publicpoems.com is a blog aimed at addressing public subjects in verse.
My aim is to entertain, criticise and annoy, though not necessarily in that order.
Let's start with the English national anthem. Liberals such as myself like to criticise George W Bush for claiming a direct connection to God, and for implying divine guidance in pursuing American policy. This is surely fair comment, if it were not for the fact that our own English national anthem not only claims our own special connection to God, but suggests that God is uniquely interested in our monarch and her actions. Imagine if, say, Saudi Arabia adopted a national anthem which paralleled our own, and in which the words ran:
Allah save our Gracious King
Long live our noble King
Allah save our King
Send him victorious
Happy and glorious ... etc.
I have little doubt we would judge such an anthem to be steeped in religious and national self-righteousness, and perhaps as symptomatic of a medieval mind-set. Meanwhile, God Save Our Queen was first performed in 1745, and no doubt it has served earlier, more aggressive and imperialist ages well enough. I hope the post which follows sets out some of the arguments in favour of a new national anthem, more appropriate to our modern era.
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