I didn't participate in any Canada Day observations this year, but I get the feeling that Canada Day has been getting more and more militant. Maybe it's always been this way, and I'm just more aware of it now.

It could be that our country is at war, and our history is being manipulated to place a new value on the role of the military in our history.

It could also be due to the fact that I'm in Newfoundland. Canada Day is a dual holiday here in Newfoundland: It is also Memorial Day, to commemorate the Battle of the Somme in WWI. It's generally referred to here as Beaumont-Hamel, and basically a generation of men was wiped out. The history has gone from a story about the use of people as cannon-fodder to a story about the bravery of Newfoundlanders and their "proud military heritage"--today Newfoundlanders make up 30% of the military.

Generally, people here compensate for the dual holiday by observing Memorial Day before noon and Canada Day after noon, but in practice that means a very military-oriented Canada/Memorial-Day ceremony followed by are BBQ.

Anyway, what went on in other provinces this year?

This is from Tomasz, a Christian activist in Winnipeg, which he sent out by email. I don’t like back-patting, but I think the call to revolution is subversive.

Let us be grateful to God for living in a country where most of us live
in the absence of war, where most of us have work and food and relative
freedom to express our ideas and live out our faith.

Let us pray and work for a Canada where no one goes hungry, where
everyone can earn a living wage and be able to support themselves and their
familiies. A Canada where children living in the North End and reserves and
other impoverished parts of our country and cities can live safely without
fearing gunshots or abuse or alcohol or drugs. A Canada where there will be
no more poverty. A Canada that puts life ahead of profit or ‘what is
popular’ and respects the rights of the especially vulnerable- the aging,
the poor, the young, and the unborn. A Canada which respects human rights
and works for peace around the world, and does not engage in foreign policy
which adds to suffering and war. A Canada where the powers of materialism,
hedonism, immorality and secularism weaken in their assaults on our youth
and families and society.

As followers of Jesus, let us bring the revolution of Jesus Christ to our
country and the world around us. Let us build a better society in His name
and spread the liberating message of the Gospel so that one day all we come
in contact with may get to know Him and experience His saving grace.

Happy Canada Day!

Cristo Vive!
- Tomasz

Reform couched in patriotism usually bothers me, but seems like a way to reach people (think the “peace is patriotic” activists in the states, where they don’t have much choice if they want to practice freedom)

Not sure what I think myself, but try to avoid the language myself so as not just to support our false self-flattering delusions.

I don't find it meaningful, and I can't understand why people would think that patriotism is a good thing. What good has it ever done for us.

-Michael / Nerman
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