...Read the full article

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  1. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Excellent point! These NHL teams are municipalities that do not represent their countries in any meaningful way. I think that abolishing the national anthem before an NHL game is a great idea.

    Playing the national anthems at the conclusion of the game also bears consideration except I wonder which would be more important: being a little sooner out of the parkade or showing respect for the anthem of another country.

    The bigger issue is how did so many hockey fans in Canada and the United States reach so low a level to boo one another's national anthems ?

    Cheers.
  2. Open Mike from Canada writes: When MacGregor is talking about respect, sportsmanship and common sense at hockey games, clearly he has to be talking about other jurisdictions than the NHL and its feeder-leagues. Has it ever been possible to use the words 'classy' and 'the NHL' in the same sentence without breaking into uncontrollable guffaws of derision?
  3. d v from Canada writes: hossein hajiagha from Victoria, Canada... And you're here why? You should change either your attitude or you country of residence.
  4. REV eighteenseventeen from Canada writes: Keep the Anthems. Canada's anthem defines us. Sing it loud.
  5. Jedburgh Abbey from Canada writes: 'I have badly tooth pain' - love it.
  6. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Get rid of the anthems. If that isn't feasible, just play the home team's anthem - in other words, the anthem of whatever country you happen to be in. There is no real reason for anthems at all, but at least we could cut it in half by only playing one.
  7. M G from Canada writes: I have always found the playing of national anthems at sporting events to be an absurdity. Let's put an end to this embarrassing waste of time.
  8. E B from Canada writes: Oddly enough the only place I hear our national anthem anymore is at an NHL hockey game and at the start of the school day. And even now the anthem isnt always in English or French our two official languages in the school.
  9. Mario Lagacé from Canada writes: I remember they also used to play God save the Queen and our national anthem before showing movies in Brantford in the seventies. And I think they still play our anthem on canadian tv and radio every morning in the first minutes of broadcast.
  10. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: I posed this point two weeks ago on a hockey thread. I applaud Mr. MacGregor for building on my idea. The anthems are a total waste of time and they are meaningless. The are used as a quasi-audition for a bloated tart dressed in a hockey jersey to practice her American Idol presentation.There is absolutely no respect for or any thought given to what the anthems mean during their playing. People don't even know to take their baseball caps off without being reminded. Drop the anthems.
  11. * Lozange from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm just 'surprised' the Globe & Mail didn't write about HSH the Prince of Monaco attending the game in Quebec city last night. Anthem or none.
  12. Older'n Dirt from Belleville, Canada writes: Singing the National anthem is a long standing tradition that used to be a daily feature in schools, in movie houses, on radio, on TV in this country and at prominent public events. It was an expression of respect for and pride in our country that seemingly is not of value or warranted in the new socialist Canada. The inclusion of American Teams in the NHL also meant that as a civil country we demonstrated respect for the other country engaged in our permier sports league by extending recognition of their presence by singing/playing their anthem as well. We still do this to welcome respected high level guests from other countries, when they represent their country to us. Distinctly different than for hire hockey players, who do not represent their country by their presence on the ice. Seems to me, that this issue arises again as a result of low class Quebecers disrespect for all things not French. They embarassed our neighbour and likely best friend with their boos and certainly embarrassed the rest of Canada with their boorishness. Maybe some of you posters are right, get rid of any remaining traditions and respect for others so we can complete our transition from thoughtful and respectfull nation to that of banana republic status. As the Americans responded with their act in kind, I can easily understand why it is easy for the ROC to react to Quebec as it sometimes does when it's sensibilities are challenged. Let's face it, We don't need no stinkin tradition and respect to be Canadian! Peace and love to all Canadian Jihadists and those that like to blow things up.
  13. Charles Smith from United Kingdom writes: I suppose anthems are played at sporting events because sport is about competing; it is like a little game of war. A music event is not typically a competition. The Olympics is the same. The 1972 Canada/Russia hockey series was one of the best examples of war during the depths of the Cold War; let's face it, it wasn't real hockey!

    All and all though, I think it displays much small mindedness amongst the people booing National anthems. Really, do these people have a life, or a brain for that matter?
  14. Carolyn Bongiorno from Glenham,NY, United States writes: Slow news day?
  15. Emilio Garazgos from Kanata, Canada writes: I'd go one step further and drop the NHL.

