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Question for the British,Europeans and Austrianlians....
- Thread starter jakochampolska
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I really don't understand that tradition. You'll probably have to declare Bush your great and powerful leader, who saved you from yourselves by the time he's outjakochampolska said:
I seem to recall singing the national anthem at high school, probably at assemblies.
I don't think it should be compulsory though. IIRC, our PM was pushing to make it so recently.
Actually, now I found the article, it seems the flag flying is now needed (if you want your school to get any funds), but the anthem is optional: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/22/1087844937754.html
Edit: Gotta love this cartoon:
I don't think it should be compulsory though. IIRC, our PM was pushing to make it so recently.
Actually, now I found the article, it seems the flag flying is now needed (if you want your school to get any funds), but the anthem is optional: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/22/1087844937754.html
Edit: Gotta love this cartoon:
Austria/Europe here.
Absolutely not, never ever, not even once.
I believe that because of the awful Third Reich memories, Central European countries are extremely wary of indoctrinating minors with nationalistic mottos. Independent/critical thinking skills are now promoted even with fairly young children in our schools.
Absolutely not, never ever, not even once.
I believe that because of the awful Third Reich memories, Central European countries are extremely wary of indoctrinating minors with nationalistic mottos. Independent/critical thinking skills are now promoted even with fairly young children in our schools.
Not the national anthem and no pledge of allegiance, but we did have to sing Jerusalem every assembly, which is quite handy when going to Rugby matches. From memory, the words go something like this:-
And did those feet, in ancient times
Walk upon England's mountains greeen
And was the countenance divine
In England's pleasant pastures seen
And did the holy lamb of God
Walk tall upon these verdant hills
And was Jerusalem builded here
Amongst these dark Satanic mills
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my steed, O clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire
I will not rest from ancient fight <-- Mistake here, I think
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
I know the first verse of Land and Hope and Glory, but we never sung that one. We also never celebrated St. George's Day, which is a travesty as far as I'm concerned <grumble grumble grumble>.
And did those feet, in ancient times
Walk upon England's mountains greeen
And was the countenance divine
In England's pleasant pastures seen
And did the holy lamb of God
Walk tall upon these verdant hills
And was Jerusalem builded here
Amongst these dark Satanic mills
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my steed, O clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire
I will not rest from ancient fight <-- Mistake here, I think
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
I know the first verse of Land and Hope and Glory, but we never sung that one. We also never celebrated St. George's Day, which is a travesty as far as I'm concerned <grumble grumble grumble>.
mfacey said:
I thought they 'moved' Queens' Day this year to the 29th (Saturday) as that was the day everyone was off work here in Aruba.
I always smirk when I hear that line 'Ik ben van Duits bloed' in the anthem of the Netherlands.
In the UK, we always had the Lords Prayer in assembly through to high school. My wife tells me that in Australia they had to sing God save the Queen and then moved on to Advance Australia Fair - which I have to say ain't too bad an anthem... At least you're proud of your country.
I got to hear a lot of it during the last 2 Commonwealth Games as we won a lot of medals.
Graeme A said:
Yeah they did actually. If the 30th happens to be a sunday they move it to saturday because otherwise everybody would have too much of a hang-over when they go back to work on monday!
I think the reason for the whole pledging allegiance to the flag thing is to do with the way the country was formed. It must have been extraordinarily difficult - and an incredible achievement - to impose a new constitution with so much competition and conflicting interests between different groups. It must have been so important to more-or-less force loyalty on children growing up in the early days.
Since the UK has had a thousand year evolution of democracy rather than a revolution, it has never been such an issue, IMHO.
Since the UK has had a thousand year evolution of democracy rather than a revolution, it has never been such an issue, IMHO.
When I was very young we had to sing the national anthem and say the Lord's Prayer. That was on the east coast (Nova Scotia), but they've changed the words to the national anthem since and I haven't a clue what they are now. "They" should leave well enough alone...
j26 said:
I told my teacher that in the 4th grade when she noticed I didnt stand up and said the pledge and she gave me a referal for "talking back". She was also one crazy religous fantic.
Airforce said:Well, that's your opinion.
Being an American myself, I don't see it as over patriotic. I love it
Ditto.
Every time I see the red, white, and blue can't help but get a little misty-eyed. 
And here's another from England - er - Great Britain or whatever.
View attachment 47172
Misty-eye making enough?
View attachment 47172
Misty-eye making enough?
Oddly enough I haven't spent my whole life living in one place.UKnjb said:Thanks!