> I really don't agree with the lyrics to our national anthem (I'm English, in case some of you
> have never seen my posts). Why the heck should God want to save the Queen any more
> than anyone else?

Does it ever say "more than anybody else"? No, it does not.

All it says is, basically, 'please God, may nice things happen to our Queen, because we quite like her'.


> And I REALLY don't agree with verse 3. If I remember correctly, it's asking God to muck up
> the politics of England's enemies and "confound their knavish tricks". Now that should be
> racism in anyone's opinion.

a) That's verse 2.

b) Why is that racism? It doesn't say anything about the race of her enemies -- given the specification, it includes all enemies of whatever race or creed, including those born and bred in England.


Two more points, just as food for thought:

1) The *real* verse 2 includes the lines

"May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen."


2) According to one website I consulted,
"For a long time the song was used as an expression of personal loyalty to the king [...] [It] is sung in the United Kingdom as a matter of tradition. It has never been proclaimed the national anthem by an Act of Parliament or a Royal Proclamation."


Paul