The posters who like the Red Ensign should clearly move to Britain. I am CANADIAN. I don't look to another country for my identity. The MAPLE LEAF is the flag of all Canadians. All the old people in here should not use the Internet. No one even recognize the old flag among the young Canadians anymore. lols.
@LiamUe i dont give a damn what it is, it still represents britain. and for as long as I live, the Maple Leaf shall fly high above my house with pride!
@LiamUe historical ignorance? the Maple Leaf is part of our great nations history! a time of turmoil and debate for our national symbol, and the time of great change for Canada. think what you will about the red and white, I satnd and support it with my life
you do know that the red and white stand for the colours of England and France - red and white respectively - from the times of the crusades; the Maple Leaf was chosen as the symbol of Canada by King George V.
So, for someone who hates Britain and champions 'Canadianism with Britain', I believe you were just proven to be incorrect.
the next time you claim to stand by something with your life, have a little self respect and learn what you're willing to die for.
God punished Pearson for his flag change. He got cancer of the eye soon afterwards and died. God bless the Red Ensign - the true flag of Canada which our veterans fought and died for. Pearson refused to have a referendum and let the public have a say in it because he knew he would lose.
I'm sorry to say it, but I've thought for a long time that our current flag looks like a logo on a breakfast cereal box. It brings to my mind Nabisco Shredded Wheat.
Having said that, I still honour our flag and wouldn't want it changed without a referendum. The nerve of Pearson! He never had a majority government and was only able to ram this non-British flag down our throats because of the support of the French Social Credit MPs! (This all happened before I was born, by the way.)
It's clear that there are still two competing visions of what Canada should be: the current multicultural one introduced by Pearson and Trudeau, and the original based on our founding as British North America. This competition is still unresolved. Although the former vision has conquered the latter in public, the latter is still part of our constitution and still has many private adherents. Many of them are young and not ethnically British.
@capralean It's funny you would say that. One of my friends is from India, I think he became a citizen last year (I am not sure), but he was very proud to take an oath of allegiance to the Queen and always defends the monarchy. I think it's more to do with those who understand and appreciate the history of a nation and others, alas, who think that history is of no concern.
@324wilson I think there is a lot of truth in what you say. However, I know that there were and still are influential Canadians who know and value our history yet still oppose our British foundations. Jack Granatstein is an important historian, and he is a republican. Pearson's ally in this debate, Saint Tommy Douglas, said the Union Jack stood for murder, rape and pillage from the Crusades.
Changing the flag was part of an agenda and we should be aware of that, whether we agree with it or not.
Although I disliked Pearson's policies, I like his straightforward speaking and the way he stands up to such a hostile audience. And I like the raucous outbursts from the Legionnaires, too. Why should they stay silent like passive gentlemen when this politician is about to take away the Union Jack they just fought 2 world wars under?
In contradiction to his multicultural accommodation, Pearson's great foe was Diefenbaker, who was of German descent and proud to be represented by the Union Jack.
Thanks for uploading this. I remember seeing all of this Newsmagazine episode re-broadcast about 20 years ago on CBC Newsworld. Could you please upload the rest, hajdkvjcen?
I was prompted to look for this in the wake of the controversy this week over the restoration of the names of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy, particularly concerning their royal honorifics.
@NickB1967 If you look at the founding documents, they explicitly state that Canada was founded on two nations - the French and English (reflected in the coat of arms, which includes symbols from both those countries). The Constitution Act included the aborignial people as a third founding nation. And the crown of Canada was indiginized by the Statute of Westminster in 1931, making it not English, but Canadian. On Elizabeth II's death, we could theoretically name Celine Dion queen.
As much as I like our current flag, I think that it does not have enough symbols that represents all regions of Canada (or our history, for that matter).
Not to mention that people were not given a referendum on this issue.
@324wilson The Maple Leaf represents the huge amount of maple trees in Canada, it also represents the massive amount of maple syrup Canada produces, which is more than any other country. I like our current flag better than one with the flag of another country in the corner.
