Advance Australia Fair should not be played before the All Stars match between the Indigenous and Maori teams.
This is not a piece about whether we need to change the Australian national anthem – I’ve got thoughts on that particular issue, but will park them for now.
Instead, I simply agree with Ryan James’ statement on the issue from earlier this month, when he told reporters that he and his Indigenous teammates don’t want the Aussie anthem played prior to the match on the Gold Coast on February 22.
“We sat down and talked about it last year and it just doesn’t represent us or what we do,” James said.
The anthem has been a thorny issue of late, with most Indigenous players opting not to sing it when it was played before rep games this year.
That’s been the case with most footy players throughout my life, with one or two really belting it out, a handful making a show of slightly moving their mouths – literally paying lip service to the tune – but many simply standing with their jaws clamped, none too fussed about participating in a little singsong before 80 intense minutes.
(Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)
However, this latest issue is not a case of opting against singing because it doesn’t get them revved up. Rather, as James put it, Indigenous players have said it doesn’t represent them.
The specific issue tends to be the word “young” in the second line – “for we are young and free” – which obviously does not apply to a civilisation some 60,000 years old.
It may be one word, however it’s still a big deal – an ignorant oversight at best, intentionally exclusionary at worst – which means it’s completely understandable that Indigenous people don’t recognise it as being representative of them.
And if it’s not representative of the Indigenous team, and it’s obviously not representative of the Maori team, then why bother to play it?
It’d be a bit like playing God Save the Queen before a State of Origin match. I mean, sure, it’s still our country’s royal anthem, but even the most ardent Queenslander would resent likely having to listen to that particular ditty – let alone stand and sing it – before a game between two Aussie states.
In fact, the reason Advance Australia Fair ended up becoming our anthem was because Gough Whitlam recognised in 1973 that a song imploring God to protect the Queen of England probably wasn’t representative of a secular nation on the other side of the world.
Ultimately, the All Stars’ stance will likely spark a larger discussion around the appropriateness of our anthem.
James is actually hoping for it to happen.
“It’s a good time for the players and the NRL to make some decisions,” he told NRL.com.
“There are a lot of things that still need to be raised and talked about. The conversations have definitely started. It just brings it more to light with the players and all the media around it.”
Regardless, the easiest thing for the NRL to do is to treat the All Stars match the same way it does a standard club game – just don’t play any anthem.
Offer our Maori guests the opportunity to perform the Haka as an expression of their culture and certainly embrace this week-long exploration of each other’s heritage.
But if singing a song is going to offend rather than unite the team it’s supposed to represent, it seems pretty straightforward that we just don’t play it.
The duad
Guest
The anthem does nothing for me. If you get something out of it good for you, But if you are going to demand i like it and abuse me for my opinion about it than you have a problem with understanding freedom.
3 bags empty
Guest
Man o man , there’s rock , punk and even a reggae versh. Check it out Sprucey old boy , it’ll go off inside your caravan.
Bossbaybee
Guest
Yeah , I dunno if there is any great resistance to the words being changed. I for one couldn't care less if there were adjustments similar to what you've mentioned . But is that really going to stop the protest towards the anthem and the flag? There's also the push for a republic and a flag change as a result , so where will it all end. Im sure plenty of South Africans didn't see the future as it has turned out when there were changes over there , so people need to watch what they wish for I think.
Nick
Roar Guru
What "fact" did you just present? You need to learn the definition of fact. Australia is relatively old. 150 countries are considerably younger. On a bell curve, Australia sits at the end of it. We are well beyond the median age of a nation. Your just comparing Australia to white European countries, and white south american ones. Compared to the rest of the world, we are seasoned old veterans. That's "relatively" speaking.
Nick
Roar Guru
Well, what is it? Countries or nations? They are distinctly different. Australia has about 400 countries, each of about 60000 years old. Australia as a nation is 120 years old and one of the oldest nations in the world. By either metric, Australia is not a young nation, nor is it a young country. Just keep digging.
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
Bro, you need to learn the meaning of the world "relatively". The relative measure here is years by the way. :laughing: Don't you hate it when facts get in your way!
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
There are countries that are thousands of years old. We are a nearly 120. Sorry bro, we are young. :thumbup: Facts don't care about your feelings.
Nick
Roar Guru
So, basically a majority of the voters in that plebiscite rejected the selected national anthem. 56.71% did not want Advance Australia Fair. Good hole you've dug yourself there. We should have observed our standard voting practices and declared the voting null and void because a simple majority was not attained.
Nick
Roar Guru
And 150 countries commenced after Australia did. We are an old one, son.
Nick
Roar Guru
As I said above to Dunning Kruger, Australia is not relatively new. Australia is in the top 25% of oldest nations. There have been over 150 created since 1901. Don't let facts get in the way though.
Nick
Roar Guru
Thanks Donald, Actually, it's one of the older ones. By a long, long way. The political entity that is Australia is in the top 15% of oldest countries in the world. There are over 150 countries that have been formed/organised since 1901. It's older than all but a handful of countries in Africa, of which about 80% are post-colonial inventions...lines in the sand so to speak. It's older than all SE Asian countries except Thailand, which again are post-colonial inventions. It's older than all but a handful of countries in Eastern europe (post WWI creations, post WWII creations, post- Cold War creations). It's older than every country in the sub-continent, the middle east and central asia except Afghanistan and Iran. It's older the the two Koreas, it's older than Mongolia, the list is quite endless. It's older than all but a smattering of historically old caribbean islands such as Haiti. It's older than every single pacific island nation. It's only younger than most nations in North America and south america. But, don't let facts stand in the way of dribble.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Sorry, the words do matter The wording of the anthem specifically excludes indigenous Australians. I can completely understand why they don’t want it played When the anthem started with “Australia’s sons let us rejoice...” and women wanted it changed because it excluded them, there was minimal resistance. When indigenous people say they want it changed, everyone is up in arms
Nick
Roar Guru
"living in the best country in the world" Can you prove that, John? Under what metric does Australia earn the right to be considered the best country in the world?
Nick
Roar Guru
Sad thing is that this statement is more likely to be true, than a joke.
justin
Roar Rookie
I'm fairly certain in this debate I'm not the illiterate one champ... maybe stop listening to 2gb and visit a library
R N
Roar Rookie
I really have no strong opinion on the anthem…! However, I would like to wish all a happy new year and sincerely hope the fires aren’t in your vicinity! To those affected all the best in recovery of property and spirit! Hears to the coming 2020 season and may your team stay injury free and be there at the pointy end! Actually the anthem should never be sung… Just get to kick off already!
Bossbaybee
Guest
Mate , its four or five minutes long , with five or six verses . What verse or verses do you choose to sing. Most people don't even know the second verse of advance Australia fair. I agree its a beautifully written song ,and encompasses all, but its too long to become the Anthem .
Greg
Roar Pro
Theyre in the link. For the most part they arent bad. Not sure why they needed additional verses in that version as well. Although im as left (and as white) as they come and even i dont like the line about honouring the dreaming, as it doesnt represent me. I could do respecting the dreaming as i respect the right for Indigenius people to honor the dreaming and believe to move forward together we should all respect that right of theirs.
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Yeah... I think if you reread my posts and your posts you will realise that we aren’t actually arguing the same point.
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
You are twisting yourself in logical knots Joe. The Nation of Australia is young. In fact one of the youngest on the planet. :thumbup: