NationStates Jolt Archive

Source (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17207815-2,00.html)


Push for 'God' in national anthem


A PUSH is under way to insert a reference to God in Australia's national anthem.
Several god-fearing Federal MPs say it is time that Advance Australia Fair was amended to reflect the nation's Christian values.

Our national song does not mention God, unlike the anthems of New Zealand, the US and the UK.

Queensland Liberal MP Peter Slipper told Parliament the "importance of God" and Australia's Christian foundations deserved to be recognised in the national anthem.

"Most people, whether practising Christians or not, would accept that Australia is a Christian country and that, as a nation, we have our roots in the Christian faith," he said.

Other parliamentarians, including Family First's Steve Fielding and the Nationals' Barnaby Joyce and Bruce Scott, yesterday voiced support.

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Any amendment is likely to be hotly debated.

High-profile Christian and Labor MP Kevin Rudd and Queensland Liberal MP Michael Johnson said a God reference was not needed.

"In the 1890s the sons and fathers debated about whether or not to establish religion in the Australian constitution," Mr Rudd said.

"Wisely they decided not to. The same intelligently applies to our national anthem."

Opinions?

Opinions?

Well, it's a really, really, really, really stupid idea.

Howard must be bored again.

every nation's national anthem should have God in it....

Referendum, I reckon. If enough of you want it, go for it. Otherwise, don't bother.

no nation's national anthem should have God in it....
agreed :)

every nation's national anthem should have God in it....

Which god? I hear Ganesha is chic, but the Flying Spaghetti Monster has been on the rise with those pirate uniforms.

Maybe Howard decided he needed yet another smokescreen to shield his IR and anti-terrorist legislations.

I don't see the average Aussie taking to this idea at all. Anyone who tries it will get an 'up yours, mate'.

Personally, I have no problem with it. Personally, I'm glad our Pledge of Allegiance has the words "under God" and say it proudly. HOWEVER, because some are offended by it, they have taken the Pledge out of many schools, which I think is sad and contributes to children's apathy towards their country. A small part, maybe, but still there. I think that Austrailia may seriously regret putting God in the anthem, if it takes the anthem out of the public.

http://www.triton.nu/albums/pics/aw_jeez_not_this_shit_again.jpg

every nation's national anthem should have God in it....

...sighs, and shakes head...:rolleyes:

Personally, I'm glad our Pledge of Allegiance has the words "under God" and say it proudly.

Yeah, but America was colonised by a bunch of whacko religious fundamentalists. Australia was colonised by working class blokes and petty thieves. (Talking extremely generally, here.)

every nation's national anthem should have God in it....
How can you say that? Politicised religion is the reason for most of the trouble in the world today.

Source (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17207815-2,00.html)

Opinions?
Why are they only doing this now? Are the Liberals on a quest to become even more like America's Republicans?

http://www.triton.nu/albums/pics/aw_jeez_not_this_shit_again.jpg

Don't like it, don't post in it. Easy.

every nation's national anthem should have God in it....

If he's joking, then ignore the following remark:

Can you say "imposing your beliefs on others"?

If he's joking,

No, that's actually what Blu-tac really thinks. Sad, in this day and age, I know.

Well, it's a really, really, really, really stupid idea.

Yep. I hope that the people proposing this are shooting themselves in the foot with it.

Maybe Howard decided he needed yet another smokescreen to shield his IR and anti-terrorist legislations.

I don't see the average Aussie taking to this idea at all. Anyone who tries it will get an 'up yours, mate'.

Precisely what I was thinking...if they're trying to attract votes, it's a pretty dumb way to go about it. All of the (christian) religious types already vote coalition or family first anyway. They're going to start turning away moderates soon.

Personally, I have no problem with it. Personally, I'm glad our Pledge of Allegiance has the words "under God" and say it proudly. HOWEVER, because some are offended by it, they have taken the Pledge out of many schools, which I think is sad and contributes to children's apathy towards their country. A small part, maybe, but still there. I think that Austrailia may seriously regret putting God in the anthem, if it takes the anthem out of the public.