@iLuvBarRefaeli As I said in my earlier comment that "I like our current flag..." That is to say, I love this flag and would not change it for anything but people at that time were not asked in a referendum on the issue.
Governments of Australia and New Zealand have said that they will give the people a plebiscite. Furthermore, if they have a new flag, they will include many symbols of their nations. Not to mention, something about aboriginal peoples. This is mainly a Liberal flag.
Rageah0lic commented; "thank god we changed the flag, what does the red ensign mean to the French? To the African? To the Chinese? To the Indian?"
Now, I am not canadian but I would have thought that asking what the Canadian flag meant to the French, Africans, Chinese and Indians would be irrelevant.
It's what it means to Canadians which is important, regardless of their background.
@Rageah0lic i love our flag my only problem is it is a maple leaf and that only gros in the ease it does no represent the northern part or the western part of Canada thats my only issue.
I think the current Canadian flag is beautiful. As a Minnesotan, it is very common to see it at various hockey arenas around the state. In addition I think "Oh Canada" is a more beautiful anthem than the "Star Spangled Banner". I'd like to see the USA change to "This Land Is Your Land" as our anthem.
The 60s was one of the worst times for the West. You don't have the right in Canada now to disagree with hate speech laws. Once the left took power they silenced the right and won the cultural war while losing, at least partially the economic war.
This American actually likes Canada very much. That said, Canada has three cautionary warnings: (1) Do not allow a group of ethnic troublemakers to split and ruin your country (seriously, how do you put up with those damn Quebec Frogs?). (2) Do not implement single payer socialized medicine (there is a reason the clinics in Seattle, Duluth, Buffalo and even awful Detroit are full of paying Canadian customers) and (3) Do not design a flag by committee (the Red Ensign was a much better flag).
You make an interesting point. Maybe I am being to intellectual in analyzing the flag and should only accept its worth based on the emotion it sparks in Canadians. That being said, emotion not coupled with reason is usually unreasonable. This flag was a liberal attempt at making themselves out to be "Canada's party" and it has taken a long time to undo this. I love Canada and the traditions, customs and history that develloped her. The Crown is a strong part in that.
This is the future of the West. Instead of the different ethnic European groups being the excuse, it will be the different racial groups and their far different cultures and identity than the European ethnics. Prepare for more radical change than just a flag, as terrible as it was.
Lets get real, we got a flag wich in no way acknowledges our British connection and in every way serves the Liberal Party's interests: Red and White colours. I'm sorry but a Maple Leaf is a poor symbol of Canada. We could have done much better.
@zzzak123 You're just another British ass-kisser. I can't wait till we dispose of that useless, good-for-nothing multi-breeding, STINKglish monarchy!!!
Under the British Crown Canada prospered. Even as we seperated ourselves from it legally, we maintained that emotional connection deep into the 20th century. Under our Commonwealth of Nations we received freedom, end of slavery, responsible government, and countless other virtues. Hardly a good for nothing institution. Remember: the Crown is not a person but a living symbol higher than any man. It is the weight of history and its accumulated wisdoms.
@ZakBrownrigg123 Say what?...oh yeah, that's right...20TH CENTURY. Stick with the current time now pal, it's the 21ST CENTURY and Canada is NOT prospering. We need to move on, ok???
@Marakulous43: And it is not prospering because you have forgotten, or worst cast aside, that which made you prosperous. The ditching of the Red Ensign symbolizes that decline and decay oh so well.
@zzzak123 Food, fuel and furniture were some of the reasons that the maple leaf was chosen. This is what the maple tree provided to early Canadian settlers. I think that makes it the perfect symbol.
Yes definitively, he was the greatest. Clumsy when facing medias and this clumsiness is freshness and authenticity. Not a performer. The chairman had to fly to the rescue. Simple, honest. I would like to watch his speech following de Gaulle's "Vive le Quebec libre". Where can I find it?
