Austrian feminists achieve change of national anthem

[Tender Branson]

Austrian anthem to give daughters a mention

Austria plans to recognise its "great daughters" in the national anthem, alongside its "great sons".

The main parties in the Austrian parliament have agreed that part of the anthem's text will be changed. The new version may be ready by January.

The phrase "Home of great sons, you are" is likely to be changed to "Home of great daughters, great sons".



Women politicians from the three main parties said experts would be consulted to settle on a final version.

The anthem's text dates back to 1947. The drive to change it suddenly gained momentum last Friday, when a former women's affairs minister, Maria Rauch-Kallat of the Austrian People's Party (OeVP), put forward a motion to amend the text.

Austrian media say it took several days for male politicians in the conservative OeVP to back Ms Rauch-Kallat's motion.

At a joint news conference on Wednesday the spokeswomen of the OeVP, the Social Democrats (SPOe) and the Greens announced that the change would go ahead.

The move is expected to get the official green light in a parliamentary vote in the autumn.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14155830

Austrians are also totally opposed to changing the national anthem, says a new poll by the accurate OGM institute for the newspaper "Kurier":



Only 19% are in favor of changing the national anthem to mention the "daughters" as well, while 70% are opposed. Only Green voters are in favor.

Only 16% want a totally new national anthem, while 68% are opposed.

http://kurier.at/nachrichten/3922838.php

[Tender Branson]

Because the Austrian national anthem is sung very slowly, it completely destroys the singing of it.

That's why I oppose the change that is proposed. I would support the change if it rhymes and doesn't destroy the singing.

Imagine the US anthem is changed from "The bombs bursting in air" to "The bombs bursting in air and over in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya" - would you still like to sing it ?

[bgwah]

Because the Austrian national anthem is sung very slowly, it completely destroys the singing of it.

That's why I oppose the change that is proposed. I would support the change if it rhymes and doesn't destroy the singing.

Imagine the US anthem is changed from "The bombs bursting in air" to "The bombs bursting in air and over in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya" - would you still like to sing it ?

That would be pretty awesome, actually. Besides, it's not like some awful celebrity isn't just going to ruin it anyway.

[ZuWo]

I see, there cannot be any signs of an economic crisis in Austria as long as your parties can afford to spend time on such a non-issue. Or is it the "Sommerloch" (silly season)?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Because the Austrian national anthem is sung very slowly, it completely destroys the singing of it.

That's why I oppose the change that is proposed. I would support the change if it rhymes and doesn't destroy the singing.

Imagine the US anthem is changed from "The bombs bursting in air" to "The bombs bursting in air and over in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya" - would you still like to sing it ?

Hey we could always change to the fourth verse.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

It's silly things like this that gives feminists such a bad reputation.

[Tender Branson]

It's silly things like this that gives feminists such a bad reputation.

And FPÖ's Strache a bigger lead in the polls.

BTW, I think the national anthem should be changed to

“Heimat bist Du großer Söchter”

or

“Heimat bist Du großer Töne”

of which the second makes more sense.

"Töne" is a mix of "Töchter (Daughters)" and "Söhne (Sons)" and it also is the German word for "Sounds" and Austria is very well known for famous "Sounds".

That would make the most sense.

[Antonio the Sixth]

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

[Tender Branson]

There´s also another phrase in the 1st anthem that needs a fast change (!!!):

You must be logged in to read this quote.

We might as well change it to

Land of fields, land of cathedrals, land of mosques and synagogues !

And the 3rd anthem must be changed from

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Unified, in fraternal and sororal choirs, let us
Pledge allegiance to you, Fatherland and Motherland !

[GMantis]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

[Gustaf]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

[Foucaulf]

Very similar to a Canadian initiative last year, except that one was thrown out days later.

I still remain opposed to publicity stunts like this, which skirt more chronic problems of gender inequality. But it is odd to see everyone opposed to anthem changes, as if shifting a few words is an assault on national sovereignity.

[GMantis]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Again, what has this to do with race?

[Gustaf]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Again, what has this to do with race?

Impure blood of the enemy perhaps?

[GMantis]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Again, what has this to do with race?

Impure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Impure blood is not the same thing as a different race. Accusations of racism are very silly here as all opponents of France where white themselves.

[Gustaf]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Again, what has this to do with race?

Impure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Impure blood is not the same thing as a different race. Accusations of racism are very silly here as all opponents of France where white themselves.

So, since Jews and Slavs were white, Hitler and the Nazis were not racist?

[GMantis]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Again, what has this to do with race?

Impure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Impure blood is not the same thing as a different race. Accusations of racism are very silly here as all opponents of France where white themselves.

So, since Jews and Slavs were white, Hitler and the Nazis were not racist?

No, but Hitler thought they were. This is not the case here.

[Gustaf]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Again, what has this to do with race?

Impure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Impure blood is not the same thing as a different race. Accusations of racism are very silly here as all opponents of France where white themselves.

So, since Jews and Slavs were white, Hitler and the Nazis were not racist?

No, but Hitler thought they were. This is not the case here.

Thought they were what? Black? Wanting to slaughter people from other countries because they're less pure is hard not to view as racist, imo. It's not the most racist thing imaginable, but it's still a bit behind the times.

[GMantis]

Political correctness beats popular opinion yet again. So no surprises here.

And meanwhile, France still has a blatantly racist anthem...

What's so racist about it?

Feeding the soil with the unpure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Again, what has this to do with race?

Impure blood of the enemy perhaps?

Impure blood is not the same thing as a different race. Accusations of racism are very silly here as all opponents of France where white themselves.

So, since Jews and Slavs were white, Hitler and the Nazis were not racist?

No, but Hitler thought they were. This is not the case here.

Thought they were what? Black? Wanting to slaughter people from other countries because they're less pure is hard not to view as racist, imo. It's not the most racist thing imaginable, but it's still a bit behind the times.

Non-Aryan. Hitler doesn't seem to have viewed the races in the usual colour framework.
And they didn't want to kill the foreigners for having impure blood, but because they were invading France and trying to restore the old regime

[Platypus]

Our anthem once read "Australia's sons let us rejoice, for we are young and free". It is now "Australians all let..."

I think it works just as well/badly as the original.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Our anthem once read "Australia's sons let us rejoice, for we are young and free". It is now "Australians all let..."

I think it works just as well/badly as the original.

That sound to me a tad ageist, doesn't it ?

[minionofmidas]

The Austrian anthem is slightly less unpopular/derided than I have been led to believe, according to that poll.

Meanwhile, here in Germany we should just sing the second verse instead of the third one if we want to celebrate our womenfolk.

[GMantis]

The Austrian anthem is slightly less unpopular/derided than I have been led to believe, according to that poll.

Meanwhile, here in Germany we should just sing the second verse instead of the third one if we want to celebrate our womenfolk.

The song I certainly agree with, the loyalty is a bit iffy, but the less said about the wine, the better. So putting women among these things is kind of a mixed blessing

[Tender Branson]

VIENNA December 7, 2011 (AP)

As of now, Austria's national anthem pays homage not only to the country's great sons but also to its favored daughters.

Parliament on Wednesday voted to accept two text changes to the hymn. "Home you are to great sons" is being replaced by "Home to great daughters and sons," while "brother choirs" has been amended to "choirs of joy."

The change goes into effect Jan. 1. But the legislators got a foretaste, with a church choir singing the new version in the lower house of parliament right after the amendments were approved.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/women-mention-amended-austrian-anthem-15106026