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November 29, 2005

UK: Cricket Anthem May Be Axed To Appease Muslim "Sensibilities"

Today the UK Sun announces that the traditional hymn which is usually sung before matches and other events in Britain may be forbidden next year.

The reason? It may offend Muslims. But this is not a demand being made upon the British by Muslims, it is another act of loony appeasement and anti-patriotism which is being considered by the English and Wales Cricket Board.

Next year, there is going to be a test series between the England Cricket team and Pakistan, which will be held in Britain.

The words of the hymn, which is used as an anthem by crowds at national football matches, and even precedes the branch meetings of the UK's Women's Institute, are thought to be offensive. Perhaps a compromise could be struck, and the offending word "Jerusalem" could be replaced with the word Al-Quds, even though it would not fit the meter of the song.

These are the lyrics to the anthem, which is popularly called "Jerusalem":

AND did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.

I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

The words were written by William Blake, who also wrote "Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright, In the Forests of the Night", and "Auguries of Innocence" whose first lines are
TO see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

An artist and a mystical poet, Blake was born on Nov 28, 1757 and died Aug 12, 1827. His words are still quoted, and his art is still admired (illustrated). The music for the anthem was written in 1916 by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, (1848 - 1918).

As well as being sung at sports grounds and by the WI ladies, it is always sung at Labour Party conferences, and is even recommended as a wedding tune. And as far back as I can remember it was always in hymn books, and regularly sung in schools and churches.

The Sun notes the irony that the England cricket team, who won the Ashes for the first time in several years this summer, have made a CD. The proceeds of the CD are intended to be given as charity for Pakistan's earthquake victims. The recording is tipped to become the Number One single at Christmas. Or should I say the Number One Winterval single?

I forgot that, being British, I have to censor every damned thing I say nowadays, for fear of the PC police. To be absolutely honest, should the appeasing old farts at the Cricket Board decide to veto the singing of the anthem, I expect it will be sung anyway. International sports events are not school sports days with headmasters in charge, and they are one of the few occasions where UK people can safely feel patriotic, rather than cowed and made to be apologetic for not being a member of a religious minority.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 29, 2005 9:52 AM

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