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The most common form of pride seen across the globe is national pride, patriotism for one’s motherland. Patriotism is the feeling of love, devotion and sense of attachment to a home and alliance with other citizens who share the same sentiment. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings relating to one’s home, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects. ‘The Maple Leaf Forever’ made a great reemergence to honor the 150th anniversary of Canada. The song was composed in 1867 by Alexander Muir to celebrate the union of four provinces into one country named the Dominion of Canada, a historical event termed the ‘Canadian Confederation’. The overpowering patriotism shown in this poem created a large impact on the country’s residents and helped pave the way to Canadian independence.
‘The Maple Leaf Forever’ was composed by Alexander Muir in October 1867. Next to ‘O Canada’, which it surpasses in age by 13 years, ‘The Maple Leaf Forever’ has been the most popular patriotic song composed in Canada. However, due to “its British colonial perspective, the song did not become popular among French Canadians”. The song fundamentally celebrates the British military victories in Canada and the manner in which they seemingly, united the country.
The first verse begins with a British salute to Wolfe’s conquest of Québec at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham during the Seven Years’ War where the “dauntless hero, came, / And planted firm Britannia’s flag, / On Canada’s fair domain”. As the poem continues lines 7/8 showcase a gesture of allegiance and loyalty to Canada’s colonial forefathers by noting the unification of the “Thistle, Shamrock, Rose entwine / The Maple Leaf forever” being Scotland, Ireland and England. However, this line drew a lot of attention over the decades due to the exclusion of the fleur-de-lis. However, the original version that Muir created was certainly pro-British, was not created to be an anti-French anthem. The original lyrics of the first verse from “Here may it wave, our boast, our pride, and join in love together / The Lily, Thistle, Shamrock, Rose, the Maple Leaf Forever”. By mentioning the Lily, I believe, Muir was attempting to indicate that under the Union Flag, the French seemed as equals and can be united as Canadians.
It’s important to note that the use of floral emblems is, in fact, a manifestation of patriotism emphasized through the literal ‘land’ element in love for one’s native land. The German translated slogan “Blut und Boden” is a nationalist slogan popularized during the Second World War, that is used to express (at the time of the Second World War) “the “Nazi ideal” of a “racially correct” nation that would unify a settlement area. This slogan relates to the superior homeland’s mentions in the poem by defining them as the “ideal” group that would populate Canada. This slogan, in English means “blood and soil”, which is another very patriotic salute to the vast newly found land and its inhabitants.
In the third verse, the mention of two places “Cape Race to [and] Nootka Sound” are important to note because both cities are on far sides of the continent and hold a certain significance in the message. Beginning with the east side of Canada, Cape Race is located in Newfoundland and Labrador. Cape Race is also regarded as a national historic site of Canada. The little town is known for its brightly shinning tourist attraction; the Cape Race Lighthouse. Nootka Sound, located on the west side of the continent on the edge of the rugged Pacific coast of Vancouver Island, of British Columbia, historically known as King George’s Sound. The mention of these two places marks another impression of patriotism by picking a place on both sides of the country to bring the land together as a whole. It played a historically important role in the maritime fur trade. Both places mentioned played a significant part in history that helped our small country “…flourish green o’er Freedom’s home”.
A historic and patriotic song called ‘The Maple Leaf Forever’ almost became the national anthem of Canada. It was written in 1867 by Alexander Muir, to commemorate the year of Confederation. Sadly, in the end, it placed second. Nevertheless, this poem remains one of the most popular patriotic songs in Canada. The multiple references to the “motherland bloodline’s” that populated this new land emphasized the British patriotism in Canada. Along with the ignorance towards the French-Canadian’s, this only created a stronger urge to create a sense of unity to encompass all of Canada’s patriotism.
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