Tuesday, October 14, 2014

The Maple Leaf Forever

Canada's National Flag

     Several years ago we planted a Sugar Maple Acer saccharum in our back yard and it has progressed from a spindly sapling to a magnificent medium sized tree. This is what we see from our bedroom window.




     If anyone has ever wondered about the origin of the leaf on our national flag, this is it. 



     Although I am not given to overly patriotic feelings I am always stirred a little when I see the flag. Its simple image portrays an alliance with nature, and both our flag and our national anthem are free from jingoism and calls to arms, or statements that our country is superior to others. It is a peaceful symbol of a peaceful nation and one that evokes a great deal of resonance with its citizens.
     The flag will be fifty years old in February 2015 and it is quite remarkable the degree of opposition to it when it was first proposed by one of Canada's greatest sons, Lester Bowles Pearson, winner (very fittingly) of the Nobel Prize for Peace. Now, it is most ardently embraced by the very factions who fought so hard to prevent its adoption. It really has become a much loved symbol to all who live here, native born and immigrant alike. And long may it continue to be so.
Marcadores: ,
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

11 comments:

  1. The Furry Gnome14 October 2014 at 21:03

    Brilliant tree, and nice comments about our flag. My first political letter was to the Prime Minister about a design for a new flag. I was about 15!

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  2. Irma15 October 2014 at 03:11

    Beautiful tree with beautiful colored leaves.
    Perfect photographed, my compliments.

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  3. eileeninmd15 October 2014 at 04:26

    Gorgeous colors, Autumn is a lovely time of the year..

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  4. Noushka15 October 2014 at 04:51

    That is a great post, David!
    I didn't know this flag was so young!
    I can't agree more with the symbolism of closeness to nature and free from "calls to arms, or statements that our country is superior to others"!
    We have a few maple trees on the property, and I think those leaves in the fall are quite spectacular!
    My thrill is to photograph dragonflies perched on them in autumn.
    Keep well, hugs to you and Miriam :)

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  5. Germán Ibarra Zorrilla16 October 2014 at 08:13

    Bonito y curioso post, las fotografías muy bellas. Saludos desde España.

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  6. agatek18 October 2014 at 07:35

    Hello!
    I wondered why the leaf on the flag. Beautiful pictures of leaves. I wish you a nice day :)

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  7. Helma18 October 2014 at 10:02

    Really almighty gorgeous:-)))))))))
    Brilliant colors and the shape of the leaves are really fantastic.
    just wonderful!

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  8. Erika19 October 2014 at 14:54

    Gorgeous shots.

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  9. Richard Pegler20 October 2014 at 04:48

    I can fully understand why the Maple sits so proudly on your national flag, David. The fall colors of your own tree are truly beautiful, and the shape of the leaves is wonderful.

    Your post had me looking for the words to your national anthem - I see what you mean!!

    Best wishes to you both. - - - Richard

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  10. damian20 October 2014 at 13:46


    Fajny widok zza oknem, dobrze jak liście się w takiej barwie długo utrzymają na drzewie :-)

    Pozdrawiam

    ReplyDelete
  11. Seraphinas Phantasie10 November 2014 at 04:59

    Stunning colors of the leaves !
    Best regards, Synnöve

    ReplyDelete

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