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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to never sing along with God Save the Queen?

293 replies

LovleyRitaMeterMaid · 09/11/2014 12:28

The fact I never sing it comes up now and again and today was one of those times, at our local remembrance day parade. Right at the end the minister said 'and we'll now sing our national anthem'. I can't recall God Save the Queen being part of it,before but regardless I just stand and don't song. I don't make a big thing of it, I just don't sing.

Simiraly the Edinburgh tattoo it was sang, I stood alongside everyone but didn't sing.

I don't make a big fuss and thankfully I'm not at any events where it's sang

Dh says it's rude. I say she's not my queen, I wish her no ill but I will not sing that song.

OP posts:
Bunbaker · 10/11/2014 08:26

mswibble I think that you should either not go to mass or at least stand up and sit down with the rest of the congregation to show respect to them even if you think the entire thing is bunkum.

Did anyone say anything to you afterwards?

BIL is a devout atheist and didn't go to his daughter's christening.
At least he was being honest.

Jengnr · 10/11/2014 08:39

Not really sure how you show respect to former soldiers by singing about saving someone else.

Nor how it is in any way respectful to sing in memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice about a family who only take.

Or to people who died for our freedom a song about being subjects.

fatlazymummy · 10/11/2014 08:41

I always stand/sit down with the rest of the congregation. I just remain silent when they're praying or singing hymns. If it's a funeral I just reflect on my own memories of the person.
It's not like people are texting or taking selfies when these things are happening.That would be disrespectful. Just remaining silent isn't.

Behoove · 10/11/2014 08:50

*Don't know why any of you feel the need to come on a thread and proclaim that you sing it

Just sayin*

Same reason as why those others "feel the need to come on a thread and proclaim" that they dont sing it "sheep"

Just saying

MrsSchadenfreude · 10/11/2014 08:51

I doubt Liz gives a shit what you think anyway. Grin

I had a friend who shared your views on the Monarchy, the whole "institution" thing. He was offered an OBE. He had previously ranted that if he was offered one, he would turn it down, due to his principles. He didn't. We gave him a lot of stick for it. In fact, very, very few people turn down honours, regardless of their views of the system or the Monarchy. I think it is three or four per year.

fatlazymummy · 10/11/2014 08:58

mrsschadenfreude how would you know how many people turn them down? It's not on public record until after they die, and not always then, either.

fatlazymummy · 10/11/2014 09:04

Concerning 'honours refusers' it's more than you may think www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/honours-list/9041875/Revealed-116-people-have-turned-down-an-honour-in-three-years.html

LilAnnieAmphetamine · 10/11/2014 09:36

Has the irony of repeating what somebody else said about sheep passed you by Beehove? Wink

LilAnnieAmphetamine · 10/11/2014 09:37

My Grandfather turned down an honour. We were all very proud of him for what he did to warrant the offer and even prouder that he turned it down.

ImTheOneThatKnocks · 10/11/2014 09:51

I would turn down an honour. It would be too hypocritical of me to accept one.

I suppose I don't mind that they exist though as they reward some very deserving people and some less so

Behoove · 10/11/2014 09:55

Not at all lilannie but thanks for asking Wink

Behoove · 10/11/2014 09:56

Oops pressed go too soon...

Just wanted to reflect your concisely expressed thoughts (baaaaa)

fatlazymummy · 10/11/2014 09:56

I would turn one down too. They're just meaningless to me.
Happy for other people to accept them though Smile.

ImTheOneThatKnocks · 10/11/2014 09:57

While we are at it Wink I've no time for hereditary titles either - is it really acceptable to call someone Lord or Lady (or whatever) just for who they are.
It's pompous and outdated.

chemenger · 10/11/2014 10:09

Land of Hope and Glory, which seems popular, is a bit too aggressive, isn't it - "Wider still and Wider, shall thy bounds be set, God who made the mighty make the mightier yet", if I recall correctly - I think our days of pushing back the boundaries of empire are rightly gone, and those who don't like the God part of God save the Queen are no better off. Were the words of Land of Hope and Glory not written for a coronation? I only know the chorus but I wonder if the verses might be quite pro-monarch?