@waspboy69 The red ensign, aside from being boring, colonial, and hideously ugly, only has a tiny fraction of its design that's distinctly Canadian, the blazoned maples tucked away in the coat of arms. The current flag is a a well designed, instantly recognizable, and distinct package that's known and respected the world over. Plus it represents a country that grew up and decided not to have another nation's flag on its own, which is pretty dumb.
You think the Canadian flag is respected the world over? Please...we like to pretend it is. Look at what happened to us only 6 weeks ago at the UN. The Canadian flag is recognizable but that doesn't make it good. Its not bad though but it should have incorporated some form of blue tory sign so to avoid it becoming the liberal flag that it was.
The posters who like the Red Ensign should clearly move to Britain. I am CANADIAN. I don't look to another country for my identity. The MAPLE LEAF is the flag of all Canadians. All the old people in here should not use the Internet. No one even recognize the old flag among the young Canadians anymore. lols.
MyMelody5 1 week ago
Our anthem should be God Save the Queen!
brettstrut753 1 month ago
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA keep out of the kitchen HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHH :O
123kneegrow123 1 month ago
I am Canadian and The Maple Leaf is my flag! screw the Red Ensign!
SlyFox70100 2 months ago
@SlyFox70100
if you don't like the Red Ensign, you're a historically ignorant fool.
And Canada has no room for idiots ignorant of its history.
LiamUe 1 month ago
@LiamUe the red ensign symbolizes britain. France founded Canada, NOT the brittish. so, FUCK BRITAIN, THE RED ENSIGN and FUCK YOU
SlyFox70100 1 month ago
@SlyFox70100
congratulations. you further demonstrated your idocy.
The Red Ensign is a symbol of CANADA. Duh.
British is a geographic term for the British Isle.
And the French are represented in the Red Engsign.
You are the farthest things from a true Canadian from saying those things.
LiamUe 1 month ago
@LiamUe yawn. I am a true Canadian, I WAS BORN HERE. so what if I hate the union jack, the Maple Leaf is beautiful
SlyFox70100 1 month ago
@SlyFox70100
nice try. I was born here too. And what makes a Canadian 'true'? Attaching to a banner of the Liberal agenda of the 1960s? THATS the yawn.
the Maple Leaf is beautiful. I never said it wasn't.
But you have a hard on against the Red Ensign, and thus with it the very foundations of the country - something you clearly never learnt.
PS. The Union FLAG is still one of Canada's OFFICIAL FLAGS.
Look it up.
And a final note, it's only a 'Jack' when its on a boat staff.
LiamUe 1 month ago
@LiamUe i dont give a damn what it is, it still represents britain. and for as long as I live, the Maple Leaf shall fly high above my house with pride!
SlyFox70100 1 month ago
Comment removed
LiamUe 1 month ago
@LiamUe historical ignorance? the Maple Leaf is part of our great nations history! a time of turmoil and debate for our national symbol, and the time of great change for Canada. think what you will about the red and white, I satnd and support it with my life
SlyFox70100 1 month ago
Comment removed
LiamUe 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@SlyFox70100
you do know that the red and white stand for the colours of England and France - red and white respectively - from the times of the crusades; the Maple Leaf was chosen as the symbol of Canada by King George V.
So, for someone who hates Britain and champions 'Canadianism with Britain', I believe you were just proven to be incorrect.
the next time you claim to stand by something with your life, have a little self respect and learn what you're willing to die for.
LiamUe 1 month ago
Comment removed
SlyFox70100 1 month ago
God punished Pearson for his flag change. He got cancer of the eye soon afterwards and died. God bless the Red Ensign - the true flag of Canada which our veterans fought and died for. Pearson refused to have a referendum and let the public have a say in it because he knew he would lose.
rockinoliver 4 months ago
@rockinoliver Not everyone believes in God
canadianation 4 months ago
@rockinoliver God gives people canceer because of their attitudes toward national symbols. Wow! The divinity has a lot of time on his/her hands!
fishhead06 3 months ago
Comment removed
rockinoliver 4 months ago
I'm sorry to say it, but I've thought for a long time that our current flag looks like a logo on a breakfast cereal box. It brings to my mind Nabisco Shredded Wheat.
