National anthem protest

[davidc4430]

National anthem protest: 9yo refuses to stand because anthem is for 'white people of Australia'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-12/national-anthem-kenmore-school-brisbane/10235792

[davidc4430]

i wonder if either of her parents would publicly denounce university policy at the universitys they are employed at and think it was ok to not have any flak.

surely they couldnt believe hand on heart the universitys position on everything.

[imastawka]

What's a 9 yo know?

How is it possible that a 9 yo can interpret the meaning of a song's lyrics?

Spouting mum and dad's views more likely.

And I disagree with their interpretation.

The phrase 'we are young' I believe, refers to our becoming a nation, not how long anybody's been inhabiting the land.

And that covers all colours of people.   Black, white, blue or yellow.

[zanadoo_56]

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@davidc4430 wrote:

National anthem protest: 9yo refuses to stand because anthem is for 'white people of Australia'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-12/national-anthem-kenmore-school-brisbane/10235792

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If you look at the original verses, it was for white people of Australia who came from Britain. ...and that's why we don't sing those. 🙂

The song has evolved....as hopefully Australia has.

[imastawka]

The official lyrics adopted in 1984 are -

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Someone tell me how a 9yo took objection to any of that, without the aid of an adult.

[grumpy*cat*rocks]

She decided to rebel against the anthem last Friday.

So what about all the other times that the anthem has played?

She's been at school a while, and it seems strange that it's suddenly just last week (as opposed to previous weeks) that she's found the anthem offensive.

[azureline**]

I listened to her on the radio this morning, she was not very articulate when answering the questions put to her.

Her tv interview was obviously so much better, that I suggest she was coached.

In any case, the school didn't write the anthem and had no choice about it. Her job is to be educated and have respect for the rules imposed at her state school. Don't like the rules? change schools/follow the example of the JW kids, they stand but do not sing the anthem, or they are absent from assembly.

Didn't we have a poll when it was introduced?

[ecar3483]

The National Anthem introduced a whole new word to my vocabulary...

Girt...

That evening I asked my parents what a girt was...

Dad said it's like a nanny, only younger, and made a bleating noise...

It took Mum about five minutes to get over her fit of giggles...

They were good value, my folks... ha ha.

🙂

[shoppingbag*]

You forgot "red". Do we have Smurfs?

[shoppingbag*]

When we travelled overseas, everywhere we went they played "Waltzing Matilda" for us, which apparently is what is thought to be our National Anthem. I personally would have preferred it to be.