Is it rude not to stand for another country's national anthem?

I'd call it rude not to, yeah. Its a custom and a custom that does no-one any harm. At this point, its just manners, or, if you want to look at football or the like as our modern day and more peaceable version of war (hence the anthems and the 'opponants' business), it's honourable. All not standing shows is either ignorance of the custom or a specific gesture of disrespect, which is rather childish.

Mind you, when I lived with a friend in England, housecleaning was often accompanied by music and singing, and we quite often threw on Ambhrann na bhFiann and Rule Britannia* and we'd both quite happily warble through both of them (and the Welsh, Scottish and Swedish ones and torture the Bulgarian one because neither of us knew what the hell they were saying)


And do you know it, but neither of us lost our various citizenships , nor did the sky fall in.

*God Save The Queen just isn't as fun to sing. Say what you like about Rule Britannia, but it's got a chorus you can really get your lungs into.

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

You just couldn't stop yourself from trying to get a dig in at James McClean, could you? If the Irish state had massacred members of your community, covered it up, and added insult to murder by calling the victims terrorists then you too might have problem with the Irish anthem.

Oh dear Tom. As I said Young James (aged 26) born 1989, appears to be the most oppressed person ever. If everyone up here in Northern Ireland took the same attitude no one would be speaking to anyone.

His attitude is childish but in fairness he doesn't appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. (I wasn't the first btw to raise his name which is not surprising considering his recent tomfoolery)

Anyway getting back on topic as I know young master James has his own thread somewhere. Would you stand for the British national anthem or sit and make faces as some sort of jibe? As I've said I stood for the Irish anthem and didn't feel it diminished me at all. Would it make you feel less "Irish" if you ever stood for the UK anthem? If so I would question just how "secure" you were in your own "irishness"

The UK and the Republic of Ireland are not at war Tom. That needs to be remembered.

timthumbni wrote: »

As I said Young James (aged 26) born 1989, appears to be the most oppressed person ever.

The community he comes from had people murdered by the British state - if the guy doesn't want to wear the poppy or acknowledge the British anthem then he has good reason and every right to. Nobody has claimed he's the most oppressed person ever except you.

His attitude is childish

So a person who comes from The Creggan in Derry not wanting to engage in British jingoism is childish? There are thousands of people north and south with the same attitude as James McClean - are they all childish too?

Would you stand for the British national anthem

No, definitely not. I don't hate myself so why would I stand for the anthem of the country that has caused so much grief for my nation?

As I've said I stood for the Irish anthem and didn't feel it diminished me at all.

Nobody cares. If the Irish state murdered members of your community you'd certainly have a different attitude.

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

The community he comes from had people murdered by the British state - if the guy doesn't want to wear the poppy or acknowledge the British anthem then he has good reason and every right to. Nobody has claimed he's the most oppressed person ever except you.



So a person who comes from The Creggan in Derry not wanting to engage in British jingoism is childish? There are thousands of people north and south with the same attitude as James McClean - are they all childish too?



No, definitely not. I don't hate myself so why would I stand for the anthem of the country that has caused so much grief for my nation?



Nobody cares. If the Irish state murdered members of your community you'd certainly have a different attitude.

Tom, why have you mentioned the poppy issue? This is a thread to do with respecting other national anthems. That takes whatabouterry to a whole new level.

Also Tom why are you bleating on about the British army? We are talking about national anthems. Can you not separate the British army from the British/UK national anthem? It's easy if you try. (Copyright J Lennon)

So you in your own words "don't hate yourself" enough to stand for GSTQ indicating that you think anyone Irish should hate themselves if they did stand for it. It's a flipping 1 min piece of music. Your attitude is very interesting though Tom and again it suggests to me feelings of deep insecurity that some seem to have on here. In that you aren't really Irish unless you hate/have no respect for the British/English. It's a bizarre and deluded idea that will just end up making one look like a great tit.

timthumbni wrote: »

Tom, why have you mentioned the poppy issue? This is a thread to do with respecting other national anthems. That takes whatabouterry to a whole new level.

You have a poor understanding of whataboutery.

Also Tom why are you bleating on about the British army? We are talking about national anthems. Can you not separate the British army from the British/UK national anthem?

Not while the British State refuses to apologise for their deeds in Ireland. When the British apologise for their murderous past on this island then I'll consider respecting their anthem.

So you in your own words "don't hate yourself" enough to stand for GSTQ indicating that you think anyone Irish should hate themselves if they did stand for it.

I'm a nationalist from the north. I will not stand for the British anthem while they continue to pretend they didn't engage in mass murder of my community.

Your attitude is very interesting though Tom and again it suggests to me feelings of deep insecurity that some seem to have on here.

Trust me, if there's one thing I'm not insecure about it's my nationality. What nation are you of Tim? Are you British?

In that you aren't really Irish unless you hate/have no respect for the British/English.

I harbour no ill-will for the people of England, Scotland and Wales. I harbour plenty of ill-will for the filth who massacred Irish people down through the years and that includes the RUC/UDR.

It's a bizarre and deluded idea that will just end up making one look like a great tit.

People who don't agree with you are a 'great tit'? How unsurprising Tim. Dash of bitter orange with your Bushmills, 'Sir'?

timthumbni wrote: »

I too am from Northern Ireland Tom

Or in other words 'I'm northern Irish not Irish' Sure god love ye. It's a shame that you're so insecure that, unlike the Welsh and Scots, you feel the need to be explicit about being from a political jurisdiction rather than a geographic region.

and lots of murders happened (none more so in number than by the IRA in case you forgot)

That's not entirely true Tim. If murder is the killing of innocent people then the IRA would need to have committed a lot more murder to catch up with union/loyalists' sectarian murder rampage.

I will continue to respect the Irish national anthem.

You pretend to respect the Irish anthem expecting Irish people unconditionally respect GSTQ. The Irish state didn't murder members of your community - why you would wish Irish people would respect GSTQ is evidence only of your own attitudes.

timthumbni wrote: »

Can you not separate the British army from the British/UK national anthem? It's easy if you try. (Copyright J Lennon)

The British national anthem is "God save the Queen". The Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces is the Queen. Devil Woman. (Copyright C Richard)