Why does the U.S. national anthem still move me so?

[Paul Hanson]

Everyone knows the French national anthem is the best one in the world, bar none.

*Runs from angry mob*

[TheStinger]

The french and US anthems are so much better than ours. They actually depict something important and are good sing alongs too.
I always lived the Russian/SU one aswell

[Alexander's Horse]

I like the second verse of God Save the Queen.

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
I like the second verse of God Save the Queen.

IS that the one about smashing the Scots.

[Alexander's Horse]

No that's the last verse

God Save The Queen

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen

O Lord our God arise
Scatter her enemies
And make them fall
Confound their politics
Frustrate their knavish tricks
On Thee our hopes we fix
God save us all

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour
Long may she reign
May she defend our laws
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen

Not in this land alone
But be God's mercies known
From shore to shore
Lord make the nations see
That men should brothers be
And form one family
The wide world over

From every latent foe
From the assassins blow
God save the Queen
O'er her thine arm extend
For Britain's sake defend
Our mother, prince, and friend
God save the Queen

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring
May he sedition hush
And like a torrent rush
Rebellious Scots to crush
God save the King

Not sure how the King got in there at the end

[Ecthy]

that's a nice verse, a bit like the 1st verse of our anthem

[TheStinger]

I never know why God is being asked to save the queen, she is after all rulling by divine right. It should be a given

[Stefu]

Oh Canada, our home and native land...

[Ecthy]

nice pic Stefu, never knew you had gained some pounds

[child of Thor]

Re: Why does the U.S. national anthem still move me so?

Originally posted by Dissident
well watching the national anthem earlier today on a football game kind of welled me up... just a little. I never would cry or anything like that. But it does still move me.

I try my darndest not to be patriotic and nationalistic. I tell myself it's just a country. A country responsible for millions of deaths around the world. A nation taking away civil liberties left and right. A nation that takes far too much of my money and throws it down the drain. A nation that only cares about the wealth of its people and not the environment.

So why does the national anthem of the U.S. still afftect me? Europeans are amazed that people actually care for the national anthem in the U.S. I don't know why it's a big deal to me, but it is. I should hate my country for all the horrible things it has done, but I do not.

Patriotism and nationalism is silly. I have a little secret to tell. I did not join the military because I loved my country. I joined for the career opportunities, and because I had nothing better to do at the time . Would I have defended my ship against attack? Well yes of course, it is in my well being to do so. I did not fly one single flag after 9/11. I refused to jump on that bandwagon.

Maybe the Ironic nature of the words, so its a bitter sweet thing as you know deep in your heart the U.S. could and should do so much better than it does?
Same for most 1st world anthems i would guess?

[Ecthy]

Unity, justice and freedom are the pledge of fortune
Bloom in the that fortune's glance, bloom German fatherland

[Stefu]

nice pic Stefu, never knew you had gained some pounds

I never shot anybody before OD'ing on hormones and alcohol!

[Ecthy]

that's very "st_within" in both quality and relevance

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Stefu
Oh Canada, our home and native land...

Is the worst anthem bar none. It's even worse than the Chilean one that goes on in maudlin tones for ages and then just when you think it's faded out, cranks up again.

The French have the best. I'm afraid that countless caterwauling performances by buxom women who'd given some old man a BJ for the privilege have ruined the Star Spangled Banner for me.

[Sandman]

So why does the national anthem of the U.S. still afftect me? Europeans are amazed that people actually care for the national anthem in the U.S.

It's an involuntary conditioned response. Your conciousness and personality have nothing to do with it. I still get moved by Scotland and Britain's national anthems, as well as by other countries (including America's) national anthems, even though I am anti-nationalist. It annoys me that my body has been hijacked, but there's not a lot I can do about it.