Canada has lost one of its fiercest, most uncompromising, contentious and passionate pursuers of justice and equality, Mr. Charles Roach. On October 2, Roach passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Of all his pursuits for a fairer and more just society, however, the most controversial of Roach's advocacy efforts was his push, since 1988, to get a Canadian court to recognize that it is a violation of individuals' constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience to require prospective Canadians to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.

Canada's soldiers suffered heavy casualties in the second half of 1944 in Normandy. Infantry units operated at half strength of less, their platoons frequently reduced to a dozen soldiers instead of the normal 30. And, the soldiers, grumbled, there were thousands of 'zombies,' or home defence conscripts, safe in Canada.

My choice for a national symbol 30 years ago -- and remains so today -- is the Canada Goose. Critics fret that Canada Geese are a nuisance in parks, that they are messy, and take over areas, like grubby Wall Street occupiers. But the Canada goose has a curious nobility.

I do not know the solution to small-mindedness as a part of conservative political strategies, but at least part of the answer requires progressives to ask some rather basic questions about what they believe and why. Here are a few starters.

If, like most voters, you didn't vote Conservative in the last election, your values are un-Canadian. At least, that's what our prime minister thinks.

I have no desire to defend Nycole Turmel or to apologize for her political choices and loyalties, except to say that if being Canadian means being free of emotional conflicts around identity, we are a nation of traitors.