Anthems

Every morning there is a constant battle going on with students who are late for class and are stuck in the hallways while the anthem plays. I spend the better part of the anthem telling them to stand still and shut up.

The truth, however, is that I can't blame them for not giving a shit about the anthem. It's bandied about so easily, that it's become completely meaningless. You hear it every morning at school. You hear it every time you go to a sporting event. It's also older than god, and the lyrics are almost meaningless today. Am I standing on guard for Canada? Nuh-uh. Is Canada my home and native land? Not so much on the latter, and questionably on the former.

I come from a place where the anthem means something. Where to this very day, it represents what the country is going through, and where it is actually respected, and only played at the most solemn events, or at most joyous ones.

I kind of wish they'd do away with playing it at the beginning of the school day. Especially since they play the Israeli anthem on alternating days here. It cheapens and demeans it.