mhaze,

Ben Pobjie's tongue-in-cheek article was merely
just that. It's meant as a satire.

I agree that joining NATO is the best protection
for the Baltic States. But it might be questionable
currently, due to Trump's unpredictability.

Nevertheless -

Thank You for bothering to read what I posted.
And for your contributions. They are appreciated.

cont'd ...

mhaze,

I can't help but wonder if you
were to stop people in the street - how many
would be able to tell you (here or in the UK)
what the other verses to "God Save the Queen,"
are, or what they mean, apart from it being a song
about a particular woman, as Ben Pobjie said?

And as for the French national anthem - Pobjie
does have a legit claim - the words are bloodlusty.
No two ways about it. It's a great tune though.
Did you know that it was banned by Napoleon and by
Louis XVIII because of the revolutionary associations?
Only the first and sixth verses are customarily used
at public occasions.

On the topic of the Baltic Nations - after they had
restored their Independence, integration with Western
Europe became a major strategic goal . The Baltic Nations
applied for membership in NATO and the EU. Currently
they're the only former Soviet states to have joined
either organisation. Although after crimea its gathering
momentum in the Ukraine. If Trump would pull out of NATO
that would be a win for Russia.

mhaze,

I forgot to ask - so you think "Waltzing Matilda,"
a story about a sheep rustler could be a serious
contender for the national anthem?

What about "Click Go The Shears?"
it might be just as good.
At least sheep identify with it. ;-)

I never went to the school of innuendo and sarcasm, so could someone please explain what Foxy's last comment was all about?
You see this is just one example where the written form does not convey the true meaning and message because for one, it lacks the ability to express emotion and therefore inflection.
Because of this, many conversations or messages are mis-understood or confusing.
One thing is not confusing and that is the message and intent from the wannabee Briggs.
I would have given him some cred, had he not gone into a mindless pointless rant criticising, as I said before, something MILLIONS of Aussies relate to and respect.
Ignorant, arrogant, buffoon.
Another irrelevant, entitled so and so.
As for asking people to recite any national anthem, the questioner is just being petulant and just plain stupid, because MOST people don't know the words of their national anthem.
By asking the question only exposes further the lack of contact the questioner has had with the 'real' world and 'real' people, instead of books and publications.
Speaking in terms of 'referencing' and 'links' is not in accord with this forum, which is about opinions.
I take it to mean the commentors opinion.
By referring to others comments and opinions, shows a lack of real knowledge when you cannot come up with your own opinion or personal beliefs or convictions.
So it is that I sit and wonder if the author is actually calling Aussies, SHEEP?

Foxy,
Would I be correct in thinking you're unaware of the story behind Waltzing Matilda?
The swagman was no sheep rustler! Taking a sheep to eat was (though technically illegal) a widely accepted custom - practically all itinerant shearers (aka swagmen) did it. But it's not what the song's really about.

The shearers' strike had dragged on for ages, and finally there was a shootout between the farmers and the shearers. The shootout went on for hours, so the lack of fatalities (or even injuries) suggests everyone was deliberately missing.

But during that time, one of the swagmen set the woolshed alight. The walls had previously absorbed a lot of lanolin so it burned fiercely. However because of the strike, it wasn't full of wool. Indeed it wouldn't have been such a terrible crime if it were.

But the lambs were in the woolshed!!

The man who did it was found dead the next day. The official verdict was suicide, but there was a widespread belief that someone he'd conspired with had killed him to prevent him from dobbing in the others involved.

Banjo wrote Waltzing Matilda, and the shearers went back to work.
And the swagman wasn't originally jolly - that (and the familiar arrangement of the tune) came from a tea commercial a few years later.

Waltzing Matilda could certainly be a serious contender of the national anthem - unlike Click Go The Shears, which is just a relic of a declining industry.

Aiden, thanks for that.
I for one, not ever having been interested in history, did not know the story behind Waltzing Matilda.
At least now the true meaning of the song is known and makes it possible to consider whether or not it would be a contender for the title of 'National Anthem'.
I for one believe in the old saying, 'if it ain't broke, don't touch it'.
Why we are even discussing this 'non-starter' of a topic is beyond understanding.
What is wrong with some people, that they are so incensed by the system or the status quo', that they have to attack anything that is dear and cherished by most people, as if because of their miserable, sad lives, they want to see others as miserable and sad as themselves.
'Others' are quite happy getting on with their lives, such as it is, but realise that the trauma and destabilisation, unless forced upon them like some 'act of God', is something to avoid, at any cost.
As for the 'God save the Queen' option, I thought it arrogant and dis-respectful to the office or station it refers to in changing it.
The ignorance of some having no knowledge of the origins behind the original anthem and their subjective and totally unfounded reasoning,
give rise to stupid and totally mis-giuded opinions and beliefs, such as this topic and it's heading.
It's not the song that sucks, it's anyone who thinks it does, (that sucks), starting with the one who wrote the title for this topic, and finishing with the likes of that abo moron.
Give me objectivity any day compared to subjectivity, the former are a better, more reasonable and balanced lot, unlike the latter who continually demonstrate how mentally un-balanced they are.