Having said that, I still honour our flag and wouldn't want it changed without a referendum. The nerve of Pearson! He never had a majority government and was only able to ram this non-British flag down our throats because of the support of the French Social Credit MPs! (This all happened before I was born, by the way.)
capralean 6 months ago 2
It's clear that there are still two competing visions of what Canada should be: the current multicultural one introduced by Pearson and Trudeau, and the original based on our founding as British North America. This competition is still unresolved. Although the former vision has conquered the latter in public, the latter is still part of our constitution and still has many private adherents. Many of them are young and not ethnically British.
You can count me as a BNA/Red Ensign supporter.
capralean 6 months ago 5
@capralean It's funny you would say that. One of my friends is from India, I think he became a citizen last year (I am not sure), but he was very proud to take an oath of allegiance to the Queen and always defends the monarchy. I think it's more to do with those who understand and appreciate the history of a nation and others, alas, who think that history is of no concern.
324wilson 2 months ago
@324wilson I think there is a lot of truth in what you say. However, I know that there were and still are influential Canadians who know and value our history yet still oppose our British foundations. Jack Granatstein is an important historian, and he is a republican. Pearson's ally in this debate, Saint Tommy Douglas, said the Union Jack stood for murder, rape and pillage from the Crusades.
Changing the flag was part of an agenda and we should be aware of that, whether we agree with it or not.
capralean 2 months ago
@capralean
Hopefully it will be brought back along with the other national anthem.
AnglosphereAlIiance 2 months ago
Although I disliked Pearson's policies, I like his straightforward speaking and the way he stands up to such a hostile audience. And I like the raucous outbursts from the Legionnaires, too. Why should they stay silent like passive gentlemen when this politician is about to take away the Union Jack they just fought 2 world wars under?
In contradiction to his multicultural accommodation, Pearson's great foe was Diefenbaker, who was of German descent and proud to be represented by the Union Jack.
capralean 6 months ago 3
Thanks for uploading this. I remember seeing all of this Newsmagazine episode re-broadcast about 20 years ago on CBC Newsworld. Could you please upload the rest, hajdkvjcen?
I was prompted to look for this in the wake of the controversy this week over the restoration of the names of the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy, particularly concerning their royal honorifics.
capralean 6 months ago
I don't know why folks would want a flag that incorporates the flag of another country. I'm Canadian, dammit - not British.
fishhead06 7 months ago
@fishhead06 Tell the Aussies the same. They seem awfully divided on the "UJ at night" they hoist across their continent.
loonybin007 6 months ago
@fishhead06: Because historically the British founded the nation and because Elizabeth II is still your Queen?
NickB1967 3 months ago
@NickB1967 If you look at the founding documents, they explicitly state that Canada was founded on two nations - the French and English (reflected in the coat of arms, which includes symbols from both those countries). The Constitution Act included the aborignial people as a third founding nation. And the crown of Canada was indiginized by the Statute of Westminster in 1931, making it not English, but Canadian. On Elizabeth II's death, we could theoretically name Celine Dion queen.
fishhead06 3 months ago
@fishhead06: But you won't. It will be Charles or perhaps skip to son William. And you know that.
NickB1967 3 months ago
@NickB1967 Of course, but that wasn't my point.
fishhead06 3 months ago
As much as I like our current flag, I think that it does not have enough symbols that represents all regions of Canada (or our history, for that matter).
Not to mention that people were not given a referendum on this issue.
