Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Other subjects

National Anthem - anyone know the words???

112 replies

cherry · 29/05/2002 16:42

This may be hard to believe for some of you, but I have no clue to the words of the National Anthem. I have been asked by dd's nursery teacher to help her learn the first verse by Friday, so if anyone can help me out here that'd be great!

OP posts:
Gracie · 14/06/2002 09:56

But even if he is a quasi-sovereign (which I'd be surprised that the Nationalists would want to encourage), why dhould he be held responsible for the state of the economy any more than the Queen is for the Britisn economy? Isn't that why we elect governments?. I also think that quoting rulings from 150 years ago isn't especially relevant. Anyway, interesting debate.

Marina · 14/06/2002 09:57

Sml, how could I forget it, as I used to live a mere quarter of a mile from where Wat Tyler was so disgracefully betrayed! And we still have Eltham Palace in SE9 to remind us of the excesses of bad King John. My old copy of 1066 And All That recently came to light again so I will check up on the iniquities of our ancestors.
Croppy, as far as I remember, weren't most of the Normans who were given land here (William FitzWarren etc) already members of the ruling classes in Normandy? A lot of Saxon-owned estates were just handed over to William of Normandy's legitimate brothers and cousins, I think. As ever, I don't think any of the foot-soldiers who did all the hard work at Hastings were given property as a reward.

bells2 · 14/06/2002 09:59

Following that logic, shouldn't we all applaud the Duke of Westminster because all his tenants are jolly rich!

Croppy · 14/06/2002 10:08

Of course you are right Marina. I was just trying to make the point that it is impossible to draw a line in England's history as regards property appropriation. I am so annoyed with myself for bothering with any of this that I going to ban myself from the site for a week!.

Marina · 14/06/2002 11:37

Ah Croppy, you are right. But don't ban yourself - us non-Big Brother watchers have to have a non-parental issues outlet somewhere on here, don't you think!

bloss · 14/06/2002 11:38

Message withdrawn

sml · 14/06/2002 13:51

bloss, can I just point out that I've never suggested re-allocating land along racial lines? That would clearly not be a particularly constructive approach in this case.

Gracie, what became clear from my researches was that Cornwall isn't England. Why should its head of state carry out the same role, especially as it doesn't have the same infrastructure of government, ie there is no regional assembly with tax raising powers. As the Prince of Wales is presumably going to be king of the UK one day, he is unlikely to want to take on much of a public role. But make no mistake about it, if he wanted, say, a university in Cornwall, he is in a uniquely powerful and influential position to ensure that there would be one, without ever getting publically involved, which is why I find it hard to believe that he is especially bothered about the issue.

Croppy,
don't stay away too long, or I shall have to start a foxhunting discussion to tempt you back! Actually, IMO, thinking about constitutional issues is worthwhile. It touches all our lives, because it affects how we see ourselves in relation to our fellow subjects. It is relevant to questions like, Why do we obey laws? What do we expect from our leaders, and what do they get in return? What sort of world do we want our children to grow up in? Is it worth staying in Britain, or are other countries better places to live? Or, if you happen to be Cornish maybe, Why isn't our native language taught in our schools?

Shall we decamp en masse to the Big Brother thread now?? (sorry Marina!) Here's a BB related question (genuinely seeking information): Has any black person ever survived a public vote? How predictable is it that the black guy will be voted off this evening....
And can a woman ever win the wretched thing?

Tinker · 14/06/2002 14:01

sml - interesting questions. The BB ones! I'm pretty sure Darren must have survived at leaast one in BB1 and Dean in BB2. Mel went first time she was nominated but that was because she was awful! Must admit, I had wondered this myself. Plus, the female thing. Down to the bulk of the audience being teenyboppers, I think, therefore weighted in favour of blokes. Having said that, apart from Anna in BB1, there haven't been that many strong candidates - Adele this time, maybe.

pupuce · 14/06/2002 15:49

Wooow - Elisabeth stayed until the week before last and Helen until the last week (she was runner-up)... so not too bad!
Darren did stay until the last 3 and Brian won - he is Irish and gay... I am sure one of the 2 constitues a minority !!!

Did anyone said I watched BB?????

CAM · 14/06/2002 19:51

oh no, now we've got 2 bb threads! I don't bother watching it just find out all about it on mumsnet and it's got to be a damn sight more amusing and interesting than the TV version.

tigermoth · 15/06/2002 13:48

I'd definitely watch big brother if they did a royal version

Depending on how republican you are, the guillotine could be waiting just outside for the ones voted out. The one royal left in could become the chief tourist guide for Buckingham Palace.

XAusted · 15/06/2002 21:48

Amazed at how this thread has grown since I last looked. It is nice to talk about something other than kids and husbands. Don't watch telly so wouldn't be able to watch Royal Big Brother. Can't remember who asked but yes, I would curtsey to the Queen. Nothing wrong with a bit of good old fashioned respect. The idea of an elected President makes me laugh. This country is so apathetic that half the population don't use their vote anyway!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page