The expression “add insult to injury” takes on its full meaning here.
Whatever anyone says and whatever the political analysis, there is already something medieval and insulting about a majority of MPs in the House of Commons voting to maintain the oath to the British king.
Save the king
Now here is the insult.
In reaction to the refusal to make the oath to the king optional, deputies – conservatives – decided to form the choir of the Little Singers of the House of Commons, and sang God save the King.
Understand their uncontrollable emotion: they had just saved the king!
Let MPs celebrate their vote by singing God Save The King in reaction to an Acadian MP who opposed the oath to the king precisely in the name of the painful Acadian deportation by the British Crown is deeply insulting.
And revealing.
This is insensitivity towards the Acadians and their historical injury. What other group could be taunted like this in Canada? What other group could suffer this kind of jokes from elected officials?
Answer: none.
Sad Canadian reality.
Deputy Arseneault
René Arsenaeult, a proudly Acadian Liberal MP, was the one who brought the file. Not exactly a sovereignist Trojan horse. His goal was not to abolish the oath, but to make it optional.
If a Canadian MP still felt monarchical love, he could continue to pledge “fidelity and sincere allegiance” to the king.
No major change, therefore: the portraits of Charles III were safe.
Arseneault simply wanted to make optional what for him and the Acadians is a synonym of humiliation and affront. We can understand.
He was told that it is only a symbol.
However, the choir of the House of Commons responded with another symbol: that of contempt.
PS In this country which spares no excuses, none has yet been formulated for the Acadian deportation in 1755. This is another missed opportunity.