Why doesn't England have a National Anthem?

[itwontletmechoose]

It's frustrating to hear them sing the 'God Save the King' British national anthem. Why doesn't England have its own national anthem instead of singing one which covers all of the union (in theory)?

If you don't understand the point I'm making then reread the post where I made my point, don't use my post to illustrate something that misrepresents what I was saying.

As said in my subsequent emails - it was said tongue in cheek. But sorry if it's got you frothing at the mouth. Wasn't my intention....

Could make a comment about more suited for the French National anthem but the Francophiles here froth at the mouth enough already

Your post said the English never tried to suppress the Welsh language, which is factually incorrect, you then resorted to irrelevant whataboutery which I’m ignoring.

Oh I agree with you, but the whole concept of the Garden of Eden only arises if you think staying faithful to a one true omnipotent god is the only way- we’ll that’s the Christian (mis) interpretation anyway😀

They did a pretty good job 1000 years before

It should be either The Beatles Let it be, The Rolling Stones You can't always get what you want or Chas and Dave Mustn't Grumble.
One of those would get my vote.

Not exactly within living memory. The ban on the Welsh language started in 1535, and wasn’t repealed until the Welsh language act of 1967, Welsh wasn’t given equal footing with English until 1993.

None of that is within my living memory either. Except 1993 which is a bit of a none event for most On that basis are you saying give it a couple more decades and it will be fine. Where are you going to draw the arbitrary cut off.

I've been saying this for years! God Save the King is such a derge compared to other nation's anthems.

Seconding all the other Celts saying "it's not my anthem". Honestly, it's nothing to do with me. I don't think I have ever sung it. Not even as a kid, in Cardiff.

What other countries around the world bang on about the monarch and God and being reigned over? They don't. It's supposed to be about your beautiful country, your land, its people, what it means to you, a show of love and unity amongst its citizens, etc etc etc. That's what matters to me in our anthem.

As for Jerusalem, with its Christian symbolism... That might have worked a century ago. But hardly inclusive now.

Nothing like the Principality Stadium on match day, roof closed and the sound of My Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau from the stands. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🌼 🐉

How about ‘There’ll always be an England’?

Well Jerusalem also contains Greek myth symbolism but is largely Neoplatonic- even the Christian symbolism is Blake’s very non- conformist take. It’s important to continue with Christian symbolism imo it makes sense of our society

I always thought land of hope and glory was the English anthem (and it’s a total banger) but then I heard somewhere that it was racist so I’ll get back in my box.

In what way does Christianity make sense of our society? Most other European countries, eg France, keep faith and state very very strictly apart. What percentage lead a life of Christian faith? Tiny.

I don’t think you really understand. Our society has been built on a Christian faith for the past 1500 odd years. Many of our institutions and traditions - the very fabric of our Society is interwoven with Christianity.,

Its immaterial whether people have faith in this context- what is really important is people understand it whether they’re a Christian, atheist, agnostic,Muslim etc

Not sure where you get the idea that patronising a complete stranger with you "don't understand" is ever appropriate, let alone civil conduct. Those finer points of British upbringing obviously passed you by. I "understand" just fine. I just think it's utter twaddle, bears no relevance to a modern nation, and, as I pointed out, is not how other civilised European countries go about this stuff. The concept of separation of faith and state serves those nations just fine. I am sure you think England is superior to those - you have a bit of a Last Night of the Proms about you. But it's not.

You seem to be incredibly angry - why is that? You still don’t appear to be understanding of the point I was making. - whether you consider Christianity to be “utter twaddle” is irrelevant - the fact remains that the current institutions and traditions of the UK were built on the back of Christian thinking, it’s art, philosophy- all are better understood with a good knowledge of Christianity. It’s irrelevant what the current view is regarding separation of church and state in the UK. it’s important to understand the past to understand the present and that involves a good knowledge of the Christian faith.

France has an interesting past, and of course, was the site of a crusade backed by the French elite to annihilate thousands of its own people, and is often quoted as being the place of the first genocide. The French monarchy have a chequered past in this regard. Then we have the appalling French Revolution- one could say French history is littered with genocide allegedly in the name of fairness but often with very secular motives. That might help you understand the current set up in France.

Im not even sure what you mean by “you have a bit of Last Night of the Proms about you” - possibly something you think sounds good and edgy but in a completely empty statement.

And yes, I do love my country. It’s a strange person who doesn’t - it’s a basic reaction of human nature, to want to belong and be protective of your tribe. When one rejects one’s own society/country then it leaves that person as an island and that has disastrous implications for all.

Funny. I thought it was the norm to regard e.g. Sweden, Denmark etc as civilised or at least European.

I agree with you about the sectarianism. Self-determination seems not to apply to NI Unionists, which is probably the reason for their porcupine strategy over the years.

Because it wasn't an English win 😂

It is it 'nah nah nah nah nah nah nah' that bloody football chant!

Doesn't matter, we wouldn't sing it properly. And we're not allowed to be proud of being English anymore anyway.

No one does the National Anthem quite like Italy. They absolutely go for it. It's fantastic.

They do it’s something about telling the Spanish to stick tapas up theirs