324wilson 10 months ago
@324wilson The Maple Leaf represents the huge amount of maple trees in Canada, it also represents the massive amount of maple syrup Canada produces, which is more than any other country. I like our current flag better than one with the flag of another country in the corner.
iLuvBarRefaeli 6 months ago
@iLuvBarRefaeli As I said in my earlier comment that "I like our current flag..." That is to say, I love this flag and would not change it for anything but people at that time were not asked in a referendum on the issue.
Governments of Australia and New Zealand have said that they will give the people a plebiscite. Furthermore, if they have a new flag, they will include many symbols of their nations. Not to mention, something about aboriginal peoples. This is mainly a Liberal flag.
324wilson 6 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Rageah0lic commented; "thank god we changed the flag, what does the red ensign mean to the French? To the African? To the Chinese? To the Indian?"
Now, I am not canadian but I would have thought that asking what the Canadian flag meant to the French, Africans, Chinese and Indians would be irrelevant.
It's what it means to Canadians which is important, regardless of their background.
emucentral 10 months ago
One of the finest moments in Canadian history was the raising of our own flag
VeryCanadianNews 10 months ago
thank god we changed the flag, what does the red ensign mean to the French? To the African? To the Chinese? To the Indian?
Rageah0lic 10 months ago
@Rageah0lic i love our flag my only problem is it is a maple leaf and that only gros in the ease it does no represent the northern part or the western part of Canada thats my only issue.
444CURTIS 10 months ago
@444CURTIS At least one species of maple leaf is native to every province of Canada, including the western ones.
SuperCandid1 9 months ago
@444CURTIS what do you mean it doesnt represent the west? in bc there are maple leafs all over the place!
TMNTPIZZA 9 months ago
@Rageah0lic: What the Red Ensign means is the nation that was founded for them, and to where they emigrated. Do you spit on your nation's founding?
NickB1967 3 months ago
I think the current Canadian flag is beautiful. As a Minnesotan, it is very common to see it at various hockey arenas around the state. In addition I think "Oh Canada" is a more beautiful anthem than the "Star Spangled Banner". I'd like to see the USA change to "This Land Is Your Land" as our anthem.
notredamehesamighty 11 months ago
The 60s was one of the worst times for the West. You don't have the right in Canada now to disagree with hate speech laws. Once the left took power they silenced the right and won the cultural war while losing, at least partially the economic war.
IndividualAutonomy 1 year ago 2
this was before prime ministers had hair and makeup staff
musicmart 1 year ago
This American actually likes Canada very much. That said, Canada has three cautionary warnings: (1) Do not allow a group of ethnic troublemakers to split and ruin your country (seriously, how do you put up with those damn Quebec Frogs?). (2) Do not implement single payer socialized medicine (there is a reason the clinics in Seattle, Duluth, Buffalo and even awful Detroit are full of paying Canadian customers) and (3) Do not design a flag by committee (the Red Ensign was a much better flag).
NickB1967 1 year ago 2
@NickB1967 I would have to disagree on all three points you make but especially the last one.
canadianation 4 months ago
@canadianation: Good luck then. It is sad to see your once great nation ruined by division.
NickB1967 4 months ago
@NickB1967 Thanks! BTW, nice use of the racist language there.
canadianation 3 months ago
@canadianation: Racist? Don't be a mindless commie dupe. Like Quebecois troublemakers aren't white. Call a spade a spade.
NickB1967 3 months ago
@NickB1967 Quebecois. That's better. Cheers :)
canadianation 3 months ago
The worst dicision in Canadian history was changing the flag.
you can see everyone was against the new flag and wanted to keep the Red Ensign!
bobslay12 1 year ago 4
@bobslay12 Most people objected to the position we took during the Suez crisis too. Sometimes "everyone" is wrong.
theeponym 1 year ago
@bobslay12 I would disagree. That is the day we got our own identity. A darn good-looking one too.
canadianation 4 months ago
@pops9333
You make an interesting point. Maybe I am being to intellectual in analyzing the flag and should only accept its worth based on the emotion it sparks in Canadians. That being said, emotion not coupled with reason is usually unreasonable. This flag was a liberal attempt at making themselves out to be "Canada's party" and it has taken a long time to undo this. I love Canada and the traditions, customs and history that develloped her. The Crown is a strong part in that.
