Which is cooler?
They really ought to have changed it back to a pre-1914 version of the lyric:
“thou dost in us command”
This preserves the deliberately archaic quality of the song (“in all of us command” doesn’t scan as well in a song that contains “we stand on guard for thee”), while being just as gender-neutral.
This version was cited in the Senate in support of the lyric change:
They cite the main opposition as being not to change the intent of the lyric; to my mind, the main opposition is that it doesn’t sound very good in context - it sounds like a modern patch, which people find grating to the ear. Returning to this pre-1914 version solves both problems.
I actually agree with this.
As an example, the original opining line of the “Gettysburg Address”:
A modernized version:
The second version says the same as the first, but in more modern language and avoiding archaisms and gendered conventions that we have discarded as inappropriate.
However, it is possible to retain the archaisms while discarding the inappropriate gender conventions and keep at least some of the archaic, poetic flavor of the original:
I agree with this as well. Perhaps in 40 years when we change it again this version will prevail.
And happy Father’s Day to all. Celebrating with mussels and salmon as any good maritimer should (too bad I’m not a huge fan of seafood. Oh well, it is my daughter’s favourite) .
Season opener at Taylor Field.
Farewell season for 116 years of Rider football.
Down 14 - 0.
Sigh.
21 - 10 at halftime.
Sigh again.
Happy Dominion day
Raise the Ensign and be of good cheer
Declan
Why would I do that?
Let’s put aside differences.
Happy Canada Day. From coast to coast to coast.
I’m sure we can all agree on that. We live in a very fortunate country. A country that ranks in the top ten no matter which way you slice i it.
My dad brought us here in 1968. My pride for Canada shows no boundaries. I love this country with total conviction. (I sometimes want Scotland to win in curling matches though.)
Happy Canada Day!
I’m just getting over a huge cold and my wife is still halfway through the process so not much of a celebration here. Might do some sausages on the new kamado grill and relax.
Happy Canada Day!
My birthday too and now that I finally have a place to sit on the beach and a beautiful clear day, I’m looking forward to a little campfire and a bird’s eye view of the fireworks this evening.
Happy 149th Birthday to Canada! A prime number for a nation in its prime. May we always find reasons to celebrate our nation, and each other!
Here, for your enjoyment, is the list of the 113 newest members of the Order of Canada. A couple of friends and colleagues are on it, but once again, my name seems to be missing… 
100 years ago today, 800 young Newfoundlanders of the Newfoundland Regiment went “over the top” on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. They left their trenches and attacked at Beaumont-Hamel.
The next day, only 68 answered the roll call.
God rest their souls.
One hour since my last post.
That’s how long it took to kill 730 Newfoundlanders.
I have a few friends in this production, premiering this evening - Ours, Music by John Estacio, Libretto by Robert Chafe, produced by Opera on the Avalon. The story of the Battle of Beaumont Hamel - it looks fantastic!
It does indeed. Hope they succeed and it plays elsewhere in Canada.
The puppy and I are going to go to the Canada Day event. Beavertails, perogies, hot dogs?? YUM!!