To commemorate my boarding the Citizen Ship recently, and as blogged earlier, I took it upon myself to construct a version of O Canada to appeal to Canadians who are now more immigrant-friendly (country’s emerging reality), belief-independent (agnostics / atheists / humanists / non-biblicals ahoy!) and gender-neutral (as much as I’m a typical guy who’d like to have a son as first-born to share fishing and sport with, the state shouldn’t encourage me subliminally with the anthem, you know.)
Not that people have not been trying.
I have given a side-by-side comparison later so that those who are still not a hundred percent on their lyrical prowess and my rendition, can see how I have, er, improved the Original anthem. You may also wish to listen and referesh yourself with the original beforehand, just in case.
So one fine morning, not very long ago, I pledged my allegiance to the Queen by raising my right hand to affirm my loyalty to the Crown and became a Canadian Citizen.
I was instructed to bring along a religious book of my choice, but as an agnostic with serious mood swings into atheism and back, I decided my word was good enough for the King and the Country — and the honourable Canadian Justice system agreed.
People were accompanied by friends and family who cheered and took photographs. As a solo participant, I smiled politely at everyone and laughed occasionally to the judge’s quips during the inaugural pep-talk.
Then we all merrily sang along the Canadian national Anthem. There were no milk and cookies, sadly.
A disciple asked his Zen master: “Shall I get married or not?” “Whatever you choose you will regret it!” answered the Zen master.
So the answer to our question would be the same.
But I have read something else – that’s the problem of being an avid reader, it’s difficult to come with something original and whatever I think it is original I might have read it somewhere and I forgot that I read it, but I digress so I’ll just start with a new sentence for a better impact.
It is better to regret you have done something than to regret you have not done it. So simple and powerful, it would make a good article for one of the self-development blogs.