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I think this is is something that needs to be forwarded until every Canadian with a computer receives it. The year is 1907, one hundred and three years ago.
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Wilfrid Laurier 1907
Every Canadian citizen needs to read this!
I think this is is something that needs to be forwarded until every Canadian with a computer receives it. The year is 1907, one hundred and three years ago.
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Wilfrid Laurier's ideas on Immigrants and being a Canadian in 1907.
'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes a Canadian and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet a Canadian, and nothing but a Canadian.
'In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes a Canadian and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet a Canadian, and nothing but a Canadian.
There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is a Canadian, but something else also, isn't a Canadian at all. We have room for but one flag, the Canadian flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the Canadian people.'
Wilfrid Laurier 1907
Every Canadian citizen needs to read this!
If I could "like" this I would. I love it when people actually say what I want to say before I even say it! (and it helps that it's someone of importance in Canadian history.)
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if you can site the historical link to this speech given by Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1907, other than your blog?
ReplyDeleteThis quotation is, in fact, bogus. Wilfrid Laurier never said this. The actual words were written in a letter by Theodore Roosevelt shortly before his death in 1919. This version has been edited to substitute "a Canadian" for "an American". For more information, see this page: http://lighthousepatriotjournal.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/1232/
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't really care who wrote the quote, whether Canadian or American. I still believe it is fully applicable in both countries. Why argue about who said it when that really isn't the point at all?
ReplyDeleteThis is just bigotry masquerading as conservatism. And bogus to boot. Laurier never said...never WOULD have said...English only. Yes to Canadianism! NO to WASPishness.
ReplyDeleteThose of us at SYPH and GH apologize for misquoting Laurier in our latest post. We neglected to our homework and we thank Anonymous for bringing that to our attention. We do, however, endorse the content of the post, aside from the "one language - English" reference. We fully recognize and support our francophone Canadians.
ReplyDeleteThe point we were making here was that anyone who says he/she is Canadian, but also says they are something else, is not truly Canadian. We've allowed every nationality in the world to set up housekeeping in our fair country, and I believe our intent was good and right. Where we failed was in allowing immigrants to bypass the assimilation process. They come, and they continue to live exactly the same way they lived in their own country. Many never learn either of our official languages, they don't embrace our culture, and they take the law into their own hands with complete disregard for Canadian law.
I have no problem with people coming to make a new life in Canada. But then be a Canadian and not something else.
More on this in another post.
Anonymous, we appreciate your comments!
So what is the point? That Italian-Canadians don't have the right to fly their colours during the World Cup soccer matches because that's un-American (oops, I guess I mean't to say un-Canadian!). That the American melting pot and Canadian culture are so indistinguishable, that you can just rip off a quotation from county's politician and stick it into the mouth of another? That being Canadian is no different than being an American?
ReplyDelete"For the ultra-conservative Canadian tired of uneducated liberal". Where does one start with such a ridiculous statement...oh I know, let's start with "checking your source" or the definition of a "lemming". All one needs to do is spoon out the crap for you guys and you spread it all over town like it is the word of god....oh forget it...just go back to watching your Fox (make it up as you go) News. You deserve each other. Uneducated...now that's the pot calling the kettle black! You should go into comedy. Oh, or maybe this is your attempt to be comedic? No, not possible…you would need to be far more intelligent to pull that off. And only since this will matter to the "ultra conservative", I am a white (ouch, I bet that hurt) first generation Canadian, university educated (my wife has a PhD and an MD), son of British immigrants. I would leave my name but I would not want the "ultra conservative" out there to hunt me down (we know you like your guns) and "kill" me in the name of "right to life". Enjoy your Bliss…you know, the one that goes along with ignorance.
ReplyDeleteSorry…one last thing. Shut your whole pie hole and do us all a favour and stay home!
Wow, Anonymous. I see you've fully embraced the right to free speech in Canada, but are unwilling to allow others to exercise this same right. Kudos to you, oh educated one, for enlightening the writer of this post with your epic comment that is filled with as many insults as possible. How noble and mature of you.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure, if you'd taken the time to read the writer's comment, that they've apologized for the misquote, and clarified their position. Or were you too busy jumping on your own soapbox?
On a genuinely complimentary note, you are a minority who calls themselves a first generation Canadian. Most still refer to their parent's place of birth as their nationality - this is the point the write was trying to get across. If you decide to be Canadian, then be fully Canadian. If you read earlier posts on this blog, you'll see that the writer is tired of being bombarded by other countries setting up their own shops in Canada - with no effort made to actually be Canadian.
If you'd like to share your own narrow-minded views, let others do the same.
Julie, thank you for your response. We are fortunate to enjoy a fair degree of free speech in this country and everyone is entitled to an opinion. Anonymous, you have exercised your right to state yours, as have we.
ReplyDelete