[Metrobeans]

B460 - National Anthems Bill, xXedixXx

National Anthems Bill - xXedixXx

Preamble:
The aim of this Bill is to change the National Anthem of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to a song that is more in the spirit of Britain rather than the monarch. As well as giving each constituent country of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland their own legally recognised National Anthems.

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

1. Changes

(1) The National Anthem of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shall be "Rule Britannia".

2. Additions

(1) Northern Ireland shall have it's own National Anthem which will be: "Londonderry Air".
(2) Scotland shall have it's own National Anthem which will be: "Flower of Scotland".
(3) Wales shall have it's own National Anthem which will be: "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau".
(4) England shall have it's own National Anthem which will be: "Jerusalem".
(5) "God Save The Queen" shall become the Royal Anthem of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

3. Commencement, short title and extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the National Anthems Act 2012.
(2) This bill shall extend to the United Kingdom; and
(3) Shall come into force within six months following Royal Assent.

Notes - xXedixXx

Concerning the additional National Anthems these songs are already pretty much the anthems of the respective countries however they don't really have much of a legal standing.

God Save The Queen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBP6YJt2aVs
Rule Britannia - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvOtbSqeejg
Londonderry Air - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGq4kXgeoCg
Flower of Scotland - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ5fLBEpKo8
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kUnCwV3AYE
Jerusalem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0oCmDXrVk

[xXedixXx]

The change from the original Bill is that this version somewhat retains God Save The Queen by making it our Royal Anthem; similar in the way that Canada and Australia have a National Anthem as well as a Royal Anthem.

[PoGo HoPz]

This is such a stupid idea. I don't condone Nationalism on any level and this just takes the biscuit, quite frankly.

[MacDaddi]

If you could just take Rule Brittania out, they it might be an Aye, otherwise no.

[Abiraleft]

So you're just shifting 'God Save the Queen' from National Anthem to Royal Anthem in order to shunt in 'Rule Brittania'? What's the point?

[Moleman1996]

stupid idea. Supposed anthems for England are disjointed and infrequently used, tehy cant even decide on a single one to use when they're not using God Save the Queen, we get Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia etc....

Pointless, no need for it and as was raised in the last thread is "Londonderry Air" not going to cause the sort of controversy your N.Ireland flag bill hopes to avoid?

[toronto353]

No, once again this seems to be a way to placate the republicans who lost the referendum. There's no need for this.

[JPKC]

No. Said why but didn't get a response last reading.

Also, *its not 'it's'.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by PoGo HoPz)
This is such a stupid idea. I don't condone Nationalism on any level and this just takes the biscuit, quite frankly.

This is patriotism not Nationalism.

(Original post by MacCuishy)
If you could just take Rule Brittania out, they it might be an Aye, otherwise no.

In place of what song though?

[Birchington]

I remain committed to my belief that a referendum would be needed to ensure any replacement for our current national anthem is chosen democratically, so I can't yet support this bill.

[Ysolt]

If its not law already why add it? I think everyone should choose for themselves what songs they use in ceremonies and other celebrations... we all have different likes/dislikes!

[PoGo HoPz]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
This is patriotism not Nationalism.

Patriotism and Nationalism are more or less exactly the same thing.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by Birchington)
I remain committed to my belief that a referendum would be needed to ensure any replacement for our current national anthem is chosen democratically, so I can't yet support this bill.

The British parliamentary system is democratic..

(Original post by PoGo HoPz)
Patriotism and Nationalism are more or less exactly the same thing.

Err. Totally wrong. Patriotism is loving your country and being proud of it, Nationalism is loving your country, being proud of it and hating everybody else's country. They are profoundly different things.

[JPKC]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
Err. Totally wrong. Patriotism is loving your country and being proud of it, Nationalism is loving your country, being proud of it and hating everybody else's country. They are profoundly different things.

You chat some serious BS mate. Patriotism is a sentiment, nationalism is when that sentiment becomes politicised, which is what you're doing here. You just go about defining terms according to what suits your specific argument. It's hilarious.

[toronto353]

(Original post by JPKC)
You chat some serious BS mate. Patriotism is a sentiment, nationalism is when that sentiment becomes politicised, which is what you're doing here. You just go about defining terms according to what suits your specific argument. It's hilarious.

It's not often I agree with you, but here I do.

(Original post by xXedixXx)
This is patriotism not Nationalism.

It is nationalism and what is worse it weakens the union, which let's face it isn't all that strong at the moment. This Bill is nationalist all the way. I'm all for being proud of one's country, but this state sponsored nationalism shouldn't go ahead. If the people of these nations want flags and anthems, let them decide them for themselves. Westminster should not dictate to people on this matter, any change must be organic not manufactured.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by toronto353)
It is nationalism and what is worse it weakens the union, which let's face it isn't all that strong at the moment. This Bill is nationalist all the way. I'm all for being proud of one's country, but this state sponsored nationalism shouldn't go ahead. If the people of these nations want flags and anthems, let them decide them for themselves. Westminster should not dictate to people on this matter, any change must be organic not manufactured.

It's not Nationalism because it doesn't go about directly slagging off other countries.

[toronto353]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
It's not Nationalism because it doesn't go about directly slagging off other countries.

Let me define nationalism for you:

nationalism [ˈnæʃənəˌlɪzəm ˈnæʃnə-]
n
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a sentiment based on common cultural characteristics that binds a population and often produces a policy of national independence or separatism
2. loyalty or devotion to one's country; patriotism
3. exaggerated, passionate, or fanatical devotion to a national community

Now how does that not correspond to what you're doing? Peel away the veneer and you see state sponsored nationalism.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by toronto353)
Let me define nationalism for you:



Now how does that not correspond to what you're doing? Peel away the veneer and you see state sponsored nationalism.

It's not fanatical devotion.

[Abiraleft]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
It's not Nationalism because it doesn't go about directly slagging off other countries.

To be honest, it's not particularly diplomatic...


Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!
...
The nations not so blest as thee
Must, in their turn, to tyrants fall,
While thou shalt flourish great and free:
The dread and envy of them all.
...
Still more majestic shalt thou rise,
More dreadful from each foreign stroke,
As the loud blast that tears the skies
Serves but to root thy native oak.


Those are the second and third stanzas (and the first bit of the chorus). Not sure why you'd choose this song, tbh. Did you know it was originally composed as a masque (a bit of court music flattering someone important) about King Alfred and for (or for the political interests of) Prince Frederick in 1740?

[MacDaddi]

Tell that to the "patriotic" americans