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The National Anthem

(162 Posts)
Eloethan Wed 16-Sept-15 00:32:51

It seems to me that if we call ourselves a democracy then anybody should be perfectly at liberty not to have to sing the national anthem. It is, in my opinion, a horrible dirge of a song anyway with ridiculous words that concentrate wholly on the monarch rather than on the country and its people.

There has been almost universal condemnation of Jeremy Corbyn for not singing words with which he does not agree. No doubt, if he had sung the national anthem there would have been a lot of sneering remarks about him being a hypocrite. Some people snigger at other countries for treating their leaders as if they were divine beings and yet it seems to me that many people in this country have a similarly strange attitude towards the monarch who is, after all, just another human being.

rosequartz Thu 17-Sept-15 18:09:58

annsixty
grin

durhamjen Thu 17-Sept-15 20:10:48

theconversation.com/why-corbyns-silent-stand-through-the-anthem-is-a-matter-of-national-importance-47666

A very interesting article about national anthems.

durhamjen Fri 18-Sept-15 10:34:39

How respectful of the queen were the photographers being?

Anniebach Fri 18-Sept-15 10:43:26

All this fuss because he didn't sing the NA and by a press which just about crucified her twenty years ago.

soontobe Sat 19-Sept-15 09:07:03

Good link.

JC doesnt just want to do it differently though. He wants to dismantle things.

I think that photograph will be used time and time again. It is symbolic. And telling.

Anniebach Sat 19-Sept-15 09:34:52

Some things need dismantling or changing , a country where the gap between rich and poor is rapidly widening is a good country soon?

POGS Sat 19-Sept-15 10:46:44

Well I guess if he does sing in future he will shut the 'lot' of us up but the question then will be :-

A). Is he a hypocrite because he has let down his fervent admirers who like Corbyn believe in ridding the UK of the monarchy and would 'never' sing the National Anthem themselves.

B). Is he a hypocrite because he is singing but everybody knows he wants to abolish the monarchy and once stood silent as a mark of principle.

My guess is he would be never be criticised by those fervent admirers as he cannot put a foot wrong.

My guess is he will be criticised by those who do not agree with him because they too do not believe he can do anything right.

Conclusion, he should stay true to himself or loose respect by both sides of the argument and let people decide at the ballot box whether he is respected by them or not .

He has been hailed as a man who will 'stand by his principles ' , a 'conviction politician' but I think he will find being 'a rebel' on the back benches for 30 years is different to just 2 weeks on the front benches. Time will tell.

Anniebach Sat 19-Sept-15 11:29:36

I think he accepts there are things which he may not be comfortable with, is this any different to the rest if us? He doesn't believe in a hereditary monarchy but I am sure the man has the common sense to know he cannot overthrow it. I don't think singing the Anthem will trouble those who want to see a fairer society , a lessening of the rich poor divide . Having to go to a food bank, forced to work on a zero hours contract is of more concern than singing that ghastly anthem . He will never please Middle England , it's a Tory strong hold, it's affluent . He has been leader for one week , he is not going to be another Blair or Cameron - thank God.

I am not a royalist ,I do not sing the Anthem, if singing it means he can concentrate on what is important to people then I do not see this as a betrayal of those who voted for him. How many voted for him because of his views on the monarchy ? very few, they are not important to the younger generation , few youngsters went into ecstasy at the birth of the new windsor, they are irelevent to many

POGS Sat 19-Sept-15 11:37:53

You make my point nicely Anniebach.

rosesarered Sat 19-Sept-15 20:36:00

grin

Alea Sat 19-Sept-15 20:59:41

Plenty of enthusiastic anthem singing at the World Cup. But while the "world" is " in union," it is not always " in unison" rugbygrin