The
Separatists wore me down.
I remember
what a jolt it was the day after the first Referendum
when the sun came up.
I hadn't
paid any attention to anything except Quebec in such a long time
that it
was a
surprise to see that everything was so ordinary.
The
Federalists had won, narrowly.
The next Referendum
caused anxiety but also a rising anger.
And since
that time I have just become more and
more tired of the news
coming out of Quebec. The language laws,
the return of
the Parti Quebecois
and the threat of another referendum.
"If
they want to go, they should go.
In this
day and age we can survive without them," I reasoned.
I was just
tired, tired, tired of it all.
Then I went
to Ottawa for the Remembrance Day week-end.
***
In Ottawa I
saw some of the things that bind us together.
 |
| A man carrying a flag on Parliament Hill. |
 |
| A veteran. |
Our
connections with each other and with our history.
 |
| Canadian recruits at the War Museum. |
 |
| Standing in the crowd, shoulder to shoulder with other Canadians. |
Our
connection with Britain and the Commomwealth.
 |
| Sculpture at the Museum of Civilization. |
No one
could walk through the Museum of Civilization,
(Museum of Canadian History),
and the National War Museum
and not feel that the country must be preserved.
 |
| A child getting ready to throw a coin into the Centennial Flame, Parliament Hill. |
For her.
And for all of us.
 |
| A man warms his hands at the Centennial Flame. Built in 1967 to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. |
Each
generation has had its struggle, its burden.
Ours has
been to keep the country together.
I won't let them wear me down again.
I won't let them wear me down again.
