An English-only performance of the Canadian national anthem by Quebecer Charlotte Cardin at the NBA All-Star Game appears to have divided the province.
• Read also: Video | Charlotte Cardin sings the Canadian national anthem (in English only) at the NBA All-Star Game
“We couldn’t believe it!” shouted Yasmine Abdel Latif, on the “La Joute” program, who watched the meeting on her television with her partner.
“How can we, in a country that calls itself bilingual, have three versions of the national anthem: one in English only, one in French only, and one in bilingual? Either it is a bilingual country or it is not. It is a bilingual country: Anthem “The national anthem should be bilingual. Whether we are in Mexico, the Netherlands or the United States, the national anthem should be the same.”
But Mathieu Bouc-Coté does not see the situation the same way.
“It's not a bilingual country. It's a bilingual country just for French-speaking Quebecers who want to impress. Canada is an English-speaking, bilingual country,” says the contestant.
The latter also highlights that there are in fact two very different versions of O Canada.
“Anglophones took the music and changed the lyrics to invent their own national anthem. “The music was beautiful, but they didn’t want the story,” explains Mathieu Boc-Côté.
To the columnist, these are not two versions of the same anthem, but two completely different anthems.
“When we sing the bilingual version, what French-speaking Quebecers ask for, I call it: Absorb parts of the national anthem!” Do it in English, but give us a short paragraph in French. “I apologize, but this is the fate of French-speaking Quebecers in Canada: To breastfeed parts of paragraphs in French and feel that they will finally be recognized,” declared the contestant.
Stephane Bedard, for his part, states that he was not really offended by the monolingual English translation of the Canadian national anthem.
“I don't feel very challenged when we sing O Canada, even though she is from Canada and of Quebec origin. Now, it no longer belongs to us, and it serves another reality.”
To watch the full exchange, watch the video above.
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