Poor O Canada -- will no one ever learn the words?

Thanks Zlender, that means a lot

Thanks Castro, my thoughts though on Cliques of Cultural Ghettos in Canada though make us less accepting of others when you do not know your neighbours, or when all cultures even bother to find out about each other.

Certainly Canada is a mosaic of cultures, when cultures who come here should join us as one culture, but do not, Cultural Ghettos develop where those who live in them, never bother to learn anything about Canada, having many who live here for decades not even bothering to learn English, hence our National Anthem, and why bother?  These Cultures have all they need in their own Cultural community. Sort of a Home away from Home. 

Ask how many there in Cultural Ghettos who know anything about Canada yet alone the Canadian History or National Anthem and you will find NONE, especially those who after a decade still cannot speak English or French, so how can you expect them to know our Canadian Anthem?

In my Opinion, we should be of one Canadian Culture as well, but are not.  That is why I feel kids today have no direction who they are, growing up feeling different (Because Canadian Liberal Left says they are, that is what Diversity is), then feeling different, they splinter off into Cultural Criminal Gangs, such as MS-13, Somalian Gangs, Indo Gangs, Honduran Gangs, Assorted Asian Gangs, Eastern European Gangs  etc.  Funny though, Canadians who are white who commit crimes are never disseminated in the media into past or current culture or race such as Polish-Greco Gangs, Danish Gangs, etc.  Do you see my point? But these non white gangs are always identified by race in the media.  Thus pointing out a cultural race, thus leaving Canadians with the image whether we like it or not, that these non white cultures are bad, which paints all of them unfairly as criminals.  So perhaps these kids have no one else to identify with but the criminal elements.  If Immigrants were forced strongly to take in Canadian Culture, including learning English and prove it on Swearing in Day as Canadians, because let's face it, they certainly for the most part are not doing it willingly, then and only then will their kids know they are Canadians as well, not just an ethnic appendage to Canada.

Granted we have Hells Angels, but Canada was meant to be Canadian, not Indo Canadian, Asian Canadian, Italian Canadian, if you are in Canada, you are Canadian, not a Hyphenated Canadian, Hyphenates build bridges which we certainly do not need, when one name Canadian will suffice. 

We are to be a Culture for all to identify with but are not, just in name only, as those brought up on diversity, where it was ingrained in that you are unique and different, results in a variety of Criminal Gangs of ethnic origin.  Certainly not what their parents wanted when they came to this country, resulting in disenfranchised youth feeling different and not part of Canada as Canadians as a whole.  Many will disagree, but I see it, witness it, deal with it daily in my job.

Before this Liberal Implemented Drivel Melting Pot of Culture, these Ethnic gangs were relatively unheard of 30 years ago.  Today in the media, especially in Vancouver, it is all you read about when any Crime, Drugs or Hit Squad makes the news.

What does the heart proud is to see my neighbour Ken, who came to Canada from Vietnam  10 years ago, living the Canadian Dream. Ken speaks English and French, as do his young Children, Uncle and Grandparents who live here with him.  Ken works as a Carpet installer, and a ton of what I am talking about in this story comes from conversations with him and others from Cultures who assimilated into Canadian Culture in my neighbourhood, who strived with all their being not to live in a Cultural Ghetto, but to live as Canadian, these are my friends who know first hand what is right and wrong with Cultural Ghettos.

Ken came from a horrendous country at a time when as a child he witnessed atrocities as a daily occurrence, he is grateful, and it shows, last night, his yard and home are decorated with Canadian Flags, including his 10 year old van, Ken pulled out all the stops for Canada Day, even put up a inflatable water slide for the kids, Ken is making a Day of it, complete with a BBQ as even now as I write this I can smell the roasted pig on a spit he has been cooking outdoors since last night.  Ken takes nothing for granted including his Canadianism! Ken loves being Vietnamese, but Ken also loves being Canadian and it shows especially when he calls me his friend and I call him mine.

Something we can all learn from.

Thanks for your insightful comments Castro, much appreciated.  I for one would never want one to disown their cultural heritage, after all we would not have Saint Patrick's Day. But for cultures who refuse tooth and nail to assimilate into the adopted country they fled to for a better life, the least we can expect them to do is know a little something of the country they currently reside in, and show "National Pride" in Canada, learn our National Anthem, teach their children about the greatness of Canada, and not just a cursory flag wave on July 1st, but everyday, because if they don't, how will their Children learn to?

As for Canada as a Bilingual Country, Canada was initially founded and settled by two countries, first the French, followed by the English, it is in our Charter that both languages in this country be official, especially for those in Government service, desired, but not mandatory unless you wish to aspire to a more senior management position in Government. 

Our Government even pays for language training for those who wish to learn French and English, hence no excuse for those who do not know either language.

good stuff castro