National anthem

[123everton]

Could, should an atheist refuse to sing the national anthem?

[Sqad]

kunni...LOL

Have you heard "Flower of Scotland?" It is the most tuneless, miserable, repetitive anthem of all the nations............in my opinion.

[Sqad]

Mark........why?

[Sqad]

kunni...:-)

[MarkRae]

>>> I associate the National Anthem with being British.

>> Harrumph! Perhaps you ought to "think again"...

> Mark........why?

<whoosh!>

[Sqad]

Mark....in simple terms for a simple guy ..eh?

[MarkRae]

OK, with subtitles for the hard of thinking...

You asked if another poster had heard 'Flower of Scotland', calling it miserable, repetitive etc. From that, I deduced that you actually knew the song, otherwise how could you criticise it?

The last line of the first verse describes how the Scots sent King Edward homeward to "think again" - I foolishly assumed you'd have got the reference...

[Sqad]

Mark...you seem to be "hard going"

I have heard "Flower of Scotland"

I didn't know the first verse of the last line.

Am I missing something here? If I am, don't bother to tell me, as it will take you too long.

P.S Flower of Scotland is not a National Anthem.

[brionon]

Hypothetical Atheist - ''Hallo'' If he/she existed then he/she wouldn't be Hypothetical, gotit ?

[MarkRae]

> Flower of Scotland certainly evokes the passion & inspires the pride of the people,

Yes, up to a point. Personally, I'd prefer to sing something positive about the Scots rather than something negative about the English, but I know what you mean...


> whereas our dour dirge would be more suited to a funeral march.

Indeed, although the version of the English national anthem which is usually played does have one thing going for it - it's incredibly short!


> One finds it disgusting that a national song should pay homage to an individual from
> a priviledged background.
>
> Even less using lyrics about mythical beings

Can't argue with that.

[jno]

GSTQ is not a dour dirge, it's a waltz - it's just played too slow. It could be made alot lilvelier.

[123everton]

What I'm wondering is this, there is absolutely no reason why an atheist cannot be patriotic or even loyal to the monarch, they may well want to save the Queen.
But, if they don't believe in God it becomes difficult for them to sing the anthem of their nation if they have to invoke a deity they do not believe in, I'm surmising.
Personally I couldn't give a tinker's cuss.

[tamborine]

Its got more to do with the queen than religion. I witnessed a bloke being badly beaten for not standing during the NA - be ready for same.

[jno]

Could do, ahmskunnirt, it's got that three-beat rhythm.

123everton, I think there is more than one 'meaning' to an anthem. There's the simple meaning of the words, an invocation to a deity to preserve a monarch (for how long? no idea). But there's also the element of standing alongside others and singing praise of your country, regardless of the actual words. I don't suppose many Frenchmen singing the Marseillaise actually want to behead anyone, but they still love France. So you could probably sing along without worrying about what the words 'mean'.

After all, you can sing along to 'Stairway to Heaven' without being religious.

[chakka35]

everton, I have already explained why it is not at all difficult for an atheist to sing about fictional characters. Didn't you read it?

[Sqad]

Mark

//Flower of Scotland certainly evokes the passion & inspires the pride of the people, //

I can understand that if you are Scottish, but you have ignored my comment about it not being a National Anthem, despite the heading by Everton..........National Anthem.