Dear Editor:
I have been concerned about the issues around the national flag and the national anthem for a while, so the (July 24) Andy Prest opinion piece ‘Lone Wolf’ Tenor’s Fate in Hands of Twitterati finally got me off my rear end. Remi (and others) do not have the right to modify the anthem. If he attempted that in other locations, he may have been changed from a tenor to falsetto.
Back to the serious issue of the national flag of Canada … we have all seen the national flag with its 11-point red Maple Leaf and its red bands at the edges. We have also seen a very popular flag waved around at pride week activities – containing the red Maple Leaf but rainbow borders have been placed on the edges. This is to put it politely a no-no. I am not against people who are gay or transgender or the pride rainbow flags. Originating in 1978, (the flags are of) excellent design – choosing the rainbow was inspiring.
However, the national flag of Canada is protected by the trademark act and the copyright act. We teach in our schools: “red bar on right stands for the East Coast of Canada, the Atlantic Ocean. Red bar on the left stands for West Coast of Canada, the Pacific Ocean.”
The Canadian flag should never have placed upon (the pride flag), nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature. I have been amazed and disturbed by our prime minister waving the “modified” (rainbow bars) Canadian flags both last year and this year.
Complaints about any infringements, defacement or other violations should be sent to Department of Canadian Heritage, State Protocol Directorate. [email protected].
So, leave the Canadian flag alone, please. No more rainbows on the Canadian flag. I was not born here, but I am a Canadian and very proud of it. The flag is a very important symbol. It took years to get the design approved. Hundreds of Canadians have died protecting us and the flag. Don’t perhaps unknowingly insult them.
Harry Mayor
West Vancouver
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