 Found a word you're not familiar with? Double-click that word to bring up a dictionary reference to it. The dictionary page includes an audio sound file with which to actually hear the word said. |
Further implications
National symbols, whether flags or anthems, are often problematic. They are intended to represent the nation, however, as values and demographics shift, these symbols are prone to be seen as anachronistic or no longer reflective of the national identity.
National anthems first became popular in Europe during the 18th century, with famous composers including Haydn (Germany) and perhaps Mozart (Austria) sometimes providing the music. While anthems have now spread around the world, only in some countries are anthems regularly played and heard outside major sports events; most people in the world have to wait for an international sporting contest to hear their national songs sung, and for others to listen.
While some anthems focus on past battles or honour national leaders, most celebrate the nation as a physical entity, focusing on the natural landscape. Croatians celebrate their 'beautiful homeland', Danes their 'lovely land' and Swedes the 'loveliest land on earth'.
Reflecting contemporary political and cultural reality remains a struggle for many anthems. The lyrics of the German and Russian anthems evolved to reflect the upheavals of the 20th century. Switzerland has struggled to incorporate its four national languages. The current South African anthem is essentially a merger of 'The Call of South Africa', the anthem of the apartheid era, and 'God Bless Africa', formerly used an expression of political defiance. The lyrics now incorporate five of the country's 11 official tongues.
The struggle to reflect an evolving national identity is evident in regard to the Australian anthem. Formally adopted in 1984, 'Advance Australia Fair' replaced the former anthem 'God Save the Queen'. In 1973, Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, began the process of selecting a new anthem which would represent Australia with 'distinction'.
Whitlam sought something that would present Australia as an independent nation on the world stage. At that point, Australia shared its anthem, 'God Save the Queen', not only with Great Britain, but with a number of other Commonwealth countries, including New Zealand. The lyrics of 'Advance Australia Fair' have already undergone numerous revisions. The opening line originally read 'Australia's sons let us rejoice'. The obviously gendered nature of this resulted in the current revision. Less well known is that two of the former four verses have been dropped completely and that the former third verse (now the second and itself substantially revised for Federation in 1901) has been modified further, removing references to sharing 'our boundless plains' with 'loyal sons beyond the seas'. Among other references now gone are 'From England soil and Fatherland, / Scotia and Erin fair, / Let all combine with heart and hand / To advance Australia fair.'
The changes that have so far been made are clearly intended to reflect Australia's current values and demographic reality. If 'Advance Australia Fair' is retained as the Australian national anthem, it seems likely that its lyrics will undergo further change. There are already a number of modified sets of lyrics which could be considered. Regarding the freedom of students to choose not to stand during the anthem, the situation that exists in Victorian schools is interesting. The Victorian Education Department's policy for ceremonies states ' Schools must hold ceremonies for students to acknowledge their roles as citizens of Australia at intervals and with content determined by the school council in accordance with Ministerial guidelines and using the Australian National Flag.' However, the policy also states that 'Schools must not compel students to recite a declaration or take part in a ceremony if the student or parents/guardians object based on religious, cultural, philosophical or other beliefs.'
The option Kenmore Primary School gave Harper Nielsen to not attend the assembly is Victorian Education Department policy; however, Victorian primary schools may not have allowed her to remain at the assembly and not follow teacher directions. The question of student rights within institutions which rely on the mass management of children is a vexed one.