For my entire adult life, it has baffled me that we have a national holiday for a dead British Queen, but none for our country's first Prime Minister. Therefore for the last few years I have celebrated Victoria Day as Sir John A MacDonald Day, because in my opinion he did far more for Canada than the outdated Monarch. I have never been a fan of the British Crown, or the British for that matter, although my all-time favourite politician in the history of mankind is Winston Churchill. Any warm feelings that I feel today from the memory of British leadership is on the back of Winston Churchill.
One of my favourite Churchill quotes, and there are many, comes from when he was meeting the King of Saudi Arabia. I believe that the question asked of Sir Winston had to do on the question of alcohol consumption at the state dinner because the Saudi King doesn't drink, and his response; "my rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite - smoking cigars and also the drinking of fine Scotch before, after, and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them."
If this Canadian holiday weekend must celebrate British leadership, let it be Sir Winston Churchill Day if not Sir John A MacDonald Day. Where I come from in Northern Ontario, nobody calls it Victoria Day. It is "May 2-4" (in reference to the relative date of the event and the consumption of cases of beer).
Sir John A Macdonald was an ardent supporter of the Crown and would be mortified by your post. He wanted Canada to be undervthe Sovereignty of HLIM Queen Victoria and her family forever. Indeed if Macdonald had had his way we would be the Kingdom of Canada!
ReplyDeleteHappy Victoria Day which is also Our Sovereign Lady's Birthday in Canada.
God Save the Queen of Canada!!
Sorry to dissapoint you Roy. I read your blog and respect your opinion. Perhaps it is my own Scottish ancestry that breeds my contempt for the British Crown. Braveheart was released during my formative years.
ReplyDelete"The trouble with Scotland is that they're full of Scots!"
-King Edward I
I'm of Scottish descent and very much a monarchist. b.r.
ReplyDeleteSir John A's birthday is January 11, and we really don't need to celebrate anything at that time of year with New Year's Day only 10 days past.
ReplyDeleteMost young people I talk to nowadays have no idea that May 24th is a celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday, it's just "the May 24th long weekend" as you said.
And I completely agree with your lack of worship for the British monarchy,which I was brought up with. Every day in school, we started with singing "Oh Canada" and ended with "God Save the Queen at four PM. The first I can agree with,the second,well....no.
And I'm of Scottish ancestry,on my Mother's side,and my Grandmother simultaneously worshipped the British monarchy,and hated the British for their treatment of Scotland a few hundred years back. The conflicting message left me bewildered,and eventually lapsed into my not being a fan of the British monarchy,though I do admire many of their military leaders,and Winston,of course.
Thank God there was a Churchill in civilization's greatest hour of need,just try to imagine any of today's leaders in his spot. On second thought,don't,you'll have too many sleepless nights.
This weekend,Iceman, Happy John A. day,and remember to drive carefully out there,traffic on May 24th is downright scary.
DMorris
I once felt as Roy did. I'm not so sure anymore. I can't explain what the Queen is for. That is a problem. A small problem but it won't go away.
ReplyDeleteDMorris, you are one of my favourite commentors. However I gotta say that Wilson is the best in the business (my own polling bears this out). The last British national that I worked with frequently accused me of sex acts with sheep for no other reason than my Scottish last name.
ReplyDeleteI need to correct my quote:
"The trouble with Scotland, is that it's full of Scots" (not they're full of Scots)
I am 25% German, 70% Scottish, with some Irish mixed in. There are virtually no Brits on my family tree. My dad is deep into ancestry.com. I love Winston Churchill.
"Success if the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm"
Well Alex and Iceman,you and your idiot bunch have nearly gotten rid of Christmas why not Victoria day.These 2 examples are just a part of Canadian history that you are trying to erase,like the idiot french trying to erase the plains of Abraham loss.You may not like the British or the Scots or whatever,but you have no GD business trying to erase history.You can call it any day you want to Iceman,but do we need this childish reason that the Queen means nothing to you.Sir John A was not around when you were born and did nothing for you either.Why do you idiots always have to take away and never just think about adding another day if you have to honor someone.And it does not have to be holiday.
ReplyDeleteWe don't get to rewrite our history. Good or bad we have chosen to keep our ties with the U.K. warts and all.
ReplyDeleteOur ties to the U.K. was a Canadian problem during the conscription crisis and those issues remain today.
Many Liberals defected and joined Borden, Laurier chose Quebec fearing/pandering to the socialist-separatists.
The Conservaties paid a heavy price until Brian Mulroney in Quebec.
Look at the francophonie support for any ARMED conflict.
English is the language that binds Canadians. Up until recently it was EXPECTED you adopt your new country and become a productive member of society.
Immigrants built Canada and think it is necessary.
We changed and we invited them promising they would qualify for high level jobs with their credentials.
We forced them not to work and provided welfare.
The majority of our parents that came here did not have those conditions of false promises and welfare cheques to destroy their worth ethic.
I can't be angry at the history, bonds with the U.K. or the decision of my parents to move to Canada.
The lowest support for our ties to the U.K. is the separatists in Quebec.
That reason would be enough to support the old gal.
The "Empire" thing English, Roman, Athenian, were important in shaping our history.
Democracy, toga party, Harry Potter!
Regardless of why Canada has this holiday still and what it should or could be called instead, what has made me laugh for 18 or so years is that the brits don't even celebrate this day. I moved overseas in 1992 and that was my first realization that there is no 'victoria day' in Britain. They have a long weekend in May I believe, just called a 'spring bank holiday' by most, but it's not the same weekend. At any rate, I have had Brit friends ask me over the years what this holiday is for LMAO! If the Brits don't celebrate their former Queen's BDay as a holiday, why do we? That always gives me a giggle but I will gladly grab my 2-4 and go camping anyway ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat we need is a Macdonald-Laurier holiday in February the same day as the American holiday.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned this to Jason Kenney, but he says our productivity needs to go up. I think our productivity would go up with a break in February since we don't get another holiday until Easter.
I have no problem with the British monarchy. I think it is a quaintly pleasant institution headed by a lady who seems to be very intelligent and personable. I do, however, think that monarchist celebrations should be limited to Great Britain and their non-independent colonies. Canada should celebrate its own, and Sir John A. would be a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not a knee-jerk monarchist, but let's get a few facts straight. Queen Victoria should not be considered a "British queen" as far as Canadians are concerned - the monarch is simultaneously Queen of the United Kingdom and of Canada. We celebrate the birthday of Victoria because she was the Head of State when the Dominion of Canada was created in 1867, and from that point on she was referred to as the Queen of Canada as far as Canadian issues were concerned. Elizabeth II is also the Queen of Canada (and simultaneously Queen of England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, etc etc). Victoria was also personally involved in the creation of the Dominion of Canada; in fact she was responsible for the choice of Ottawa as the new nation's capital.
ReplyDeleteJohn A. Macdonald (by the way, it's not written MacDonald - Canadians should know how our first Prime Minister spelled his name) was certainly a noteworthy figure and deserving of his own holiday, but that doesn't mean we have to throw out important links to our past because they're outdated or old-fashioned.