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#56799 02/14/02 02:03 AM
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#56800 02/14/02 04:25 AM
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> Americans generally are known to be more overtly patriotic than the citizens of most other countries

Right on plutarch.

I'd say the Poms are right up there as well (one guy in my office - a Pom) even has "Land of Hope and Glory" as his mobile's ring tone.

As per the comment above, "flag waver" is a derogatory term here - akin to "bleeding heart", "tree hugger" etc.

Like many Australians I suspect, I don't have a problem with overt displays of patriotism (more's the better I say), but it's not something that we do in Australia. Same with clutching the breast during the anthem or holding a corner of a flag - doesn't happen (there are a few sportspeople that do it, but it's not the rule - we are taught to stand to attention during the anthem. Probably a British 'stiff upper lip' sort of thing).

As has been pointed out previously, many Ozzies don't know ALL the words of the National Anthem. And, if they do, I bet they are unsure how many stars are on the flag. Or how many points there are on the big star - or the little ones for that matter. Or why. As for being able to pick it from the NZ flag when the two are flying side by side......70% maybe.

It's probably a rejection of the British history and aspects of 'the flag' (I've never heard it called anything else). Many these days are not impressed by the presence of the Union Jack. (Not in sufficient quantities to do anything about it I might add......).

Nevertheless we love our country just as much as anybody else - smug in the knowledge that it IS the best place in the world. Everybody else just thinks they've got it good. We know we DO.

stales


#56801 02/14/02 01:24 PM
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I'd say the Poms are right up there as well (one guy in my office - a Pom) even has "Land of Hope and Glory" as his mobile's ring tone.

*Way, way out of date as an observation on mainland UK as far as I would register, stales - I doubt if this is true of more than one in a hundred people under the age of 50. Bear in mind, also, the strange effect of expatriate communities or peoples the world over - they tend to become "more English than England" about whatever are their respective roots.


#56802 02/14/02 01:56 PM
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I suppose we sometimes refer to the Canadian flag as The Maple Leaf. For obvious reasons. There's an old song called "The Maple Leaf Forever" which I periodically play to death on the piano.


#56803 02/14/02 02:30 PM
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I recall that Scott Joplin wrote (among others) "The Maple Leaf Rag" - any connection?


#56804 02/14/02 04:34 PM
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I recall that Scott Joplin wrote (among others) "The Maple Leaf Rag" - any connection [to the Canadian symbol]?

Durn good question -- but as far as I can find, no connection. One source states that the song title has nothing to do with Canada, but refers to the tavern where Joplin wrote the tune.

http://www.canoe.ca/MusicHistoryApril/april01.html
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/199709/1997.09.08.05.html

P.S.: Sparteye, do you have a piano?

#56805 02/14/02 04:36 PM
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Joplin also wrote marches, I believe, which made me think of Sousa. Some years ago some IDIOT took the liberty of adding words to some of Sousa's best-known marches, including the Washington Post March.

The first line:

A Washington post is an important post...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH






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#56806 02/14/02 04:43 PM
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"The Maple Leaf Rag" - any connection?

Not sure, since I don't know how The Maple Leaf Rag goes. However, I have found a site with the LYRICS of The Maple Leaf Forever

The Maple Leaf Forever - Lyrics

In Days of yore,
From Britain's shore
Wolfe the dauntless hero came
And planted firm Britannia's flag
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave,
Our boast, our pride
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwined,
The Maple Leaf Forever.

[CHORUS]
The Maple Leaf
Our Emblem Dear,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
God save our Queen and heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf Forever.

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane
Our brave fathers side by side
For freedom's home and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died.
And so their rights which they maintained,
We swear to yeild them never.
Our watchword ever more shall be
The Maple Leaf Forever

[CHORUS]

Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound
May peace forever be our lot
And plenty a store abound
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever
And flourish green for freedom's home
The Maple Leaf Forever

[CHORUS]


However, it's hard to compare to The Maple Leaf Rag without the music. (Actually, it's a bit cheesy either way. Just fun to play on the piano.) I'll work on finding an online version of the song.

EDIT: Here's a site with the lyrics, and you can click to hear a terrible MIDI version of the melody. Whatever works! http://ingeb.org/songs/indaysof.html


#56807 02/14/02 04:53 PM
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Not sure, since I don't know how The Maple Leaf Rag goes.

MIDI files at http://www.trachtman.org/ragtime/ -- also includes sheet music for this particular rag.

Maple Leaf Rag was Joplin's first commercial success and kicked off the ragtime era. One of my favorites (also on that site) is Magnetic Rag, his last composition, which for years was difficult to find becuase of copyright matters.


#56808 02/14/02 11:34 PM
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Nevertheless we love our country just as much as anybody else - smug in the knowledge that it IS the best place in the world. Everybody else just thinks they've got it good. We know we DO.

Aaah, stales I'm standing here with one hand on my bleeding heart, the other clutching the corner of the Aussie flag and saying "Hats off" (cross-threading) to you ... I couldn't have said it better m'self .

Wearing a black band on one of those very patriotic arms, mourning the loss of my hero Steve Waugh as Limited Overs Cricket Captain. He was robbed!

Hev

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