How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?I'm not, and nor would I suggest that anyone should go live in a war zone. The argument that one shouldn't be patriotic because it offends foreigners is as emotive and illogical as the argument that one should be patriotic because of the safe haven Britain provides (in a British patriot example).(Original post by cgraham15)
FFS shut up. I said that the concept of not being able to be proud of your nation is bad, not world peace, so make sure you actually read my comments
Furthermore, my Great Grandad fought in the D-Day Landings, my Grandfather was evacuated to the country, and my Great Uncle was in a concentration camp. So no, I would not like a 3rd world war. Ideot.
I'm proud of Britain because it has allowed me to grow up in a priviledged enviroment and, without this country, I may not have been this lucky.
So please, shut the **** up and learn to read posts I can tell "you're the kind of person" who bends over backwards to make their own countrymen feel bad just to make foreigners (who aren't even offended by us being proud of the UK) feel "less offended".
Peace out man
Edit: I'm all for you to go abroad living in a war zone. It'll make you more appreciative of your own country.
Let me ask you this: why is it that you're not proud of Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland or France? As far as I'm aware those are also all developed Western countries (if you want Eastern examples, Japan and South Korea would appear to be nice ones) which are safe and nice to live in, yet you don't appear to be proud of any of them? Without them, you might not have been as lucky either- if Britain were the only democratic, freedom-loving country in the world, we'd be pretty ****ed as we'd be all on our own against a mass of authoritarian states who, producing the kinds of armies North Korea and China have now (and that the USSR and Nazi Germany had when they were dictatorships), would crush us pretty damn quick. Yet still, you choose to be patriotic in favour of one small island which, whilst it achieved huge amounts on its own in the past and still achieves a lot today, owes a great deal to other countries with very similar structures. -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?I think the national anthem should go:
Unity and right and freedom
For the British fatherland
Then let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand
Unity and right and freedom
Are the pledge of happiness
Flourish all in this fortune
Flourish British fatherland -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMZfXN1UOpw(Original post by Triq6)
Are national anthems suppose to be nice? I thought they're boring everywhere. -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?You bet me to it. Far and away the best national anthem I've heard. Here's a better link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yDrtNEr_5M
If ours were half as awe-inspiring maybe we wouldn't be so pessimistic as a nation. -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?I don't mind our national anthem. Its a lot better than others are trust me!
I'd love if "I vow to thee my country" was our national anthem though. It always makes you feel so patriotic!
I also don't mind "Jerusalem." -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?Never once said I was not proud of other countries. I respect other countries for their success, and feel that we should help those who are not as successful as us. But that does not mean I can't be proud of my own country. I am British, born here, raised here, and I love this country and, quite frankly, would do anything to protect it from any threat. I respect all other countries and are proud of them (that's why I like to go abroad, because it seems nice). However, I like my own country and am proud to be British(Original post by Bobo1234)
I'm not, and nor would I suggest that anyone should go live in a war zone. The argument that one shouldn't be patriotic because it offends foreigners is as emotive and illogical as the argument that one should be patriotic because of the safe haven Britain provides (in a British patriot example).
Let me ask you this: why is it that you're not proud of Germany, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland or France? As far as I'm aware those are also all developed Western countries (if you want Eastern examples, Japan and South Korea would appear to be nice ones) which are safe and nice to live in, yet you don't appear to be proud of any of them? Without them, you might not have been as lucky either- if Britain were the only democratic, freedom-loving country in the world, we'd be pretty ****ed as we'd be all on our own against a mass of authoritarian states who, producing the kinds of armies North Korea and China have now (and that the USSR and Nazi Germany had when they were dictatorships), would crush us pretty damn quick. Yet still, you choose to be patriotic in favour of one small island which, whilst it achieved huge amounts on its own in the past and still achieves a lot today, owes a great deal to other countries with very similar structures. end of
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?A national anthem should be rousing, it should make you want to stand up and puff your chest out. The French national anthem is the best, imho:
It makes you want to storm the barricades, occupy the Bastille, and guillotine some aristocrats. By contrast, God Save the Queen just make you want to sit down and have a nice cup of PG tips whilst watching Flog It!.
Which, I suppose, is kind of appropriate really, in a way. -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought Parliament had the power to take away any of the Queen's powers? That's the problem with British democracy, there is no check on Parliament's powers.(Original post by najinaji)
Were we ever to fall into the hands of an oppressive dictatorship, supported by the Commons and the Lords, she is the only one who could save us all from that, and I'll sing 'God save the Queen' because of that.
EDIT: To the neggers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_P...United_Kingdom
"Although the Royal Prerogative is extensive and parliamentary approval is not formally required for its exercise, it is limited. Many Crown prerogatives have fallen out of use or have been permanently transferred to Parliament. For example, the monarch cannot impose and collect new taxes; such an action requires the authorisation of an Act of Parliament. According to a parliamentary report, "The Crown cannot invent new prerogative powers", and Parliament can override any prerogative power by passing legislation"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch...United_Kingdom -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?Well for one, the Prime Minister is using the monarch's prerogative powers for her, and so they are allowed to be overruled. And also, the whole idea that the monarch cannot use their powers is simply something accepted by convention. Legally speaking, the monarch has (as far as I'm aware) the full right to use their powers in the event of a totalitarian government, which would mean retaking control of the army and removing any legislative powers in the first instance.(Original post by Sabertooth)
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I thought Parliament had the power to take away any of the Queen's powers? That's the problem with British democracy, there is no check on Parliament's powers.
"Although the Royal Prerogative is extensive and parliamentary approval is not formally required for its exercise, it is limited. Many Crown prerogatives have fallen out of use or have been permanently transferred to Parliament. For example, the monarch cannot impose and collect new taxes; such an action requires the authorisation of an Act of Parliament. According to a parliamentary report, "The Crown cannot invent new prerogative powers", and Parliament can override any prerogative power by passing legislation"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch...United_Kingdom -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN9EC3Gy6Nk
I disagree OP...Last edited by Ocassus; 23-05-2012 at 15:46. -
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Re: How can we be patriotic with such a crap national anthem?Why the need to be patriotic in the first place? Tbh I don't even know all the words to God save the Queen; and actually, I don't think I have ever had to sing it in my life, or hear someone else singing it other than on tv. Replacing it with something else won't make me any more patriotic, if I'm honest.
