O, Canada, our home and native land.
True patriot love, in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the true north strong and free.
And stand on guard, O, canada, we stand on guard for thee.
I believe at this point a deity is invoked to maintain possession "glorious and free". Then there are a few more "stand on guards". Then (depending on location) it breaks into a French language rendition for a while, (with foreheads full of glorious flowers), then back into English for a few final "stand on guards" after which it comes to a crashing conclusion as anthems are wont to do.
As the above may suggest I am not much into anthems, flags or pomp and cermonial manifestations of patriotic symbolism. I love the country and the people but there is no way that I would fight in a war for them, for a political ideal or for anything but defence.
Out of politeness I stand for the anthem much as I bow my head when other people are praying. It is not because I feel there is a power for me in any of these invocations, but that there may be either a consolation, or a concentration of self for others which may do them good and I do not want to disturb this possibility. I know where the centre of the world is, maybe they will find it.
Politeness generally has no cost unless it is exploited, so each occurence requires a unique decision. Call it situational ethics if you will, even pragmatism, but it is a commitment I feel required to make.