Personally, the part I find most offensive of America's POA is that we're pledging allegiance to the government. We do not serve the government. Government serves us. If anything, a government should say a Pledge of Allegiance to its people!

Holy Cow
that's a nice idea.
I'm sure the Islamic state will like that.

Graces to allah is a very good way to re-write a national anthem.
Allah be good, allah with us, son of a allah etc...
Less terrorism, more wars, datz good.
Inch God. God mektoub. G. is great.

Via con Dio :)

The Satanic High Priest of ULC
Rabbi Krishna Murphy Ben Guiness

Personally, the part I find most offensive of America's POA is that we're pledging allegiance to the government. We do not serve the government. Government serves us. If anything, a government should say a Pledge of Allegiance to its people!

Heh. So true. :)

No, that's actually what Blu-tac really thinks. Sad, in this day and age, I know.

how is it sad?

Why are they only doing this now? Are the Liberals on a quest to become even more like America's Republicans?

Evidently so. :(

No, that's actually what Blu-tac really thinks. Sad, in this day and age, I know.

Wow... it's not sad it's... dissappointing? Disgusting? One word is not enough.

By the way fass, thanks for introducing me to all the locals :D

Why are they only doing this now? Are the Liberals on a quest to become even more like America's Republicans?

Good luck, sir. Prepare have your economy subverted, and watch as everyone blindly pines away for the politicians to change social issues that don't matter.

how is it sad?

Sad in the sense that you can't even realise why it's sad that you would want every nation (even those that have a main religion where there are multiple gods, or those that have a main religion where there is no god, or those where people are mostly unreligious &c.) to have it in their national anthem, let alone that you don't understand the historically proven senselessness that is mixing religion into government.

By the way fass, thanks for introducing me to all the locals :D

Don't mention it. A few more posts and you would have seen it on your own.

I don't think my national anthem has any reference to god in it

I think it would be technically ileagal as we have a secular state (officially) here in wales

we have no state religion therefore the state is supposed to be non religious

admitadly it isn't paticulaly but what the heh

I don't think my national anthem has any reference to god in it

I think it would be technically ileagal as we have a secular state (officially) here in wales

we have no state religion therefore the state is supposed to be non religious

admitadly it isn't paticulaly but what the heh

I believe that the UK does have a state religion. The monarch is the patriarch of the Church of England. Unless that has changed in recent years...

As with the Australian anthem, the American pledge of allegience did not include the "Under god" part at the beginning when it was first written. This was a later addition from the 1950s, when the Cold War was just heating up and the American government of the time was casting about for a way to emphasise to their own people how much better than the "godless" Soviets they were.

Most attempts of this kind to suddenly include god in any piece of legislation or anthem or whatever have historically proven to be a cheap attempt to seize the moral high ground.

Most attempts of this kind to suddenly include god in any piece of legislation or anthem or whatever have historically proven to be a cheap attempt to seize the moral high ground.

I don't think it's that simple. The religious segment of the population already vote for the parties proposing this. It doesn't make sense, as I believe initiatives like this will be their downfall as they discourage their moderate voters...

Urg. I can't see this actually happening, but if it does, the frequency of my singing our cruddy national anthem will drop from "once in a blue moon" to "never".

It would really make worse a national anthem that is already terrible, so it's not that big a deal, I guess. But it's the principle, damn it! They praise the Christian God in freaking parliament of all places already. We don't need mention of it in our (however horrid) national anthem as well.

I suppose that it was only inevitable someone would bring this up, though, what with politicians all over the shop droning on about their Christian faith and values to get on the churchies on side since the various Christian churches waded into the IR debate. I mean, it's great that some powerful organisations are weighing in against those IR reforms, but I wish the politicians would try to keep the bootlicking to a minimum.

every nation's national anthem should have God in it....

Quid pro quo. If you get to include God in a national anthem, we get to include the theory of evolution in the Bible. :)

http://www.triton.nu/albums/pics/aw_jeez_not_this_shit_again.jpg
Seconded.

Surely the only logical answer to the question posed here is "WHO CARES?" I mean, really… it does not matter. No one knows their national anthem's words anyway… after the second line it generally goes "hner hner hner".

Seconded.
As I said, don't post in it if you disapprove. I really don't care.

