Limp Nationalism – Do you love your country?
November 30, 2005 · By H. Cameron
Who loves Canada more, Harper or Martin? Perhaps the better question Canadians should be asking themselves is whether the question is a legitimate one. I mean really, how can someone love a country? Say it out loud for a second, “I love Canada” and tell me that you don’t feel a little silly doing it. Personally, I only love my family, and beyond that everyone, (and everything) falls considerable behind in terms of loving endearment. I’ve always found that those that were so quick to pronounce they love something were usually the same people who were using that statement to achieve some goal.
Because in truth, love is not a statement, it is an action – and using love as a statement to gain political points over another candidate is truly pathetic.
Later, at the campaign rally, he also took a jab at Harper’s patriotism: “This morning I am told that Stephen Harper had a little difficulty saying this, so let me say it: I love Canada,” he told party faithful to thunderous applause.
Earlier in the day Harper had answered the blunt question: “Do you love Canada?” in a positive way, but without using the words “I love Canada.”
rightly points that Martin has neglected as yet to publicly thank the United States for treating our wounded soldiers in an American military hospital. So I thought I’d take a moment to do his job for him, paraphrasing his wordsfrom day 1 of the campaign: I am told that Mr. Martin has had a little difficulty saying this, so let me say it. Thank you America.
Perhaps it is you Lyndon, that has the agenda.
I love pancakes because they make me feel all warm on the inside. Mindless Liberals love Canada because it does the same thing for them.
[...] Holden makes a point that, while entirely commonsensical, will be incomprehensible (and infuriating) to mindless Liberal nationalists: I mean really, how can someone love a country? Say it out loud for a second, “I love Canada� and tell me that you don’t feel a little silly doing it. Personally, I only love my family, and beyond that, everyone (and thing) falls considerable behind in terms of loving endearment. I’ve always found that those that were so quick to pronounce they love something were usually the same people who were using that statement to achieve some goal. [...]
My concern focuses more on the relevance of the question. Does lip service to ones “love” of a country make them a better leader? Is that the point that is trying to be made? If so, the question is ridiculous. Patriotism is a far better determinate.
However, for the heck of it lets indulge the idea that someone can love their country, shouldn’t the announcement that one “loves Canada” be supported by actions and not just words? Love, in this context is more about doing what is best for the country you love instead of loving the country because of what it can do for you. Hmmmmm, I wonder which leader exemplifies this kind of love more????
According to Thomas Hobbes, it’s unintelligible to love God because “God” is an insignificant term (i.e., it’s not something we can touch, see, feel, etc.).
If Canada is a nonentity that only exists in the imagination of Eastern intellectuals, how can one say one loves it?
Unless loving Canada = loving Eastern intellectuals.
Eww.
You don’t love me, er, Holden? I’m crushed…
I expect he wasn’t as vociferous as Martin, because he doesn’t like what Martin and his ilk have created… a country of dependents, who are paid to vote liberal; a country of entitlement, who steal and vote liberal and a central population mass of hegemony who wield that power.
Why yes, I love Canada. It’s excellent, particularly if you douse it generously with hot sauce before you scarf it down.
Wait…
…you mean, like a member of the opposite sex? Ewwwwww, gross! What kind of a sicko is that reporter, anyways?
I was watching the show, and my 9-year old was next to me. When the question about love was posed, she looked at me and said “what a silly question!” That sums it up for me.
Mr. Martin Loves Canada so much he won’t put it’t flag on his ships, he loves Canada a lot when it lines his pockets.
He knows so much about loving Canada he’ll tell you how to love Canada and who doesn’t love Canada.