    Or at least, have the Canadian teams drop out and let the Americans have the 'N' HL.

    The Canadian teams can keep playing with truly national teams from Europe, as they are doing in Halifax now.

    Better hockey, better sportsmanship-- and I doubt we'd see the likes of Avery and the Ruutus in the game.
  16. Rich Betts from United States writes: Hey Emilio, the last time I looked Sean Avery was from Pickering, Ontario and Jarkko Ruutu was from Finland. So much for better hockey and better sportsmanship.
  17. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: Right on Mr.Betts- Who could forget the 'Swedish Sportsman'- Ulf Samuelsson? Being a cementhead is not limited by geography.
  18. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: I believe the tradition of playing the anthems at the beginning of games began during the second world war. Patriotism at its finest.

    Until the arrival of Salming the NHL was made up almost entirely of Canadians and Americans.

    We now revert to counting the actual number of Canadians on a given team as the NHL is made up of 20 different nationalities of which the US and Canada make up less that 75 percent of the players.

    It is time to drop the anthems from Hockey and Baseball.

    Cheers
  19. Ed Lewis from Sanityville, Canada writes: There are so few opportunities remaining in our daily lives for the national anthem to played/sung. As it is, our national fabric is disintegrating as the special interest groups carve up Canada into their own little niches. We need to increase efforts to exhibit nationalist pride, not discourage it.

    Canada is becoming too much of a 'what can Canada do for me' kind of place as opposed to a 'what can I do for Canada' kind of place (of course there must be balance between the two). Although the national anthem at NHL games is only a minor issue, it is indeed reflective of our general disinterest in preserving our national pride. To continue on this path of national disinterest will only better serve the agendas of special interest groups and encourage those that would see the balkanization of Canada as the means to better serve their specific purposes.
  20. Sue City from Ottawa, Canada writes: I've noticed a lot of booing going on this year during anthems, and that is unacceptible. I even find the deafening cheer at the end of anthems rude. Anthems are, admittedly, out of place in professional sport. But, they're for the fans, not the players. We do live in Canada, we aren't hockey recruits.
  21. Scott H from United States writes: Why do away with tradition just because a bunch of boorish Montrealers decided to boo the Star Spangled Banner? Maybe a better question than 'why bother [with anthems] before a game?' is 'why is anyone surprised this happened?' The boo-ing starts every year in the playoffs if Montreal gets behind in the series to an American team.

    Instead let's simply do away with singing anthems in Quebec. Clearly they are not mature enough to handle them with respect, as demonstrated time and time again. It will fit with their wannabe Euro attitude ('Ole Ole Ole Ole' chant anyone?)
  22. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Scott H from United States:

    Sigh! Did you actually read the article ?

    Yes, the fans in Philly who booed Canada's national anthem are completely blameless.... We knew that already.
  23. Neon Cab from Canada writes: We need more opportunities for anthems, not less. It might not make much sense in relation to the game but it is important for the country. At the very least, it should make people question what they value and whether they would, in fact, stand on guard for anything.
    Or, just as secularism is taking God out of everything, should we go whole hog and take down the flags too?
  24. Craig Cooper from Toronto, writes: Maybe the players are a mix but the fans aren't. And they constitute the vast majority in the arena.

    Don't mess with the tradition, you Canada-hating twit.
  25. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Q: Why would a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers have anything to do with Canada versus the United States for the average citizen of either country ?

    A: It doesn't ! These are two municipalities and the game has nothing to do with countries. Interestingly, the Flyers have more Canadians on their roster than the Canadiens do.

    Until hockey fans in both Canada and the United States show that they are mature enough to deal with them, why not ban the national anthems at NHL hockey games ?

    Cheers.
  26. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: Older'n Dirt from Belleville ... your post at 8:25 AM sums it all up for me as well. Good post!
  27. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: Ed Lewis from Sanityville, Canada writes: ... Canada is becoming too much of a 'what can Canada do for me' kind of place as opposed to a 'what can I do for Canada' kind of place (of course there must be balance between the two). Although the national anthem at NHL games is only a minor issue, it is indeed reflective of our general disinterest in preserving our national pride.
    ________________-

    Yes, this trend has been ongoing for decades ... ever since Trudeau took a great country and turned it into a social engineering project. Today's Canada still has so much potential. At the same time though, today's "Canadians" want to throw it all away for their own self-interests. Pathetic.
  28. Dr. Sartor from Victoria, Canada writes: One good reason not to sing "O Canada" is that the words make no sense, largely due to being rewritten by a moronic parliamentary committee in 1968.

