Is this a joke, or something?

Actually I was thinking about the US. They don't sing the national anthem or any other song, but they do say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I don't think we've got one of them, do we?

Anyway, its not compulsory.

Can we get the kids to sing Bonnie Bunch o' Roses? It includes the line England, Ireland, Scotland, their unity will ne'er be broke (Sorry Wales). And it has the advantage of being anti-French! (yes, that's sarcasm)

Kalu

No misunderstanding! Yes, of course GB is a geographical definition of one British island, however, the collective definition within this island is made up of 3 nations, not one. Ergo, my suggesting UK would encompass NI as more appropriate, to include all four nations.

Happy to help with the FNOUK. ?

I'm sorry Kalu. We were agreeing but (I say while being pedantic myself) the point I was trying to clarify, which agrees with yours, is that the UK is the only political union. Ergo the far right (and even the right) have once more made clear its intentions towards NI. Whew

PippaZ

I shall remember not to read the posts when people answer someone else. They are not meant as part of the ongoing conversation. I did not understand that to be the case but you have now enlightened me.

?
Happy to oblige!

I’ve read the whole thread lemongrove, and the news coverage, I’m not a poster who jumps in without the full picture. It’s more shocking than I thought if as you suggest the children were given One Britain, One Nation as the title to work to - surely not?
As Calistemon also suggested, it’s highly unlikely any children in Wales will bother, they will be singing Calon Lan on Friday instead, supporting our nation in the football, even though we are so insignificant that Boris forgot to wish us good luck in the Euros when he did so to England and Scotland.

even though we are so insignificant that Boris forgot to wish us good luck in the Euros when he did so to England and Scotland.

Really?
So glad I missed him when he did his elbow bumping at the vaccination centre.

Always forgotten but at least we have the best National Anthem, the best singers, the best flag and ? the best team.

lemongrove

PippaZ

lemongrove

I have no problem with any government encouraging a song with a lovely message and written by schoolchildren to be sung on a sort of festival day once a year.

But you wouldn't, would you Lemongrove.

No I wouldn’t, and I dare say, neither would millions of others either.

If you watch the youtube "Tomorrow belongs to me" you will see that only one person doesn't stand up and join in. The others turned out not to be on the side of the angels if I remember rightly. This should remind us all that large numbers and even majorities are not always right.

PippaZ Thank you. Clarification understood. Phew. ?.

I will be giving this song…..nil points. ?

If everything that this populist nationalist government does is looked at in isolation, you may argue that it’s ok, but you have to look at everything they are doing in the round. That is when it begins to become clear of the dogma and ideology underlying it all.

Kalu

I will be giving this song…..nil points. ?

Why? Just because Wales is devolved administration, they are still part of the whole.Is it anti English sentiment perhaps?

Callistemon ‘best national anthem, best singers, best flag and best team’ (Wales) ...that’s a matter of opinion.

It’s rather sad that those from Wales and Scotland feel they can’t have an all encompassing song for our nations on this day, shows how divisive even the older generation are.
It was a mistake not to check the school dates for Scottish terms, but this is a new special day, so no doubt it would be sorted better for next year.
Hope St John’s Primary teachers in Bradford aren’t reading this thread.

Yes Callistemon he really forgot Wales.
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnson-wished-england-scotland-20775693
You said it yourself lemongrove - our nations, not our one nation. I’m not opposed to the United Kingdom, I am opposed to a suggestion that we are one nation, because we aren’t. It’s not age related at all, if you’re Welsh, you’re Welsh.

...and if you’re English you’re English, but so what? I’m happy to have a song that’s for all of us.
One Nation simply sounds better...it’s a song.

It was a mistake not to check the school dates for Scottish terms, but this is a new special day, so no doubt it would be sorted better for next year.

Its been going since 2018. They haven't managed to get it right for 4 years. We must really matter to them. Mind you, I don't believe they have had a song before.

It was a mistake not to check the school dates for Scottish terms, but this is a new special day, so no doubt it would be sorted better for next year.

Quite frankly, it's a 'special day' we can well do without. We won't achieve national unity by indoctrinating school children... If society doesn't change much in the next few years they will grow up and see what a sham it is.

These Special Days are usually started by card companies so that they can flog everyone more cards and useless tat.

Cynical? Moi?

Yes Callistemon he really forgot Wales.
Perhaps he couldn't pronounce Azerbijan, Casdon

Callistemon ‘best national anthem, best singers, best flag and best team’ (Wales) ...that’s a matter of opinion.

?

I blame Joanna Lumley.

It sounds like one of the ghastly forgettable songs which are composed specially for primary schools (which, of course, it is).

It's a cheap and meaningless stunt. Anybody with any sense would know that we're not a united country (even people within each of the constituent countries aren't united) and the alleged national values aren't being valued much by those in charge. I would prefer to see a bit of walking the talk (or song).

Okay, so, there’s a desire to have a song sung in schools that promotes “shared values of kindness, tolerance, pride and respect”. Super. Those are great values.

I have solved the problem. There already exists the song One Vision by Queen. A song expressing those values, based on a speech by Martin Luther King, sung by an LGBTQ icon, who was himself an immigrant to the UK.

Also, unlike this questionable work, One Vision is an absolute belter, a rock classic, and the youngsters all love Queen just as much as I did when I was also a youngster. I’m quite certain the remaining members of Queen would be more than happy to allow the song to be used to promote these values during Pride month.

It’s rather sad that those from Wales and Scotland feel they can’t have an all encompassing song for our nations on this day, shows how divisive even the older generation are.

It is rather sad that someone thinks only those from Wales and Scotland are not happy with this song. Other posts are available.
Did anyone celebrate this day last year or the year before? Or, like me, have you just heard of it? This year’s initiative falls a tad short of being all encompassing does it not but if that is of no consequence to some, then so be it. I reserve the right to be unhappy that my grandchild and all her school friends are not included.

I have solved the problem. There already exists the song One Vision by Queen. A song expressing those values, based on a speech by Martin Luther King, sung by an LGBTQ icon, who was himself an immigrant to the UK.

muffinthemoo ??

I'm English. I hate this song. I hate children being used for political ends. I hate indoctrination of any kind. This has nothing to do with unity. The chorus will become a far right anthem. The Scottish will understandably feel left out again although this time they may be pleased that their children missed out on this opportunity to be indoctrinated. The Northern Irish appear not to exist. Wales is a country that was invaded and occupied by the English who subsequently tried to wipe out it's culture and language. Certainly not something to rejoice in.

As for the OBON mission statement "...OBON aims to give a new impetus for the creation of a harmonised society, to make Britain an international model of moral rectitude."

Who decides which "model of moral rectitude" we promote?

Does anyone know of any school that is actually going to do this? I've asked several parents today including my own AC (teachers) and they have all laughed especially, I might add, when they heard Ester Mcvey was involved.

I asked my GD if she was doing anything special or different on Friday and she said "Yes we're making papier mache dinosaur eggs"
Sounds like fun to me

Mr Singh was interviewed on radio 4 at teatime, he was bemused and bewildered by all the hate on twitter and said that he had come to this country with nothing and made a success of his life, becoming a policeman ( and eventually an Inspector) and thought he could give something back because this is a wonderful country.He also said the primary school children in Bradford, who are from all ethnic groups had a great time writing the song.
That being the case, don’t some people feel ashamed to be sending such awful messages to these children, who have worked on the song excitedly? I really fear that they don’t though.