cont'd ...

"La Marseillaise" features lyrics like - "They're
coming right into your arms to cut the throats of your
sons, your women!" and "Let an impure blood water our
furrows." Patriotism is wild-eyes bloodlust. But the
French sing it with pride.

Americans don'g sing the "Star-Spangled Banner"with
swelled chests and tears in their eyes because it's
such a great song. They do so according to Pobjie because
they believe their country is the best.

This cuts to the heart of the criticisms of "Advance
Australia Fair," that it doesn't properly represent our
country in particular from the perspective of
Indigenous Australians such as those footballers who
declined to sing the anthem at last week's State of Origin
game.

It is easy to see their point. Even non-Indigenous
Australians feel the song is not particularly representative.
Imagine how it must feel when you are a member of the
dispossessed marginalised community listening to a song
written by a white guy that does not acknowledge the
country's original inhabitants.

It's a decent argument. That "young and free"bit seems
particularly on the nose nowadays for many people.
Many of us aren't free at all, and we're hopelessly
divided. But, as Pobjie points out - national anthems
aren't supposed to be true. They are supposed to be
positive.

Our anthem describes Australia as a wonderful place to
live for all Australians of all races and backgrounds.
It does not reflect reality. Perhaps we need to change
the country, not the song?

After all the words, "For those who come across the
seas we've boundless plains to share," is pretty dishonest.

We are going to have to deal with the fact that national
anthems are both aspirational and a little bit deluded.
Pobjie asks - "Is America truly the land of the free and the
home of the brave?"

Anthems are not mirrors. They are self portraits of what we
wished we looked like.

cont'd ...

cont'd ...

And like the picture of Dorian Gray - as we get more
and more corrupted and decadent our national
anthems remain lovely. That is their purpose.

So, No, Pobjie tell us that there is no need to change
the national anthems unless of course everyone wants
them changed. However, he says if we really want the
words to match the reality of our country then we need
to get to work on making our country a better place.

Much food for thought.

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm out of breath after reading Foxies last comment.
That was one marathon of a comment.
I thought I wrote some long'ens.
I've gotta hand it to her, an 'A' for effort.
Whew!

I would now like to share the national anthem
of my ancestors in both languages. Lithuanian
and English:

Tautiska Giesme. National Anthem.

Lietuva, Tevyne musu Lithuania, our dear homeland
Tu didvyriu zeme Land of worthy heroes
Is praeities Tavo sunus May your sons draw strength
Te stiprybe semia From your past

Tegul Tavo vaikai eina May your children always
Vien takais dorybes Choose the paths of virtue
Tegul dirba Tavo naudai May they work towards your good
Ir zmoniu gerybei And that of all people

Tegul saule Lietuvoj May the sun of Lithuania
Tamsumas prasalina Disperse darkness
Ir sviesa ir tiesa And may light and truth
Mus zingsnius telydi Guide our footsteps

Tegul meile Lietuvos May the love of Lithuania
Dega musu sirdyse Burn in our hearts
Vardan tos Lietuvos So that in the name of Lithuania
Vienybe tezydi. Unity will blossom and shine.

__________________________________________________________________

This anthem was written in 1898 by Vincas Kudirka. It officially became the National Anthem in 1919, a year after Lithuania
declared its Independence. It was re-instated in 1989
shortly before the re-establishment of Lithuania's
Independence and once again confirmed as the National
Anthem in the National Anthem Act, 21 October 1991.

cont'd ...

Vladimir Putin is still eyeing not only Lithuania
but all the former Soviet - occupied countries
with greedy eyes. That's why to those countries
belonging to the European Union is so important.

"He gives as an example the British National
Anthem - "God save the Queen." Not only is it deathly
dull to listen to - it's not even a song about how
great the country is. It's a song about how great
one specific woman"

Well anyone who's given it 5 seconds thought will agree with that.

OTOH anyone who's given it 5 minutes research will know its utter rubbish:

1. Its not about one women. The name changes back and forth depending on the gender of the current monarch. It refers to the institution of the monarchy, not the current holder.
2. The second verse makes it clear that the monarch is seen as a symbol for the country. God save the queen means God save us all which is indeed the words in the second verse.

_______________________________________________________________

""La Marseillaise" features lyrics like - "They're
coming right into your arms to cut the throats of your
sons, your women!" and "Let an impure blood water our
furrows." Patriotism is wild-eyes bloodlust.

As I alluded to previously, La Marseillaise was originally the "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" ("War Song for the Rhine Army"). It was written to bolster the army as it tried to defend the revolution from European assault in 1792. At that time it was a revolution worth defending (until the socialists inevitably screwed it up). The victories of the revolutionary armies were immense. They weren't about bloodlust but about freedom and liberty. That's why the song remains dear to French hearts.

These anthems, along with the Star-Spangled Banner reflect the nation, its history and character (even if the character is merely aspirational) in ways that AAF doesn't.

So Waltzing Matilda.

____________________________________________________________

"That's why to those countries
belonging to the European Union is so important."

Being in NATO is the best protection of the liberty of the Baltic States. The EU is utterly useless in resisting Russia, even if it wanted to.