The Great Debate

I was driving my son to school when he asked, “Dad why do people ask you about the flag.” I was surprised by his question.

“Why do you want to know?” I asked.

“Well I have heard people and they seem very upset”, he replied. I hesitated in my response.

“Well, people can be very upset when something they hold dear to them is changed. They feel as if it no longer represents them." I stopped the car outside the school, watched him go through the doors then drove to the Hill. Entering the Commons I heard MPs from all parties arguing, despite the Flag Committee’s recommendation, six weeks earlier, that we adopt the new flag. It seemed as if neither side would agree on whether we should change the flag or what a new flag should look like. I sat in my seat and listened as the heated exchanges continued.

“We must change the flag to show that Canada has its own identity! We must show the world that we no longer act as a colony but as our own independent country capable of sustaining its own affairs.” A man sat down. Immediately another man stood and responded, “Sir with all due respect the flag we are replacing is a flag that our ancestors fought under. I find this discussion disgraceful.”