Which god? I hear Ganesha is chic, but the Flying Spaghetti Monster has been on the rise with those pirate uniforms.

I would maintain that God is used in the universal sense. Whomever you call God that who it is.

I would maintain that God is used in the universal sense. Whomever you call God that who it is.

That's clearly not the motive here, though...

"Most people, whether practising Christians or not, would accept that Australia is a Christian country and that, as a nation, we have our roots in the Christian faith,"

And what of we atheists, agnostics, and rabid seculars? Where do we fit in? :p

And what of we atheists, agnostics, and rabid seculars? Where do we fit in? :p

Indeed. It's really just an attempt to score political points with the big, powerful Christian churches. Even if it doesn't happen (and it probably won't), various politicians will still be able to point to the attempt as an example of piety and wallow in the Churches' favour.

There are plenty of atheists, agnostics and people of non-Abrahamic faith in this country. Just because a lot of people would describe themselves as Christian (the majority of whom have probably never set foot in a church in their lives, barring weddings and funerals) doesn't mean we are a "Christian country".

Well, it's a really, really, really, really stupid idea.

One wonders if the Australian constitution has a provision about separation of church and state...

And what of we atheists, agnostics, and rabid seculars? Where do we fit in? :p
Agnostics will just have to say "one nation under ???" like I always did. The only problem is that it is very hard to reach a consensus about how a procession of three question marks are pronounced.

As I said, don't post in it if you disapprove. I really don't care.

Best get rid of that pic before the mods see it.

Indeed. It's really just an attempt to score political points with the big, powerful Christian churches. Even if it doesn't happen (and it probably won't), various politicians will still be able to point to the attempt as an example of piety and wallow in the Churches' favour.

Not being familiar with Australian society (despite having not less than two friends going to teachers college there), I have to ask: Are the various christian churches in australia really powerful enough to mobilise voters in significant numbers?

I guess Howard is joining the Neocon agenda in its rape of individual rights, eh?
Damn, we’ve got a gang bang on our hands.

Nice to see that belief in the supernatural still controls the minds of twenty-first century people :rolleyes:

What a hideous idea.

Source (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17207815-2,00.html)



Opinions?
Australians must stop subscribing to American Newspapers right now. I'm serious.

why would you want god in your national anthem?then he/she/it/they will get pissed off that hardly anyone knows the national anthem.which i imagine isnt a good thing.have more war in it,like the irish national anthem.

[QUOTE=Kanabia] Advance Australia Fair [QUOTE] When I saw the thread title I really did think, 'What? God in Waltzing Matilda? Hows that gonna work?'
Must be lack of sleep - I cant believe I'm the first one to say this...

Ugh, disgusting. And the people who support it are beyond help.

Crash and burn.

Whatever happened to God Save the Queen... is that never sung in Australia now?

Whatever happened to God Save the Queen... is that never sung in Australia now?

The Sex Pistols' version is much better and far more fitting.

Yet another sad attempt to win the support of the Christian vote, or as Peter Costello and Howard call it, "the aspiration class!" - yeah, the ones who think that lesbians are witches, and gays are the source of all evil <rolls eyes>

Yet another sad attempt to win the support of the Christian vote, or as Peter Costello and Howard call it, "the aspiration class!" - yeah, the ones who think that lesbians are witches, and gays are the source of all evil <rolls eyes>

"Aspiration class"!? LOL!

"Aspiration class"!? LOL!

Aspirational class :p

Its almost as vomit inducing as "the heart land"

I hope that North Korea isn't going to be too happy when they find out that GWB has been using their patented propaganda techniques :p

Aspirational class :p

Its almost as vomit inducing as "the heart land"

I hope that North Korea isn't going to be too happy when they find out that GWB has been using their patented propaganda techniques :p

Hahahaha. :D

It's a good thing I have not ever sung a single word of the anthem...it'll be bad enough to have to say the things you have to say to get citizenship.

That being said, I've never sung the German anthem either. :p

God Save the Queen is still theoretically the Royal Anthem of Australia, which would in theory be sung at events being attended by the Queen in place of the National Anthem, which is Advance Australia Fair. So if the God botherers really want the word mentioned in the anthem, they should just get the Queen to visit more often.

