We have many days celebrating many many things
Memories, traditions and all that that brings.
We have Halloween to celebrate America’s childish greed
We have bonfire night to celebrate Guy Fawkes’ ignoble deed.
We celebrate the skills and traditions of many races
And of strangers from so many different places.
We sing, dance and play tunes from each far off land
Yet it’s as if celebrations of England has been banned.
There is St. Patrick’s day if you’re Irish and Burns Night if you’re a Scot
But not much for the English even St. George’s almost been forgot.
Let’s close all the schools to ensure that our kid’s have heard
Of the glorious traditions that surround April 23rd.
Let’s celebrate with Long-swords and Morris-Men too
Celebrate our success on the ocean’s blue.
This noble nation is too old to celebrate its inception
But the idea of celebrating ENGLAND deserves a better reception.
Author notes
At a singer's night out in late January all I heard was Scot's and Australian songs. I've nothing against that except in the middle of the English Peak District I had hoped to hear some traditional English songs. This was written (and recited) that night.
Last night (15th March) I went to another singers night in the middle of Yorkshire and heard many Irish songs. I decided this need another airing.
In a list
What should our proposed new bank holiday be about
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
-
Poet
Though American I cannot agree more. The Engish should be proud of their achievements and what they have given to the world. Stand tall. Often I wonder if Churchill was American would we have thses problems now. To me he was the most brilliant leader the world has known.
-
-
Well he did have an American mother. Watching, or rather listening, to Obama's speeches for the last 5 years you may have a world-class leader there.
Anyway thanks for stopping by and reading some stuff.
Jim
-
-
I agree with you about American Halloween. If the families of these trick-or-treating children don't have many boundaries then they stuff themselves with as much candy as they want. Then they get fat, diabetic and loose their attention span in school.
I'd love to visit England and/or Scotland and witness your singing. I'm American of Scots descent.
-
-
Thanks for reading and writing Paul (?)
The importation of "trick or treat" to the UK with its overtones of both greed and vandalism was, IMHO, a backward step in Anglo-British relations
Jim -
-
Oh my, i'm afraid I don't believe in collective guilt. That's the crowd mentality.
Individuals act individually. Wasn't that the lesson that we learned from WW2?
Individual thought gets us into trouble, and it will get us out of it.
I don't agree with the current "Blame America First" crowd.
Was there ever a step forward in Anglo-British relations? IMHO, positive reinforcement is far better tool for social change than the use of a stick.
Paul
-
-
-
Right on my friend
I am all for that but first "Halloween, America's childish greed?" Not sure if I totally agree. More a night of goose bumps and mischief.
England with its history of the greatest navy in the world. A nation who nearly dominated the entire world. A nation of commerce which showed the rest of the world how. Design, innovation, poetry, books and art.
Let's do celebrate soon. If you have enough Englanders to dominate your world now. I saw many Indians and North Africans there when last I visited. Lol
We have a similar situation here.
Jim
-
-
Thanks for a quick response Jim.
I have nothing against anyone's culture or presence. As it says in one of my poems "I'm part of the multi-racial crowd" but I am also English (well Yorkshire actually) and want to be allowed to be proud of that without being called a member of the National Front (An extremist political party here).
As for Halloween. It may have started of as All Hallows Eve but now it is just an excuse for trick or treat and for the kids to stuff themselves with as many sweets as they can extort from their victims. No wonder there's so much child obesity.
Jim
-
-
You are so right! Why are we not encouraged to celebrate being English, when every other nationalities celebrations are welcome here? I think you mean "Guy" rather than "Gut" though!
Ann
-
-
Ooops. Thanks Ann. I wonder what a mess I would have made if I called him Guido.
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 9 of 9
