The following article by Mike Small was first posted by bella caledonia.
ON SUPER ALLY AND ‘GOD SAVE THE KING’
We’re all in silos whether we know it or not. Our whole digital algorythmic culture nurtures this state. In recent weeks we’ve seen the Short Term Let lobbyists come to realise that they are not, as they supposed, respected members of the community revered for their hard work and industrious contribution to the community. They are in fact widely regarded as a profiteering, tax-avoidant group who have exacerbated our housing crisis and distorted whole communities.
They are not pleased to have found this out.
Poor Ally McCoist seems to have his silo popped too. Ally was on punditry duty last night at the game and seemed upset at our fans booing the English national anthem. He said on talkSPORT: “I do not like the booing of any national anthem to be honest with you. I just think it is a distinct lack of respect. I genuinely dislike it intensely. If you can’t show respect, I am not talking about England, I am talking about anybody or anybody that goes to Hampden, any football ground or any sporting event. If you can’t show the opposition respect by respecting their national anthem, I think it is a poor show.”
He was asked if he was singing God Save the King on the gantry. And he bluntly added: “Actually I was. Because I am British, you got a problem with that?”
Yes.
McCoist called Scotland fans “out of order” for booing God Save the King – and branded them SNP supporters. This is hilarious, Hampden isn’t full of SNP supporters its full of Scotland fans, and the revulsion for God Save the Queen (or King) goes back decades. Displays of republicanism are rare, and this is more about a rejection of deference and the imposition of an anthem with no cultural resonance here than anything more overtly political. But in a country where schools are literally crumbling but plans are afoot to have a portrait of the King hung in them – it’s surprising there’s not more dissent.
McCoist seems confused.
If he was singing God Save the King he was singing the English national anthem. In his wee silo-world of Unionism its possible for being British and Scottish to co-exist, especially if your Scottishness is subordinate/just-a-laugh/ and meaningless, but for most of us this isn’t possible to reconcile. To sing God Save the King is an act of fealty and an expression of deference. It is to be a Subject.
To be British is to be supine.
I look forward to McCoist and his ilk singing the national anthem of the next nation to come to Hampden.
The question isn’t why do Scotland fans boo God Save the King, the question is why do English not have the self-respect to adopt a proper national anthem?
13.9.23
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also see:
The radical history of English republicanism – Martyn Rush, Labour Momentum, The Tribune
What does the Union Flag tell us about the UK? – Allan Armstrong
Republican symbolism – Johnnie Gallacher and Allan Armstrong
Why we don’t wear a poppy – James Slaven, James Connolly Society