tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779136.post8493042137837909126..comments2023-10-10T13:31:24.972+00:00Comments on Waking Hereward: England, Jerusalem and next year's World Cup Finals in Australia....Alfiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04135869751268396259noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779136.post-49197359680401637602007-12-02T19:59:00.000+00:002007-12-02T19:59:00.000+00:00I too am a Christian, and I think Jerusalem is jus...I too am a Christian, and I think Jerusalem is just fine, what Blake was doing was questioning whether Christ was amongst us considering the wealthy landowners sent children to work in the mines and mills, Blake's words are as much relevant today as they were then, to save England we can not cease from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in our hands against a Govt that would kill of England if only it could get it's way. In Blake's Jerusalem we have an anthem that arouses a passion that none other comes near to, and more to the point it actually mentions EnglandBarry (The Elder)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03991158186531754220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779136.post-49795265247658672042007-12-01T23:43:00.000+00:002007-12-01T23:43:00.000+00:00Ian, as an Englishman, you no doubt abhor the curr...Ian, as an Englishman, you no doubt abhor the current de facto English anthem of God Save the Queen - especially as it is the anthem of the UK - and is therefore irrelevant to the nation of England.<BR/><BR/>As an Englishman - and therefore the sort of chap who likes to sing along to an inspiring tune, you no doubt cringe till your toes curl with embarrassment, every time the GStheQ durge groans out (especially the bit about slaughtering Scots which they never seem to play any more) before every single English sporting event.<BR/><BR/>As an Englishman - and therefore having an inbuilt sense of fair play, you can no doubt see that the denial of an anthem for England is little more than a cynical ploy by the Westminster Establishment to try and rebrand England as lesser Britain - even though by doing so it directly contravenes the UN human rights directive on national expression. <BR/><BR/>As an Englishman - and therefore a natural democrat, you will no doubt be in favour of a vote on the subject - and of abiding by the decision of the majority vote, even if 'Wannabe' by the Spice Girls wins. Thankfully, in all the opinion polls you can find, 'Wannabe' has come nowhere. 'Jerusalem' on the other hand has consistently been chosen <B>by an overwhelmingly majority of the people of England</B> as the anthem of choice - for England. (so that's alright, then).<BR/><BR/>As an Englishman, you are no doubt generously endowed with a sense of proportion and the ability to think in the abstract. - and will therefore not take the highly symbolic wording of William Blake and childishly attempt to deliver an objective line-by-line critism of the verse by typing 'NO' and er, NO' after each and every rhyming couplet - in a vain attempt to justify your hatred of the the work....<BR/><BR/>.... You <B>are</B> an Englishman, aren't you?Alfiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04135869751268396259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779136.post-74040552307807277172007-12-01T22:10:00.000+00:002007-12-01T22:10:00.000+00:00'And did those feet in ancient timeWalk upon Engla...'And did those feet in ancient time<BR/>Walk upon England's mountain green?' <BR/>er, NO!<BR/>'And was the holy Lamb of God<BR/>On England's pleasant pastures 'seen?<BR/>NO!<BR/>'And did the countenance divine<BR/>Shine forth upon our clouded hills?'<BR/>NO!<BR/>'And was Jerusalem builded here<BR/>Among those dark satanic mills?'<BR/>seriously - NO!<BR/><BR/>'bow', 'arrows', 'spear', 'clouds', 'chariot of fire'? <BR/>WHAT THE...?<BR/>'I will not cease from mental fight,<BR/>Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,<BR/>Till we have built Jerusalem<BR/>In England's green and pleasant land.'<BR/><BR/>O yeah, let's ask 4 dumb questions and sing about building an Israeli city in England. Great anthem, not(!)OK I know the 'new Jerusalem' will be like heaven on earth when Jesus returns but the Bible describes it as descending from heaven. It ain't built by human hands, let alone English ones!<BR/><BR/>As a Christian I'm offended by the whole notion of the song and as an Englishman I'd be ashamed and embarrassed to have such drivel sung to represent by country.Ianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01627674169582650940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779136.post-29030699591844042432007-12-01T04:13:00.000+00:002007-12-01T04:13:00.000+00:00I think we should sing "Ernie The Milkman" by Benn...I think we should sing "Ernie The Milkman" by Benny Hill. You tell the youngsters today that, and they won't understand.<BR/><BR/>But - he drove the fastest milk cart in the west<BR/><BR/>YetiYetihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10886432752192160027noreply@blogger.com