National Anthem

[matm]

Hi all.

I think it is about time we started singing the national anthem at all our games.

What do you think?

Let me know.

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free,
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts,
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history's page, let every stage,
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours,
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas,
We've boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine,
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

[London Dave]

I don't

[Pa Marmo]

It would be a powerfully patriotic thing to do and I for one would be all for it. Lets advance Australia fair.

[Go_The_Mighty_Magpies]

I think it has a good feeling to it at finals and on Anzac day but if we were to do it every single week it would take away some of the special atmosphere associated with it on special occasions

[CQ]

"Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts,
Of beauty rich and rare"

i thought that bit went:

"Our home is girt by sea;
na, na, na, na
Of beauty rich and rare"

well at least thats how that bitch sang it on tv the other day!

[Joel]

Nah, while it may be patriotic, people would eventually get sick of it, and it would wear off.

[commonwombat]

NO !!!!

Grand Finals, Anzac Day match OK.

Remember this is Australia, not the US. If we end up like them with their cheap jingoinstic nationalism, then it will be a very grave misfortune.

Flag waving and dirge-like anthems are only symbols, it's what a person REALLY thinks and believes about their country, warts and all, that counts.

Sorry if that offends some peoples sensibilities but I truly DETEST Yankee nationalism (having experienced their nationalism at sporting events and elsewhere) and hope we never go down that path.

[Eunos]

Before every game. The yanks do it before every sporting event. Why not us?

[CQ]

oh americans can carry guns with them, why not us??


same thing, cos we're not fricken america! thank fk!

[Pa Marmo]

Americans are a lot more patriotic than us thats for sure. You wouldnt hear some spaz at an american event yelling out during a minutes silence or not singing the national anthem

[Pa Marmo]

We are our own country..............since when? Never had there been a country trying so hard to be america. I am just saying I admire their patriotism and readiness to stand and fight.

[The Prototype]

Only for important matches, (i.e Anzac Day, Grand final, games like that)

[commonwombat]

I'm with Tess on this one.

Sorry to rain on yr parade, Nuxta but I have plenty of definitive evidence of Americans disrespecting anthems and the like. Certainly not their own but having attended both the 84 and 96 Olympics held in LA and Atlanta respectively, it was sadly the rule rather than exception for the American crowds to disrespect foreign athletes and foreign anthems at medal ceremonies.

Their "patriotism" admirable ??? Each to their own, I personally find much of their demonstable nationalism tiresome at best but it is their right to conduct themselves as they see fit as long as they do not force it upon others.

Sadly, this is not always the case. I have worked in the US at various times and found many individual Americans to be congenial company but there is a large streak on ignorance of people and anything outside the US.

On one occaision, I was at a baseball match in Chicago with a group of about 15 expats (Aussies, Poms and 1 sheepshagger). As is their custom they had their national anthem before the game, and we as well mannered visitors stood as a mark of respect. Immediately afterwards we were verbally abused by a group of rather offensive Americans as to why we were not singing their anthem and their other demonstrations of cheap nationalism.

This was not an isolated occurance as, in different company and at different times, similar instances have occured. By the generally accepted rules of good conduct, we (as foreigners) paid due respect to their flag and their anthem. Pardon me, but since when have foreigners/visitors been obligated to sing foreign anthems, pledge alliegance to nations other than their own ??

My son spent 6 months at school in the US about 4 years ago. It is their custom in most schools to engage in what they call the "Pledge of Alliegance" every morning. My son's refusal to do nearly led to his expulsion due to the ignorance of some teachers and local educational authorities.

It took considerable effort to get it thru to these people that my son was a Sth African citizen (actually he's joint SA/Aus like myself) and not obliged to do so. In fact, he would have technically been engaging in treasonous conduct if he had acceded to their wishes. Like myself, he was willing to stand as a mark of respect whilst they did so, but to some this was not satisfactory.

Some may accuse me of engaing in an anti-American rant but I am merely replying to Nuxta by illustrating there can be an ugly and frankly ignorant face to American patriotism. For myself, I do not want to see this transplanted to Australia where such conduct is frankly alien.

[CQ]

"I am just saying I admire their patriotism and readiness to stand and fight."

ah, hahahaha! yes they love a good fight don't they, especially when they think they're not going to lose


CW, i wouldnt even know the words to the american anthem, what a bunch of tossers if they expect even foreigners to sing it!

[Eunos]