    Now we are supposed to stand on guard "from far and wide". How on earth can anyone stand on guard from far and wide? Also, now God is asked to keep our land glorious and free. So why are we standing on guard if we want God to do the job for us? Can't we make up our minds -- or do we not trust God to do the job properly? And why the reference to God: a sop to religionists?

    "Our home and native land". Apart from the joke that it should be "Our home on native land", this is an insult to all those millions of Canadians who were not born in this country. What is the anthem suggesting: that there are two classes of citizens: those born here and others?

    Of course the one change that the parliamentary committee should have made, but didn't, was to change the sexist "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command". Which brings up the fact that many or most people don't even understand what that line means: it's not that patriot love is in the command of sons, but rather a wish that Canada should command sons to be patriotic. (So, no, the change should not be to "in all of our command".)

    A complete mess. And to top it all off, "The Maple Leaf Forever" is a much better tune.
  29. anonymous contributor from Canada writes: i love singing our national anthem. in the shower, having sex, climbing, running, jogging, and before i go to bed.
    i have a little trouble with the high notes in the star spangled banner, and they changed some words in deutscheland uber alles but god save the queen brings down the house!
  30. Kevin Dooley from Canada writes: My 3-year-old daughter is a big hockey fan and has been essentially since birth (although now that it's spring she's more interested in Toronto FC, which is actually a relief because she cheers for the Senators - kids these days). To her, the singing of the national anthems is a high point of the game. We can't be late to the arena. She knows all of the words and sings along. She refers to our national anthem as "the Hockey Song". When it plays, she rocks back and forth, imitating the players as they try to stay limber while standing still.

    And she knows that the last line of "O Canada" is "drop the puck!"

    So some boors booed the anthems. One of the nice things about singing the anthems with my daughter is that it gives me a chance to tell her how important it is to respect others. We take off our hats and stand for both anthems, because that's how we behave. And if some idiot has the poor taste to boo, I make it a point to tell my little girl about how impolite and disrespectful that is (and it doesn't matter who booed first). Disrespecting others is not part of being Canadian.

    In short, the singing of the national anthem before the hockey game is part of our national heritage and identity, and I still think that's and important thing. It's one of those little rituals that reminds us of who we are. Sing it in French. Sing it in English. Sing the hybrid version if you prefer, but sing it and be proud of who you are.
  31. Nick Wilson from Canada writes: As far as I'm concerned the interpretation of the national anthems is a waste of time. As others mentionned, they don't do it before a concert or theatre representation. Why do it in a sporting events? A hockey or baseball game is not a state summit nor a national holiday. It's time to get rid of that useless tradition. On a final note, I don't think Quebeckers attending games at the Bell Centre are having a love affair with the O Canada either? Let's just play good old Rock'N'Roll instead and everybody would happy and having more fun.
  32. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: Nick Wilson from Canada writes: As far as I'm concerned the interpretation of the national anthems is a waste of time. As others mentionned, they don't do it before a concert or theatre representation. Why do it in a sporting events? A hockey or baseball game is not a state summit nor a national holiday. It's time to get rid of that useless tradition. On a final note, I don't think Quebeckers attending games at the Bell Centre are having a love affair with the O Canada either? Let's just play good old Rock'N'Roll instead and everybody would happy and having more fun.
    ___________________

    See, here we have a perfect example of why Canada is potentially going down the dumper. Let's get rid of tradition, appease Quebes and have more fun. To hell with Canada.
  33. Kevin Dooley from Canada writes: As far as the question of why we do sing anthems before hockey games but not before movies or other events, I think we should ask the promoters of these other events.
  34. Gregory Hughes from Lower NerdoCrombesia, Canada writes: A few years back I was at an Ottawa 67s hockey game. While the young lady was singing the anthem, the PA gave out. In response, the crowd increased the volume . . . it sent shivers up my spine.

