Why don’t they change the British National anthem?

Keep the National Anthem for UK events but give us English our own it's about time we had one.

Hmm, well I suppose they go to church Nanniejude.

And do those who want to change the National Anthem represents a majority of the British people? Without the agreement of the majority of the British people, it would hardly be democratic, would it?

When Scotland becomes independent they can ditch whatever they like. I think Independence for Scotland is a good idea. So it would solve the problem for the Scots. I am not at all upset that each country in the United Kingdom wants its own National Anthem but I doubt whether England would want to change it at present whilst Her Majesty is alive. People of my generation were generally proud to bellow out God Save The Queen, but times change and being so old I hope I have shuffled off this mortal coil when they change it.

How about a penny for every time the Queen has had to listen to it??? For charity of course!

I love the traditional national anthem, one day it will be changed to “God save our Gracious King”.
I’m not religious but the royal family are, if you don’t like it don’t sing!

Poor old England, who seems to be given a bad press by the Scots

Oh, please stop feeling so sorry for yourself and thinking you're getting picked on. The Scots joined in enthusiastically with the Empire building, both militarily and commercially. British Empire, remember? Not English.

Nobody is talking about erasing history. Just being aware what actually happened, not the myths.

@Anniebach, and God save the Queen IS acceptable to atheists?

Practically every European country invaded others in times gone by. Poor old England, who seems to be given a bad press by the Scots (and I do have Scottish Ancestry) and Welsh on this site, has been invaded countless times - Romans, Danes, Vikings - French of course - the Spanish had a go which didn’t work out. In history it was commonplace - some were more successful than others. It was history - it shouldn’t be erased but neither should it be judged by what we do or think today.

Are you seriously trying to say we did all these countries a favour by invading them and making them part of the Empire and it was for their own good?

Or that its OK that we did it because someone else did too?

Nothing might alter it but there will be criticism, oh yes.

No need to change the UK National Anthem, but England really do need our own anthem for when we are competing as an individual country - I fancy Jerusalem myself but I'm sure that wouldn't be to everyone's taste.

volver

Coco51

To anybody who watched the parade of competitors in the Commonwealth Games and all those people who are proud of having the Queen as head of the Commonwealth, the idea of removing her from our national anthem is abhorrent

Are we meant to be proud of having a country that invaded lots of other people's countries?

We weren’t the only nation or first to do so by any means Romans, Vikings, Belgians, French, Dutch etc etc and effects were not always and exclusively negative. Many legal and political systems have are based on our model. My father served in India and Burma (as was) during the war and the army engineered clean water access to many remote places where there was none previously. I wonder how many descendants of slaves having modern lives in former colonial countries would rather be in the war-torn and drought ridden countries in Africa where suffering in healthcare, education and welfare issues are ignored by corrupt governments? Another thought:if we were such terrible colonialists why do thousands of people risk their lives to get here? I’m not saying that it was right, but it happened and no critiscm will alter that.

CathSoc62

Yes, my dad always used to say of Land of Hope and Glory that England has NEVER been free - we enslaved the colonies, the Scots and the Irish. SO , I propose we have a new national anthem but it’s ‘ Jerusalem ‘ based on William Blake’s poem - ‘ And did those feet in ancient time walk upon England’s mountains green ? etc etc then ‘ I will not cease from mental fight nor shall my sword sleep in my hand , til we have built Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land ‘.

Nobody enslaved us. Ever. Certainly not the English.

Best go back to the history books and get your facts right.

( signed ) A Scot.

Are we meant to be proud of having a country that invaded lots of other people's countries?
Not if we were involved in that, but if we weren’t, why not? Would you condemn your whole family to never being proud of themselves if somewhere in your past you had a thief or some other criminal or wrongdoer?

Land of Hope & Glory? Make us mightier yet? No way.

Jerusalem now.....

Harv1

For goodness sake will people just leave OUR HISTORY ALONE!. Why is it we have to be left with nothing . No other Country changes there History to suit , we won’t have anything left at this rate .. ?…

Harv1 Well said!

Yes, my dad always used to say of Land of Hope and Glory that England has NEVER been free - we enslaved the colonies, the Scots and the Irish. SO , I propose we have a new national anthem but it’s ‘ Jerusalem ‘ based on William Blake’s poem - ‘ And did those feet in ancient time walk upon England’s mountains green ? etc etc then ‘ I will not cease from mental fight nor shall my sword sleep in my hand , til we have built Jerusalem in England’s green and pleasant land ‘.

I haven’t lived in the UK for over 30 years and I love to hear the National Anthem when watching any sporting events etc. We still stand up when it plays! I have dual citizenship living in the USA, so stand for both anthems. Love it. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it……..

Shawlands2000

I think this should be Scotland's national anthem. Brings a tear to my eye.
youtu.be/DRYzoHnbi70

Somehow I knew what this would be before I opened it!

Please, not this. It doesn't mean anything. I'd rather have "A Wee Deoch an Doris" !!! At least that was written by a Scotsman.

volver

^all 4 regions of it^

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not "regions", they are countries.

I never sing the National Anthem any more. Haven't done for ages.

You beat me to it there, volver - regions, indeed!

I think this should be Scotland's national anthem. Brings a tear to my eye.
youtu.be/DRYzoHnbi70

For goodness sake will people just leave OUR HISTORY ALONE!. Why is it we have to be left with nothing . No other Country changes there History to suit , we won’t have anything left at this rate .. ?…

Maybe have 'oh I do like to be beside the seaside!' or 'bring me sunshine!' or the wonderful ' We are the champions!' courtesy of Queen!

all 4 regions of it

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not "regions", they are countries.

I never sing the National Anthem any more. Haven't done for ages.

Like it or not the wording of the national anthem reflect the fact that we are a monarchy.

Grantanow

Land of Hope and Glory is a Tory anthem and is racist and colonialist. There are more important things to worry about than re-writing God Save the Queen though it offends religious and non-monarchist sensibilities. Gas prices, for example.

Not the subject under discussion here though is it?
Ignoring stuff doesn't make it go away