Apparently the new president of the SFA, George Peat, wants the song ‘Flower Of Scotland’ to be scrapped as our national anthem.
Peat was quoted as saying that he feels that the song is a ‘total dirge’ and that something more ‘uplifting’ is required.
I suppose it’s all about personal taste when it comes to this sort of thing, but I do tend to agree with the guy. ‘Flower Of Scotland’ is never a song that I’ve particularly liked. I think it’s far too slow and a bit dreary to be a national anthem and it doesn’t really help that the lyrics are glorifying a battle that took place something like 700 years ago either. To me its popularity kind of sums up a problem that we have in Scottish society, whereby we are generally as anti-English as we are pro-Scottish. I’ve always hated this attitude as it really just exposes the large inferiority complex that so many Scots still seem to have when it comes to England. Surely there’s no need for this sort of attitude to exist these days?
I do wonder though, if the song was ever to be dropped as the national anthem, what would be selected to replace it. I never used to have a problem with ‘Scotland The Brave’ and I think that it certainly fits the bill when it comes to being a more ‘uplifting’ song, but I can’t ever see them going back to that.
I just hope that we don’t end up going the Proclaimers route……….!
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Craig, I guess it’s the old adage of “I disagree entirely with everything you’re saying, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
SJ: You aint answered my question pal?
Possibly, but then I think you’ll find people that say “I hate” a group of whoever, do not actually mean it at all. I hear people saying that they hate the Old Firm or the English, etc quite a lot, but the same people will probably have friends who are English or support these teams. “Hate” tends to be an overused word, particularly in an emotional sport like football and I think you’ll find that it’s rarely appropriate.
OK MrH – Given that, let him either reaffirm or retract his comment.
Craig, I think I did… you asked if I would find it acceptable. I’ve already said I disagree with stones1874’s comments – but likewise, he has a perfect right to say it & I’ll defend his right to do that.
With respect SJ, thats not the site policy at vital hearts.
Craig, yes, I’ve read it. I’m not an editor, so I don’t have a say. You asked my opinion though, and my response (as a reader & commentator on here) is that a) it doesn’t bother me one bit what people write and b) what was said wasn’t that bad. I live in England, have many English friends (my Dad brought me up to “believe” that the only good German was a dead one for instance… yet I’m married to one!) and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up whenever I hear ‘Flower of Scotland’ in a packed Hampden / Murrayfield. The anti-English sentiment is misguided in my opinion, but taken in a historical context (like the song) is justified. It’s just that we should all have moved on from that by now. This is the 21st century after all.
Fair point SK3. You will know then that there isn’t one english identity, but many.
Manchester and Canterbury are centuries apart, as is Bath and Toxteth. In the historical context the english crown spent as much time persecuting its own people as anybody else. The northern cities are peopled by celts and peasants. So no, its not justified.
I honestly think thats the end of the matter. This moron either reaffirms his comments, or retracts them.
Comments reaffirmed not retracted. Surely referring to me as a moron is worse than my comments incidentally. I know english people and i work with english people and I dont hate them. My comments were directed at english sport and my hatred directed at individuals who run and partake in english sport. As confirmed the arrogance of these individuals defies belief at times. How do England have the god given right to win every major sporting competition which they take part in ? Whether it be the 2006 World Cup or the recent Cricket World cup, all we heard was how England were going to win. And now that Andy Murray is performing as well as he is, suddenly he’s British rather than Scottish. I know if he was poor he would be referred to as Scotland’s Andy Murray. My views are strong and quite clearly taken as controversial based on the number of comments on this forum, but there fair in my eyes and as its been mentioned im entitled to my opinion. This appears to have got your back up in a major way Cain and i can therefore only presume you are English yourself. Apologies if i offended you, but some of the drivel you have spouted since my comments is laughable. Maybe you would be better placed in a rally down at westminster or in the House of Commons itself as politics could be a good profession for you based on your willingness to start a major debate over nothing. At the end of the day im scottish through and through and proud of my scottish heritage and happy to be involved with a countries supporters who manage to go to other countries and have a good time and mix with locals rather than start riots like your mindless thugs.
My people are from Leith, Limerick and Lancashire. Which is probably why I see the world in 3D
I do agree with the argument about English arrogance with sport and the Andy Murray example is very true -I’ve noticed that as well. I’ve said it before though, it does tend to get worse the further south you go.
I don’t hate the English – far from it. It’s ludicrous for anyone to say that they do. But almost to a man (or woman) I find the English sports media nauseating in the extreme. I can’t watch England matches for exactly that reason – I’d end up going through more TVs by chucking things at it than I can afford, so I stay clear these days. 🙂 And it always heartens me to see that I never seem to miss much either. Does that make me a racist?
SJ: No, of course not.
MrH: A host nation always sends its troops to the front with an exalted and wholly unrealistic sense of expectation – I’m old enough to remember the tide of crap that attached itself to scottish campaigns in the past (admittedly some good sides) ie. Argentina. Thats a part of it, no?
I share your criticism of the London-based media, it is nauseating.
Another thing I’ve always said is that our media are just as bad in slightly different ways. If we had ever won the World Cup (I know!) I’m quite convinced that we’d have been worse than they are. Just look as the ridiculous notion that we were World Champs just because we beat them in a one-off game in ’67 as an example of what it would be like.
STONES:On the recent cricket world cup- find me one journo who stated that england would win it – the one-day are ***** and everbody understood that. Your perception of the FA, the PLAYERS and MEDIA as homogenous blocks of english jingoism is a complete and utter fallacy.
I go back to the 70 world cup and the balance of copy in the intervening years is over the top and severely critical of the english game and its personnel. Your little narrative about Murray I dont doubt you have deployed a thousand times with other sportsmen and women. Whatever, it doesn’t stack up or justify your language of hate (hastily qualified I note) I was reminded of the classic – some of my best friends are black
Would you just put a note of your address on here so I can send you a box of tissues for your tears.
Thats a robust and judicious defence – of course I understand that prejuduce and hate are irrational and therefore indefencible
I’m calling time on this one guys – enough said frankly.
Finally
Good move – stalemate was unofficially declared some time ago!