TooManyCuddlies · 10/11/2014 10:18

I think it's fine not to join in.

I always join in - if I'm at a sports match or something I'll happily join in with whichever country's national anthem is being sung, if I know the words. I'm just joining in with the group, not trying to make a political statement.

I wouldn't think anything of it if the person next to me was or wasn't singing. As long as they weren't giving me disapproving looks or anything.

(Incidentally, if I was at a church service and someone wasn't joining in at all, I'd actually assume they were very very devout Grin)

BadLad · 10/11/2014 11:55

BadLad my point wasn't absolute bollocks. My point was regarding the statement that if you accept the democratically elected government then you must also accept that the queen is your queen. So what I was asking was if you don't accept the democratically elected government as being your government, does it then follow that tells queen is not actually your queen?

The bit about West Belfast had one of these wink afterwards to indicate that I was making a joke. The reason I made the joke was just to emphasise how strongly some people might feel about it all. That's all. It certainly wasn't bollocks

Right. I thought you genuinely were implying that the fact that they were likely to react violently meant that they had a point. But nobody would mean that.

I wonder what those MPs think they are achieving.

I suppose my answer to the question would be that it depends on to what extent you take your non-acceptance. If you go to the length of renouncing your UK citizenship and becoming a citizen of another country, then the government of the UK is no longer your government, and the queen is indeed no longer your queen. I wouldn't say that not taking your seat in Parliament is sufficient. But that's just my opinion. I don't know to whom you were posing your question but are you expecting a reply backed up by facts?

I would have been quite happy if the entire Royal Family had been in the car with Diana on that night in August 97, but as they weren't, I just sigh and accept that she's my queen, not just the queen.

mswibble · 10/11/2014 12:42

bunbaker I doubt that anyone noticed me at the back if the church. Id say the 10yr olds in front of me crawling around on the floor and loudly arguing over a Wheres Wally book were more distracting.
No-one has said anything about my non participation in the 5yrs I have attended my FILs anniversary mass, think the fact I bother to travel over there means more to them.

treaclesoda · 10/11/2014 13:08

Ah BadLad I'm glad we each understand what the other meant now Smile

I am totally in agreement with you actually, I also feel that the fact that some people are willing to resort to violence over something does not mean that the point they are making is more valid because of it.

I'm also personally of the 'well, I don't much care for the royal family but they're there and I don't have a choice about it' school of thought, which sounds pretty much like what you are saying too.

MrsSchadenfreude · 10/11/2014 22:32

Fatlazymummy - OK, it has gone up a bit since my day, but that's still pretty low. Perhaps the Torygraph should ask how many people self nominate for an honour... that would be an interesting one.

GingerCuddleMonster · 10/11/2014 22:42

I don't even know the words so can't Hmm

Maybe one day I'll set some time aside to learn it but I highly doubt it Grin

OOAOML · 10/11/2014 23:39

It was printed in the service booklet on Sunday, i imagine lots of people need a prompt once you get past the first couple of lines.

Bilberry · 11/11/2014 00:10

The rebellious scots verse was only ever a temporary addition and the crushing was only for rebellious scots not all of them.

Salmond was all for keeping the Queen in the event of independence. Unfortunately for him even in Glasgow barely 40% of people voted yes. (Ducks and runs)

JackSkellington · 11/11/2014 11:33

in Glasgow barely 40% of people voted yes

53.49% said Yes, out of the 75% who voted (unless you mean 40% of the electorate including those who spoiled their ballot paper/didn't vote).

In answer to the OP no, YANBU. I wouldn't sing it either. Why do people think saying so is showing off/trying to be a rebel? Hmm We're all just answering the OP.

textingdisaster · 11/11/2014 12:01

Have not read whole thread but can't get past the concept of people "having a queen (or king)" Hmm. Completely meaningless IMO.

Why people who have inherited their position of power rather than earned it should be bowed and scraped to is beyond me.

YANBU OP.