ZakBrownrigg123 1 year ago
This is the future of the West. Instead of the different ethnic European groups being the excuse, it will be the different racial groups and their far different cultures and identity than the European ethnics. Prepare for more radical change than just a flag, as terrible as it was.
IndividualAutonomy 1 year ago
Lets get real, we got a flag wich in no way acknowledges our British connection and in every way serves the Liberal Party's interests: Red and White colours. I'm sorry but a Maple Leaf is a poor symbol of Canada. We could have done much better.
zzzak123 1 year ago
@zzzak123 You're just another British ass-kisser. I can't wait till we dispose of that useless, good-for-nothing multi-breeding, STINKglish monarchy!!!
Marakulous43 1 year ago
@Marakulous43
Under the British Crown Canada prospered. Even as we seperated ourselves from it legally, we maintained that emotional connection deep into the 20th century. Under our Commonwealth of Nations we received freedom, end of slavery, responsible government, and countless other virtues. Hardly a good for nothing institution. Remember: the Crown is not a person but a living symbol higher than any man. It is the weight of history and its accumulated wisdoms.
ZakBrownrigg123 1 year ago 3
@ZakBrownrigg123 Say what?...oh yeah, that's right...20TH CENTURY. Stick with the current time now pal, it's the 21ST CENTURY and Canada is NOT prospering. We need to move on, ok???
Marakulous43 1 year ago
@Marakulous43: And it is not prospering because you have forgotten, or worst cast aside, that which made you prosperous. The ditching of the Red Ensign symbolizes that decline and decay oh so well.
NickB1967 3 months ago
@zzzak123 Food, fuel and furniture were some of the reasons that the maple leaf was chosen. This is what the maple tree provided to early Canadian settlers. I think that makes it the perfect symbol.
canadianation 4 months ago
Yes definitively, he was the greatest. Clumsy when facing medias and this clumsiness is freshness and authenticity. Not a performer. The chairman had to fly to the rescue. Simple, honest. I would like to watch his speech following de Gaulle's "Vive le Quebec libre". Where can I find it?
lombisantos 1 year ago
Lester B. Pearson is the greatest prime minister ever!!! :)
titaniclover4ever 1 year ago
Lester B. Pearson. Best Canadian PM ever. Amen!
chd2193 1 year ago
I am not Canadian, but I am glad you chose the flag you have, the other one looks funnny
Queenrocks1963 1 year ago
@Queenrocks1963
you talk funny :)
bobslay12 1 year ago
I'm a Canadian and the red ensign is my flag!!!!
waspboy69 1 year ago 16
@waspboy69 I'm a Canadian and the Maple Leaf is my flag!!!!
ccheng21 1 year ago
@ccheng21 Here here!!
Marakulous43 1 year ago
@waspboy69 The red ensign, aside from being boring, colonial, and hideously ugly, only has a tiny fraction of its design that's distinctly Canadian, the blazoned maples tucked away in the coat of arms. The current flag is a a well designed, instantly recognizable, and distinct package that's known and respected the world over. Plus it represents a country that grew up and decided not to have another nation's flag on its own, which is pretty dumb.
formerairline 1 year ago
@formerairline
You think the Canadian flag is respected the world over? Please...we like to pretend it is. Look at what happened to us only 6 weeks ago at the UN. The Canadian flag is recognizable but that doesn't make it good. Its not bad though but it should have incorporated some form of blue tory sign so to avoid it becoming the liberal flag that it was.
zzzak123 1 year ago
@waspboy69 I use the red ensign as toilet paper everyday!!!
Marakulous43 1 year ago
@waspboy69 The red ensign is fucking gay as shit
lee3nfi3ld460 2 weeks ago