However, the push is doomed to failure as most Australians believe that religion (or lack thereof) is a private matter. I wonder whether the issue here is more that some Liberals still hate that Labor changed the anthem...

The US national anthem only mentions god in the LAST verse. WE DON'T SING THAT VERSE.

thats as funny as trying to change the flag:rolleyes:

One wonders if the Australian constitution has a provision about separation of church and state...

It sort of does:

116 Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

They praise the Christian God in freaking parliament of all places already.

Once I had the misfortune of having parliament come on TV while I was looking for the remote (the scene in my house then was like when Homer Simpson lost the batteries to his remote control just as "another stupid boring shuttle launch" came on). They had the lord's prayer before the start of question time, which I thought was odd - but only about half the MPs were there. The other half walked in afterwards.

If they ever put god in the national anthem, I simply will not sing it. I can only vaguely mumble it anyway...

This is the Aussie anthem at the moment. I don't know where they would want to add God in this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_Australia_Fair#Advance_Australia_Fair_-_The_official_version

Waltzing Matilda should be the bloody anthem, anyway. No bloody god in that, just a contempt for authority. The true Australian spirit!!!!

Waltzing Matilda should be the bloody anthem, anyway. No bloody god in that, just a contempt for authority. The true Australian spirit!!!!

And the exact opposite of what the Howard Government wants anyone thinking

Howard's a bloody fascist!

And the exact opposite of what the Howard Government wants anyone thinking

The Howard government wants people thinking now? :p

And on topic, that is insane. I can't see how that would win votes anyway, seeing as most Australians are pretty apathetic toward religion already, aren't they? (someone please tell me they are so I don't have to kill myself)

Yeah, but America was colonised by a bunch of whacko religious fundamentalists. Australia was colonised by working class blokes and petty thieves. (Talking extremely generally, here.)

The original settlers came to America looking for Gold/Wealth. Massachusetts, the second successful colony, was founded by religious zealots. The Fundamenalist Regime's power was broken before 1700 anyway. The New Zealots are rooted in xenophbia, "Republican" Propaganda, and an ostrich attitude towards any issues their precious Evangelists don't tell them how to think about.

Best get rid of that pic before the mods see it.

Meh, i didn't think it was that bad, but whatever.

This is the Aussie anthem at the moment. I don't know where they would want to add God in this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_Australia_Fair#Advance_Australia_Fair_-_The_official_version

Exactly! That's MY problem with it.

Australians all let us praise God,
Oh God, we're young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth from God,
Our home is girt by God;
Our land abounds in God's own gifts
Of beauty rich and rare; God,
In history's page, let every stage have God
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then God God God,
"Go--d, Australia, God!"

Opinions?

*shudders*

Not that I'm surprised, coming from Howard... I still can't believe the Aussies re-elected him.


Waltzing Matilda should be the bloody anthem, anyway. No bloody god in that, just a contempt for authority. The true Australian spirit!!!!


Heh, that'd be great! Can you imagine Waltzing Matilda being played at sporting events? :D

Waltzing Matilda should be the bloody anthem, anyway. No bloody god in that, just a contempt for authority. The true Australian spirit!!!!
I swear I will punch out the next person to sing that song. Why the hell does everyone think that stealing sheep is so great

Waltzing Matilda should be the bloody anthem, anyway. No bloody god in that, just a contempt for authority. The true Australian spirit!!!!

Heh, that'd be great! Can you imagine Waltzing Matilda being played at sporting events? :D

Actually, Waltzing Matilda could well have been our national anthem. When they held the referendum to choose a new anthem, the choices included God Save the Queen (ie, a vote for keeping the old one), Advance Australia Fair, Song of Australia and Waltzing Matilda. I remember at the time thinking that surely everyone would choose Waltzing Matilda since it's so thoroughly imbued with the Aussie spirit. But no, it only came in second.

My biggest beef with Advance Australia Fair is that almost everywhere you hear it, it's being played at dirge-like speeds. "In joyful strains then let us sing..." - how can you sing joyfully at funereal pace??