The National Anthem

[TIGER]

@TIGER They have said that the anthem doesn't represent them or their families.

So do they want the anthem changed or are they just happy to not participate because they feel it doesn't represent them?

 

[LARDS]

@TIGER They have said that the anthem doesn't represent them or their families.

Can anyone tell me what part of the anthem is offensive to them?

 

[TIGER]

Chambers has said he won't be singing it either.
Though he'll happily accept his check for representing Australia wearing the Green n Gold.

My questions are why are they choosing to not sing?

What do they want?

Do they want to be treated like every other Australian?


When you think about it though, they’re not just every other Australian and are our native peoples. Whilst I do sympathise with kev’s Views and Geo - what Cochise and I guess demps even being aware of and posting this is the problem...

What do any of us actually know about the themes that still play out in society today especially in our richest, whitest areas in this country, that may be having a detrimental affect on youth aboriginal culture... my take on it is that it’s a great thing our leaders ARE actually beginning to Make these discussions very serious and with an aim to improving quality of life for all . Sure, we cannot be expected to pay for all of these changes ourselves or even be forced to accept them if we do not agree

To me it just seems that the harder you pull against it, the more you’ll see that downside everywhere and I do live in a community where there is much youth on the streets with immense talent and yet no ARL members/leaders can do anything for them single-handedly... that’s why we are all having this conversation... that is why we are all being asked our opinions. Thanks

So they want special treatment?

I don't understand what they want, if they want to be Australian then they get treated like every other Australian.

I as a white Australian could claim that I'm at a disadvantage because there's so many programs and opportunities that I'm not able to access because they're exclusively for Aboriginal and Torres Straight islander people.

Do they want special programmes exclusively for them or do they want to be part of a nation who includes everybody?

The problem is, I'm not sure if they know what they want.

So they want special treatment?

Because all that does is divide Australia more.
Do they want exclusive programmes specifically for them, or do they want to be part of an inclusive nation?

Do you think if we changed the anthem, flag and date of Australia day to whatever they want it to be everything will be rosy?

 

[TIGER]

@TIGER They have said that the anthem doesn't represent them or their families.

Can anyone tell me what part of the anthem is offensive to them?

I'd like to know that too.

 

[AusTigers]

From what I heard the Word "YOUNG and free" suggests the young country ignores the 40000 years of Aboriginal history.

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

I wondered what was offensive also and people seem to think it is the line below

"For those who've come across the seas"

But I think it is more that they are not mentioned at all and people who have come across the seas where.

I don't want to get to technical but they have tracked the Australian indigenous migration to a single group that left Africa around 70 000 years ago.

 

[Geo]

girt is offensive to fat people

 

[cochise]

From what I heard the Word "YOUNG and free" suggests the young country ignores the 40000 years of Aboriginal history.

Yes the line "Young and free" but when you read the original lyrics and the verses that come after the 2nd verse make you question if the tone when written was really about Advancing all Australians or about the advancement of one group of Australians!

 

[cochise]

Verse One
Australia's sons 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!"

Verse Two
When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse Three
While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse Four
Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains the let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"


The current 2nd verse was introduced as a "New" Third Verse and was first sung in 1901 at Federation.

 

[gallagher]

Verse One
Australia's sons 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!"

Verse Two
When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse Three
While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse Four
Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains the let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"


The current 2nd verse was introduced as a "New" Third Verse and was first sung in 1901 at Federation.

Ive never seen those verses.

 

[hugh1954]

The words are not the issue with them its all down to the representation of a white nation which took over their country over two hundred years ago and it cannot be let go for a minority. I just wish we could help all australians doing it tough which includes aboriginals.
Makes me wonder what would happen if i turned my back on recognition of country which is now done before many events(all hell would break loose). I think we are making huge advances in aboriginal issues from when i was young but we have a way to go and need to work as one.

 

[Furious1]

i don't see the problem with changing it. It only came in to being as the anthem in 84. Time for a new song that represents everyone.

 

[cochise]

@gallagher They are the original lyrics and I think it changes the intention of the line Advance Australia fair to not be inclusive of a lot of Australians, not just indigenous Australians and I think that needs to be considered when discussing why people do not think the anthem represents them!

 

[hobbo1]

Who cares if they sing or not ....
Half of them wouldn’t know the words anyway ...lol

 

[TheDaBoss]

I can see their reasoning behind it...... but they don't need to take it to far

 

[cochise]

but they don’t need to take it to far

What would be taking it too far?

 

[gallagher]

@gallagher They are the original lyrics and I think it changes the intention of the line Advance Australia fair to not be inclusive of a lot of Australians, not just indigenous Australians and I think that needs to be considered when discussing why people do not think the anthem represents them!

I think those other verses don't represent any of us. They should use that as a focus if they want it changed.

 

[Tigerstruck]

The way I see it, our goal is reconciliation for everyone, the strengthening of relationships between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians so we can become one unified nation. And without us all singing one Anthem, we can't fully achieve this goal of reconciliation which we are working towards. Whether this means introducing a new National Anthem I'm not sure, but I can't personally see many problems with the two verses of the Anthem that I know. What I can conclude with, however, is that we can't reach full reconciliation and move on with our lives as a unified nation until the divide is gone, and that includes all proudly singing one National Anthem together under the one banner.

 

[cochise]

but I can’t personally see many problems with the two verses of the Anthem that I know.

The problem is, whether we agree or not others do have problems with those 2 verses!

 

[cochise]

I think those other verses don’t represent any of us. They should use that as a focus if they want it changed.

I agree.

I think those verses change the tone and intended meaning of the song from the writers perspective and I can understand why people would not be happy to sing a song that original intention was far from inclusive!