    For international games I have no issue with the anthem. I recall last year's Rugby World Cup when Portugal took to the pitch versus my New Zealand All-Blacks. The Portuguese players, standing side-by-side on the touch line with arms around each other, some with eyes closed and others with tears streaming down their faces, screaming the lyrics to their anthem - another spine tingling moment.

    That being said, I agree with most here - ditch it in the NHL.
  35. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: P Jones from NB, Canada:

    Do you go to a lot of professional NHL hockey games ?

    You seem very disturbed by Mr. MacGregor's very reasonable suggestion on this matter....

    I find that Barrett's Privateers is a much more catchy tune anyways...

    Goddamn them all !

    Cheers.
  36. Trilly B from Canada writes: The arguments against the anthems are valid, no doubt. But I just cannot imagine starting a game without it.

    Remember Calgary's last trip to the final, when the crowd took over from the singer in belting it out? Gave me goose bumps. Really did; I was moved. And proud.

    Also, and perhaps more importantly, singing the anthems is a TRADITION. Granted, we don't seem to care much for tradition anymore in Canada. Our neighbours to the south are much better at preserving and celebrating theirs.
  37. Seb D from Ottawa, Canada writes: Trilly B: Yes, it is a tradition.

    Let's take a look at a few other traditions we have in Canada:

    1)Childish bickering in the House of Commons.
    2)Appointing partisan hacks to the Senate.
    3)Appointing partisan hacks to the position of Governor General.
    4)Every new government blaming the old one for everything for the first 5 years.

    Let's keep all those traditions. They're what made Canada great.
  38. Bob Fox from Calgary, Canada writes: Canada should change its national jingle to "Feelings" because everyone here has such delicate ones.
  39. Bobby the K from Bogarttown, Canada writes: .

    Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: I posed this point two weeks ago on a hockey thread. I applaud Mr. MacGregor for building on my idea.

    *

    Both me and no doubt, Monsieur MacGregor bow down before your awesomeness.
  40. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: I agree on dropping the anthems unless your country is playing. It's highly unnecessary.
  41. Trilly B from Canada writes: Oh, come on Seb. You know what I meant.
  42. Seb D from Ottawa, Canada writes: Trilly: Yes, there are some traditions worth preserving. I'm not sure if this is one of them.
  43. Scott H from United States writes: R Miller:

    yes, I read the article. The only problem is that 'we' started it. For the record I am from Canada originally. Philly's was an immature but understandable response.
  44. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Scott H from United States:

    As I often say to my children, it doesn't matter who started it, you are both responsible for it.

    Now, I am sending both the City of Montreal and Philadelphia for a time out in their rooms until they are ready to play nice...

    Cheers.
  45. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: Bobby The K- You are correct to recognize my awesomeness. Now, stand while my anthem is played, and take off your hat!
  46. Trilly B from Canada writes: Fair enough, Seb. But your earlier comment did not list "traditions". You might call them observations or opinions at most. Not a reasonable comparison, really.

    You're not sure this is one of the traditions worth preserving?! Our national anthems?! At least put that in the context of National Hockey League games, Seb. Otherwise you make no sense.

    As a hockey fan, I am much more irritated by commercial breaks in the middle of play than playing O Canada before the game.
  47. Mike Anderson from Canada writes: It's amazing to me that, instead of focusing on the truly offensive actions and calling out those responsible for those actions, the collective we in Canada typically curl up into the fetal position and try to turn this into some sort of national self-healing worthy of a royal commission. I'm as guilty of it as anyone . . . and Roy McGregor, with his cliched view of Canadiana, falls dutifully in line, too.

    To those of you outside of Canada, please don't take offence to anything dumb that anyone in Quebec ever does. It's simply not worth the bother. Heck, there are folks there who boo the Canadian national anthem as much as they boo any other country's.
  48. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Paul I from Rochester, NY, United States:

    Alright! Alright!

