Without supporting the obstructionist senators who blocked passage of the changes to Canada’s national anthem, the delay in enshrining the partial rewording does give the government a convenient opportunity to rethink its unfortunate recasting of a portion of this iconic paean to Canada. Replacing “in all our sons command” with “in all of us” may rid the anthem of outdated and sexist phrasing, but to a lover of language the change sounds anything but lyrical. Substituting “in all our hearts command” for the leaden “in all of us” would render the song more inclusive, poetic and worthy of our true patriot love.

Richard van Abbe, Toronto