July 1st just passed by - This day deserves special mention for two reasons, it is our wedding anniversary and it is Canada Day. Hubby and I enjoy the fact that we get a day off on our anniversary every year and there is always spectacular fireworks to go with it :)
But it is CANADA DAY. Along with being a Canadian, I am also an Indian and as an Indian, we take our patriotism very very seriously! It is not a laughing matter, so when I first moved here I found it rather strange that Canada Day was not treated in as sombre a manner as 26th Jan(Republic Day) or 15th Aug(Independence Day) is in India. At the time (10 years ago and a less-wise me) thought only in India is there true patriotism.
However, I walked the streets this July 1st and as a more mature and reflective me was taking in the festivities, the free concerts and the shows, and later to watch the fireworks I looked at things in a different light - I saw people of all races and colour dressed in Red and White ( colours of the Canadian flag ) waving their flag, joyous to be out and celebrating. I saw men and women singing the Canadian anthem. I saw a lot of people young and old walking upto police officers, security guards and others in uniform and thanking them for their hardwork and commitment to keeping us safe!
I decided to look up patriotism - it is the love and loyalty to one's country
Being an Indo-Canadian, I realized we just have different ways of exhibiting the same emotion - maybe because of our different histories....
The Indian in me gets teary-eyed when I hear "Mera Watan Ke Logon"
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjfGA_IeMWo )
and to the Canadian in me "We are more"
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw3u2h72Kng&feature=related ) is the most heart-warming of poems!
Patriotism, I concluded cannot me Measured or Judged!
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