calls for Our National Anthem to be changed

[flipnflap]

On ITV's TELETEXT today, I see a news story with former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith saying that some of the words of Britain's national anthem are 'not inclusive' and might need replacing. Apparently Goldsmith reckons 'strong feelings about national symbols have to be taken into account'.

What is it with this nation - why do we let so many foreigners in and then change our ways and traditions to suit them, rather than making them accept ours? Can this trend be reversed, or is it too late? What chance do you think of other nations (like Pakistan, India or Sudan, for example) changing their ways and traditions to suit any Brits living there?

[Kromovaracun]

As far as I know, Lord Goldsmith isn't foreign.

People come up with these crackpot ideas all the time (note for instance a few years a go the hysteria over some fresh-from-the-pub idea that Christmas would be banned. Which came to nothing) - nobody is going to change the national anthem. I think you're leaping to quite a bit of a conclusion to say that Goldsmith's comment is indicative of some kind of cultural subjection.

[ludwig]

I'd be quite happy to get a completely new national anthem. The current one's rubbish. The lyrics are silly and and the tune sounds like a funeral dirge written in waltz time.
We need something a bit more stirring like America, Russia, France, Germany etc etc.

http://www.hymns.me.uk/god-save-the-queen-hymn .htm

[Goodsoulette]

Is God Save the Queen our national anthem? I've always preferred Land of Hope and Glory myself. I don't think its about making people accept our ways or changing ours, its about making people proud to live here and be a part of this country/community.

[Gromit]

flipnflap

Foreigners? You will find the anthem is deemed anti-scots and that is why there are objection to it. The fourth verse, which is no longer used refers to 'Rebellious Scots to crush' .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/12/03/nanthem103.xml

[sp1814]

flipnflap

Why did you think this story related to immigrants???

Did you not think about reading more of the story before flying off the handle with yet another Answerbank anti-immigrant polemic?

[tiggerblue10]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the Scottish want to be seperated from the rest of Britain!

[Gromit]

tiggerblue10

You are wrong. Some do, some do not.

That is an entirely different question, this one is about the National Anthem and whether gloating about crushing the scots (a very long time ago) is appropriate.

[tiggerblue10]

Sorry I spoke or wrote!

[amsterdammer]

Could we perhaps incorporate a few words of the Koran into the anthem, a little Polish perhaps, & other EU words? We are after all a multicultural society.

[Lucy Thomas]

I have said for many years that our national anthem needs to be changed. My reasons, however, are different from those given in this thread.

Our anthem is divisive for the simple reason that it is unpopular, to say the least, with Republicans.

If you look at international football matches you will usually see all of the team singing their anthem. When God Save The Queen is layed, a large proportion of our players will stay tight-lipped.

Now, for the record, I have always considered myself a Royalist but I think we need an anthem that unites the whole country. One that exalts the nation and not one individual. That said, I would hate to think that we pandered to political correctness and came up with an anthem that tried to include a line about one-legged black lesbians.

It needs to praise the nation. If you want a good example, listen to the Australian anthem.

[jno]

I think you'll find the Indian way of life changed significantly when the British invaded and took the country over from the people already living there.

[Gromit]

What is an EU word?

[Reverandfunk]

Couldnt really give a friar tuck

[sp1814]

Just thought of something...

Without looking it up on Google, I challenge someone, anyone - especially you flipnflap...to write the lyric to all the verses

Go on...be honest and write them down.

Betcha can't.

It's always the same...

[Gromit]

Lucy, its in the little used eighth verse...

"Reign over one-legged black lesbians,
Ennobled gay thespians,
May she defend our freedom,
In Gordon Brown's thiefdom,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen."

[kwicky]

I wish they would stop playing it at English football matches. It seems completely out of place and does not encourage either the fans or the players. Maybe they should resurrect 'football coming home'!

[flipnflap]

HERE YOU GO SP1814, NO GOOGLE REQUIRED

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen:
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise,
Scatter thine enemies,
And make them fall:
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks,
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign:
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen.


LUCY THOMAS, THE FACT THAT FOOTBALLERS DON'T ALL SING IT MAY JUST BE BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER HAD TO LEARN IT NOR WANTED TO. AND WHY SHOULD THEY? IT'S NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS

[Lucy Thomas]

Flipnflap, are you suggesting that we only know things we were taught at school? Do you think we stop learning when we leave school?

[flipnflap]

Lucy, if you read my answer properly, you'd realise I'm not saying that. If we're being pernickety, maybe I should have added 'for example' at the end. Fer Gawd's sake, does it matter? A more likely response from many people I suspect would be that footballers are rarely bright. No doubt you'll jump all over that too.

[sp1814]

flipnflap

I was about to give you a pat on the back for knowing the national anthem.

However, I can see that you cut 'n' pasted it from the Internet you naughty boy.

The proof?

I had to look it up on the net, and found exactly the same one that you did...and how do I know it's the same?

The colons!

You wouldn't have put colons in, would you?

Tut tut tut.