    I am not dancing though!
  49. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: R.Miller- When I get to Halifax I'm looking you up and buying you a beer (or two)

    CHEERS!
  50. Broken Record from Victoria, B.C., Canada writes: Anthems at sports events have always been a sort of large-scale masochism, at which for some reason the Americans are the greatest experts. It doesn't help that their anthem is one of the hardest to sing. Ours, meanwhile, is dull and childish, a "jaw-grindingly boring dirge" as one anthem-rating web site put it. Face it, there are very few good national anthems out there anyway and the peculiarly North American habit of singing them at sporting events should be done away with. At least dispense with the singer; just play the music and if we want to sing we will. No one voice should be amplified above the rest whilst the national anthem is sung.
  51. cosmo pazzano from Waterloo, On, writes: About a year ago my son and I went to Buffalo to see the Leafs play. A bunch of us Leaf fans belted out Oh Canada. Some Buffalo fans gave us the look, as in SHUT YOUR YAP! Then the US anthem played and the lyrics were shown on the video screen. We then belted out the American anthem. Some of those Buffalo fans turned their heads and couldn't believe we were singing their anthem. And then they smiled. And for a minute we were unified.
    Don't let a bunch of yahoos allow us to end a long standing tradition. When the anthem is played I think of one thing, the soldiers in Afghanistan who I'm sure would cringe if the anthem was no longer deemed significant. Let's play the anthem in movie theatres again, wave the flag, be proud to be Canadian!
    And to Roy McGregor, lover of Algonquin Park, sing it next time you're on top of the Lookout Trail. Sing it loud, Roy!
  52. P Jones from NB, Canada writes: R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: P Jones from NB, Canada:

    Do you go to a lot of professional NHL hockey games ?

    You seem very disturbed by Mr. MacGregor's very reasonable suggestion on this matter....
    ______________

    No, I don't. That wasn't my point. It's bigger than national anthems at hockey games. It's about throwing away tradition in general. A piece here, a piece there ... some day people will wonder what happened to Canada.
  53. Dan L from Canada writes: Kevin Dooley, both of your posts are bang on! Now if some of the whinners here could read....

    Gregory Hughes wrote: "A few years back I was at an Ottawa 67s hockey game. While the young lady was singing the anthem, the PA gave out. In response, the crowd increased the volume . . . it sent shivers up my spine."

    I know what you mean buddy!! I was in attendance for Killer's 999th and 1000th wins behind the bench and the crowd participation was awesome, if you get good crowd participation in the anthems you just know that special game atmosphere will be there. Then of course you get folks like the two dried out mummies that sat beside me at a playoff game a few years back giving everyone who cheered the stinky eye, still can't figure what they were doing there!
  54. Emilio Garazgos from Kanata, Canada writes: Rich Betts from United States writes: Hey Emilio, the last time I looked Sean Avery was from Pickering, Ontario and Jarkko Ruutu was from Finland.
    =============

    Well , D-u-u-uh ?

    The majority of the players on the US teams are imports, either from Canada or Europe.

    However, it is in the American markets that the knuckleheads like Avery and the Ruutus are encouraged (vis a vis the "Sign Avery!" chants at MSG) and thrive.
  55. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: As I mentioned in a much earlier post... the anthem has only been a "tradition" since the second world war.
    Let me suggest we get rid of another "tradition" from the first world war... it's call "income tax".

    Cheers
  56. Emilio Garazgos from Kanata, Canada writes: Broken Record from Victoria, B.C., Canada write
    Ours, meanwhile, is dull and childish, a "jaw-grindingly boring dirge" as one anthem-rating web site put it.
    ===============

    This reminds me of the comment made to me once by a Torontonian :

    "Buddhist funerals are s-o-o-o-o boring with those interminably long monotone chants".

    So, Broken Record-- I'm sorry that Canada's National Anthem doesn't measure up to your standards for entertaining toe-tapping tunes.

    There used to be a saying back in the Hippy Days:

    "If you're not happening, then nothing's happening."

    In other words, it's not the Anthem that's lacking.
  57. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Get rid of "Income Tax..." That's just crazy talk !

    Loucks, who are you, Dr. Ron Paul ?

    BTW Paul I from Rochester, NY, United States:

    It would be a good time to visit Halifax now since we are offering the only NHL calibre hockey north of the border. You could dress up in your Leafs uniform, I will wear my Habs jersey and we can boo each others' national anthems for kicks...

    Plus, I could really use a couple of free beer...

    Cheers.
  58. Canada Forever from Canada writes: Hack.
  59. Paul I from Rochester NY, United States writes: R.Miller from Halifax- Leafs uniform is a little tight around the waist these days. I'll bring a Canadian flag instead. Maybe Scot Loucks will join us. Formidable!

    Bonne Chance!

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