my recollection of singing the anthem in school every morning until I moved to the States at the tender age of 6 already had me touting my Canadian identity when surrounded by American schoolkids who said their pledge to the flag every day...
In the States I would stand and be respectful, but not speak their words... All my friends were American, but as a 'resident alien' (and CANADIAN citizen), I had my own loyalties. If you're an immigrant, do your thing if you must, but how dare you tell Canadians what we may or may not do in our own land.
When I joined the Boy Scouts of America, I wore the uniform and said their pledges and sang the US anthem, because I'd chosen to belong to that group. If you make a choice to join an organisation like the scouts/police/army, don't then disrespect their rules and obligations.
I loved growing up in Chicago, but I knew where I was from and kept that pride all my years down there until I returned to Canada for university. Now I'm back out in Nova Scotia after living in 9 cities and 4 countries, and everywhere I went, I took my flag, my pride and love of Canada, and an openness to whatever culture I was living in.
Let the homegrowns who don't want to sing the anthem live in some other part of the world for a while, preferably in some part where they aren't given the same rights and freedoms as they are here, then we'll see how 'horrible' it is that they are asked to AT THE VERY LEAST, rise, be silent if not sing, and show some respect.
Cheers to all who love our home and native land, be you from here or away.
CKA Elite 
