Helen - Advance Australia Fair

"Also, it's an embarrassment reading these two lines given the illegal immigrant detention centre & Tampa affair scandals.

For those who've come across the seas We've boundless plains to share;"

No more bloody embarrassing than the following lines from the proposed alternative from alison:

"Eric Bogle's Shelter still gets my vote for what should be our national anthem especially poigniant for the lines

"To the homeless and the hungry may you always open doors, may the restless and the weary find safe harbour on your shores."

Both about a country whose politicians unofficially maintained a hidden policy of apartheid for decades - nice one.

Kevin - go read about the War of 1812 particularly about one of the main protagonists during the early stages - the Indian leader Tecumseh(Sp??) - He fought on the British side against the Americans. Britain did not invade, or even threaten to invade America - It was America that attacked Canada for extremely self interested motives of their own at all times throughout the conflict they held military superiority - Hells teeth they fighting on home ground - thankfully not very well.

"Your "Star Spangled Banner" is about a small country (in terms of armed might) being attacked by a powerful country and holding on by its fingernails. The bombs and the rocket are British bombs and rockets raining down on an infant United States which hadn't as yet taken over someone else's continent. It's meant to be an anti-imperialist anthem."

Don't know if the date rings any bells Kev, but if memory serves me correctly there was a chap called Napoleon wandering around Europe at the time knocking seven shades of crap out of everybody. The Americans decided on having a go at at driving the British out of Canada, but more importantly for them it gave them the excuse to break a treaty previously made with the Indians that would allow them (America) to expand westwards into the Warbash-Ohio Basin. Preoccupied elsewhere Britain sent minimal forces to protect Canada, so your statement about poor feeble infant America standing up to the imperialist might of Britain just was not the case - this might not fall in with your dearer held beliefs, but those are facts. With the asbolute minimum of support the Canadians of that time i.e. Brits, Frenchmen and Indians. Successfully fought off numerous invasion attempts during 1812 and 1814. The Star Spangled Banner relates to the raid and attack on Fort Henry by British forces stationed in Canada. The raid went on to sack Washington, burning the White House in the process. Having accomplished their mission those forces withdrew.

Interesting side line. When President Reagan visited the UK and attended a dinner given him by Margaret Thatcher at Apsley House he should have felt very much at home. The dinner service he used was that taken from the White House during that raid. It was then presented to the Duke of Wellington (Apsley House was his London home gifted to him by the nation).

In one of your posts above you say:

"I hate mealy-mouthed anthems..."

Then earlier you posted the text of what, in your opinion, you believe to be the best national anthem - that of Romania.

Having read through the lyrics - Boy they don't come any more mealy mouthed than that!!! - It's a bloody wonder anyone can sing it and keep a straight face. Romania's worst enemies were themselves - we are talking about the country that allied itself with Nazi Germany aren't we?

As for God Save the Queen - I take a sort of pride as a Scot for our mention in one of the original verses, where the exhortation is ".....rebellious Scots to crush". Brilliant at least they realised we were on the pitch.

Amos - How could you!!! *LOL* - "Teach Your Children Well". With that as a national anthem it would have the added attraction for the rest of the world in watching American athletes at the Olympics running backwards in order to ensure that they do not have to take part in any award ceremony.

On national anthems - I'm with Billy 'The Big Yin' - The theme music from "The Archers" should be Britains national anthem, nice jolly tune with a bit of bounce in it - would love to see how the English, and I stress English, football hooligans get revved up on that when it gets played at the World, or European, Cup competitions.