What the hell ARE the words to our National Anthem

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Originally Posted by Redback

I'm with you mate, and one more thing, THE ONLY WAR the australians fought in under the current flag is Vietnam, (No disrepect to the brave men and women that fought there by the way my hat goes off to you) only stating a fact.

All i'm saying.

Baz.

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Actually that is not true.... there is a number of so called Peace keeping efforts that our servicemen and women fought in under the current flag. That is not to mention the first Gulf War in 1990 / 1991 and the current Gulf War in addition to Afghanistan.

In addition to the above. I was one of these servicemen who fought under the current flag, and unlike some others I personally don't like the Union Jack in the corner. Not going to get into an argument on its replacement. But from someone who served under it and who has friends who fought under it and aren't around anymore. The Union Jack is not part of modern Australia.


Doc

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Originally Posted by Handbrake hates Camping

Actually that is not true.... there is a number of so called Peace keeping efforts that our servicemen and women fought in under the current flag. That is not to mention the first Gulf War in 1990 / 1991 and the current Gulf War in addition to Afghanistan.

In addition to the above. I was one of these servicemen who fought under the current flag, and unlike some others I personally don't like the Union Jack in the corner. Not going to get into an argument on its replacement. But from someone who served under it and who has friends who fought under it and aren't around anymore. The Union Jack is not part of modern Australia.


Doc

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If you change the flag every time part of it is "not part of modern Australia", it will change every time there is a change of government (or more often). I am reminded of a treasure hunting expedition I read of in the 19th century, which made repeated resupply trips to a South American country, I can't remember which one, and found they had to sew up a new courtesy flag almost every visit! Also, this quote from Wikipedia "A 2004 NEWSPOLL which asked "Are you personally in favour or against changing the Australian flag so as to remove the Union Jack emblem?" was supported by 32% of respondents, and opposed by 57% with 11% uncommitted".

Similarly, the national anthem should not be changed just because taste in music has changed. And as for it being a dirge - remember that it is an anthem, intended for use on solemn occasions, not just a song. And if teachers do not know the meaning of the words, it is a reflection on the education system, not the anthem.

(the change to the present anthem was a political one, as was the rewriting to be PC - but that was a few years ago (1973), and it has been generally accepted. Although written long before Federation, it was used at the official declaration of federation in 1901, and was widely used as an unofficial anthem from then on, being promoted particularly by Labor governments. It became widely known (tune at least) after being adopted by the ABC to introduce news broadcasts from about 1940 until 1952, by which time almost every Australian would have known the tune.)

Both the flag and the anthem reflect the history of the country and for this reason there should be great caution in proposing change "a country with no history has no future".

As mentioned earlier in the thread, the Eureka flag has been compromised by being used politically by a small section of the community to represent themselves rather than the community as a whole, and in any case, to put it in perspective, the Eureka rebellion was a revolt against (admittedly not very equitable) taxes by a small group of men who were all in the "get rich quick" business, and many of whose leaders at least had been schooled in the California rush in the American way of violence.

Similarly the aboriginal flag is that of a section of the community, deliberately designed to represent that section and NOT the wider community, and as such, has no more claim than does, for example, a state flag, to be used as a national symbol.

John

Well said JDNSW.

Cheers, Mick.

was goin to quote but as I dont swim in your pond so my point is mute ,with ref to the union jack it is made up of the countrys covered by the act of union

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Originally Posted by VladTepes

Has anyone seen the Comedian Adam Hills' version.

He sings AAF to the tune of Jimmy Barnes' "Working Class Man".

It's GOLD:!:

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Now we have YouTube linking, everyone can see it :)

YouTube - Australian National Anthem to the tune of Working Class Man

went to click thanksbut its goooooone

thanks for that, i got a laugh........was a fan of jimmy years ago

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Originally Posted by weeds

........was a fan of jimmy years ago

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.... but no longer? :eek:

:p

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Originally Posted by Redback

Sorry have to disagree on the flag, as long as the Union Jack is in the corner, it will never be a truely Australian flag.

Remember we are not all from English backgrounds.

Baz.

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Lucky the Union Jack isn't English then.....

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Originally Posted by jik22

Lucky the Union Jack isn't English then.....

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See, Redback - even the Poms try and disown it :wasntme::p

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Originally Posted by FenianEel

See, Redback - even the Poms try and disown it :wasntme::p

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Not just us - you won't find many Irish, Welsh or Scots saying it's their flag either. Give me the St. George's Cross any day. ;)