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A move to ban Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. What are your thoughts rugby fans?

(32 Posts)
merlotgran Sat 20-Jun-20 21:01:16

The RFU is to review the song with a possible move to ban it from rugby matches.

Personally, I love to hear it being belted out along with other rugby anthems. Only two lines are sung and repeated as rousing support.

I'm beginning to think things are getting a bit silly and misguided.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Sat 20-Jun-20 21:04:37

I don't know what to think really. Apparently Martin Offiah has said that he sees no need to ban it, but perhaps just be aware of its origins.

25Avalon Sat 20-Jun-20 21:05:26

Couldn’t agree more. It was written by a black slave and I think it is a beautiful song. I really don’t understand why it should be banned especially when it was sung to praise the black rugby player whose nickname was chariots of fire.

Kandinsky Sat 20-Jun-20 21:09:13

They’ll be nothing left to ban soon.

merlotgran Sat 20-Jun-20 21:09:46

That's what I mean about misguided, 25Avalon. Hitler and the Nazis were allegedly the last people to ban it. hmm

MawB Sat 20-Jun-20 21:15:49

Why should singing it indicate any lack of respect?
It is a beautiful piece of music and, being written by a freed slave Wallace Willis, of the Native American Choctaw tribe from southeastern Oklahoma, surely commemorates the abolition of slavery. I think it is wrong to try to erase even the shameful aspects of history. We need to recognise , try to understand and learn from the past.
We’ll be banning “Amazing Grace“ next.

25Avalon Sat 20-Jun-20 21:17:10

I didn’t know that merlotgran. I do know Hitler hated Jesse Owens the black athlete who beat everyone at the 1936 olympics.

merlotgran Sat 20-Jun-20 21:22:31

I would imagine Hitler banned all Negro spirituals, not just that one, 25Avalon.

merlotgran Sat 20-Jun-20 21:23:58

TBH I can't see them being able to ban it. How on earth will they stop half a stadium from singing it to rouse their side?

Anniebach Sat 20-Jun-20 21:26:47

If they tried to ban it, be interesting to see half the stadium
arrested. And it would certainly cause much anger

grannyrebel7 Sat 20-Jun-20 21:26:58

World gone mad!

GrannyGravy13 Sat 20-Jun-20 21:48:46

Amazing Grace was written by a clergyman who was previously a Slave Trader, this was played at all four of George Floyd’s funeral/remembrance services.

I fear if these bans continue they will set back race relations many years.

lemongrove Sat 20-Jun-20 23:09:44

I think some people are aware of the origins and some not,
It doesn’t matter, it’s a lovely hymn and deserves to be sung.
There is a present craze for banning things.

Pantglas2 Sun 21-Jun-20 09:20:13

I heard this on the radio as I was driving through Conwy and wondered when the call would come for the castle, built by the English to subjugate the Welsh, to be pulled down! It’s a reminder of the oppression of a nation so surely it needs to go?

Where will this end if taken to the nth degree?

Callistemon Sun 21-Jun-20 09:30:32

That should keep them busy, Pantglas, there are hundreds of castles in Wales.
What about the Roman forts too?

Unfortunately, people who want such things banned as the singing of songs like this do not seem to realise that they are aligning themselves with Hitler and other oppressors.

Anniebach Sun 21-Jun-20 09:44:00

Pantglas and the reservoirs , 1965 Capel Celyn,

Teetime Sun 21-Jun-20 10:42:29

DH is incensed about the attempt to ban this lovely hymn which is sung to support the England team.

Chewbacca Sun 21-Jun-20 10:49:00

Archaeologists, activists alarmed by online calls to demolish Pyramids

After bringing down statues, symbolic of racism and oppression in the US and the UK during the Black Lives Matter protests, some social media activists started calling for the demolition of the Pyramids, basing their argument on the contested notion that they were built by slaves.

al-monitor.com

henetha Sun 21-Jun-20 10:52:28

Good grief, this is getting just plain silly.

eazybee Sun 21-Jun-20 11:57:23

Just more stupidity.

EllanVannin Sun 21-Jun-20 11:58:58

Okay, so very many are trying their best to be tolerant during this BLM situation but--------"their" ( blacks ) intolerance towards others with different views is becoming far worse, to the point that people will no longer support their REAL cause.

EllanVannin Sun 21-Jun-20 12:01:40

I'm afraid they're now shooting themselves in the foot.
What is it they are wanting, Black Rule ?

EllanVannin Sun 21-Jun-20 12:02:51

As the old saying goes, give them an inch---------

EMMF1948 Sun 21-Jun-20 12:04:10

And who is going to tell a packed Twickenham what they can/cannot sing?? Good luck with that one.

"their" ( blacks ) intolerance towards others with different views is becoming far worse, to the point that people will no longer support their REAL cause.

This is exactly what will happen, I deplore the police violence in the US but as black friends have said, This violence isn't helping anyone's cause.
If more people of any hue had lived in different places they would recognise that our imperfect green and pleasant land is very tolerant.

Grannybags Sun 21-Jun-20 12:04:44

Do we knock down the Pyramids because they were built by slaves...?