Piddingworth Greg Benton |
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| 'Piddingworth...where St. George's Cross is not yet banned.' Mark Steyn |
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| HAPPY DOMINION DAY! 1st July, (Day Canada) |
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| The 1st July, Canada's national holiday, is the excuse for a long-weekend that is observed in a variety of ways across the country. For most, it is a welcome opportunity to relax and play. For governments at all levels, it has been an occasion to promote through 'official' programmes, the propaganda of New Canada, i.e., the Liberal image of the country that focuses on multiculturalism, bi-lingualism,'progressive' this and that; all replete with musical acts from aboriginal, French, Chinese, and other cultures (except the English, of course). It would appear, however, that the current Conservative government is taking a somewhat more traditional approach to the feast in Ottawa, with some meaningful recognition of Canada's armed forces. This is a welcome return for, without the service of our navy, army and air force since Confederation, there wouldn't be a country that so readily welcomed those different cultures let alone much to dance about. |
| It should still be called 'Dominion Day' as it was for 115 years, until some shallow Liberal member of parliament slipped in a private members bill late on a Friday afternoon in 1982 with only an aptly described 'rump' of MPs in attendance that changed it to the banal 'Canada Day'. It was all part of the 'New Canada' policy that had already gutted much of Canada's heritage since the 1960s. New Canada celebrates Canada's heritage by abolishing it... and revising it to fit the ideology of political hacks and opportunists whose reverence for the foundations of this great country is as profound as Paris Hilton's recent religious conversion in gaol. Of course, the term 'Dominion', chosen by the Fathers of Confederation whilst writing the British North America Act in 1867, was inspired from Psalm 72 where it says: 'He shall have dominion from sea to sea; and from the river even unto the ends of the earth'. A wonderful name for the second largest country in the world. The title caught on so much that it was appropriated to describe the other self-governing colonies of the British Empire, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The 'He' who shall have dominion refers, of course, to the Lord God. Since 'God' has no place in the New Canada, the position, for some, has been filled by the delusional mythology of the late Prime Minister, 'Father of New Canada', and comrade of Fidel Castro, Pierre Trudeau, and his successors; although American Al Gore seems to be making a move to take that spot. In spite of it all, there remain a significant number of Canadians for whom Canada, it's legacy, history, and vibrancy, means more than diverse cultural niceties. This is certainly reflected in the continuity of loyalty and service of our men and women in uniform now engaged, just as their Old Canada ancestors, in battles far away. 'Duty' to their Sovereign and country is not a stranger to them as they lay down their lives for the friendship of freedom and civilisation. It is them, the very best symbols of citizenship, whom we shall be honouring this Dominion Day at Piddingworth. When each of my four grandparents came to Canada from England, they did not then require passports because Canada was not in any way 'foreign'. Rather, it was an extension and affirmation of the 'Land of Hope and Glory' that had reached beyond the seas; where the civilisation of decency, freedom, the rule of law, and the abundance of British cultural institutions that signified and promoted it, were fashioned anew in this vast and great land. It was this culture and country in which I, and all of my own generation were born and raised as British Subjects and Canadian citizens both. The times have, of course, changed, not only here, but in the UK, where similar challenges to the foundations of our common heritage sadly thrive. Recent polls have indicated that 'Canadians' (and Britons) in this generation know very little of their own history and of the people and events that helped to secure a life of prosperity and opportunity. That is the sad, but inevitable, result of the most significant change in our culture since the second world war: the primacy of materialism and pleasure over family, faith, service and community. The 'rewards' of the freedom so dearly bought on many bloody battlefields have, to a large extent, replaced the spirit that has afforded us a material life that, in previous generations, was largely restricted to the aristocracy and nobility. Often mocked, either out of envy or spite, the 'ruling classes' and their demonstrable excesses were once regarded by many of the 'common people' as unethical and disturbingly crass. Yet, by acquiring so much wealth and gathering so many 'things' in a seemingly endless parade of 'upgrades' in this and that, our generation has similarly imitated those, once unattainable, pleasureable pursuits and made them the measure of the 'good life'; all without the accompanying sense of 'duty' and obligations that the 'toffs' were expected to observe. The almost universal habit of acquiring, imitating, and devouring much of the vulgarity of American popular culture whilst sniffing at America and the Americans is a case in point. It says more about us that we would pursue the pleasures and abundance that continue to emerge from the USA instead of embracing the much more important principles and spirit of the Americans in their devotion to liberty, unequalled generosity, and a rugged depth of character that Churchill, among others, knew and respected. Dazzling technology and the latest fashionable craze are not the glue that is required to hold a country together. Canada, with all it's material advantages, magnificent geography, and hockey sticks, is nothing without the common devotion of her people, in their daily life, their families and communities, toward upholding and advancing the principles that lay mightily at her foundation. The reason behind the long queues of applicants in coming to Canada is not to acquire 'things' and have the latest iPod for the kids to play with, or even to learn how to skate and shoot a 'sacred' puck, it is, and always has been, because of what the country is in itself and because of that affords a quality of life, in freedom, that many could otherwise not know. The primacy of the duty of preserving this magnificent heritage and way of life remains. It also deserves to be duly celebrated...with all the food, drink, dance and songs that one can bring ! |
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