Garcia Media Life

Many- not all- but many Montreal Canadians fans booed the American national anthem last night just prior to game 3 of the opening round series at the Bell Centre.  The Washington Capitals responded with a thorough 5-1 thrashing of Montreal. 

Friday, Caps fans at the Verizon Center will get to respond and there a few different ways to go.    First of all, this is nothing new.  You can find discussion boards on the web dating back to April of 2002 about Montreal fans booing the anthem before a Bruins game.  Next game, Boston fans responded by heartily cheering and singing along with the Canadian anthem.  This, of course, is the preferred approach.

I have always found the Canadian national anthem to be rather melodically pleasing.  I should know more of the words.  Completely in contrast to what occurred at Bell Centre last night, I was once at a drunken gathering of Canadian TV and Radio News Directors, I believe in Ottawa.  At approximately 2am, several of my Canadian friends, stood up, linked arms and sang every syllable of the American National Anthem with great gusto.

How many Americans could do that with Oh, Canada?

 I think, regrettably, I tried to respond in kind and came up with: 

 Oh Canada!  My shrrf and native land, glorious and free, de dum dum dum dum dum.   La la la la, la la la la, I stand on guard for thee.  

As this was 300% more of the anthem than most Americans know, my Canadian buddies were not insulted.

But…in case there are any Caps fans reading this- Friday night is your chance to show how much classier we are than these Canadians from Montreal, who even a lot of Canadians don’t really consider Canadians but more like annoying residents of Little France.

Here then, is the Canadian National Anthem:

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

See?  It is not long- many fewer words than our own.  And again, a really lovely melody.  Sing it loud, sing it proud and then root for the Caps to smash the Hab’s faces into the ice en route to, by then, a closing first round victory.