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Sputnik International
O say can you see, and the crowd erupts. La Marseillaise begins,
Allons, enfants de la patrie. Again the crowd applauds. Advance Australia Fair, stands, looks around and sighs, Oh never mind.
No, it’s not a true story. Who ever heard of an anthem walking? Marching perhaps.
But it is inarguable that of the three, two stir the soul, and one stirs mixed feelings.
Like a hardy annual, the worth of Advanced Australia Fair again comes into greater focus for Australians come 26 January. A day of celebration, a day of mourning, depending on which side of history you inhabit.
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It was 6am on New Yearâs Day when the text pinged in from ABC TV. The Prime Minister had changed a word in Australiaâs national anthem. As if in sudden, surprised recognition that our country has been populated for more than 60,000 years, we would no longer sing of being âyoung and freeâ, but instead, âone and freeâ.
The national anthem doesnât come from who we are as a nation , says Deborah Cheetham.
Credit:Justin McManus
âWhat a way to start the year,â says Deborah Cheetham, AO, with a sigh. Obviously the adjustment was very welcome, she told the ABC in words relayed around the world. As was changing âAustralian sonsâ to âAustralians allâ when
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Australia’s national anthem has been changed to try and better recognise its First Nations Peoples, and there have been real mixed reactions to it.
Some people have welcomed the change, but others think the new lyrics totally miss the mark of actual inclusion.
It’s opened up conversations on whether we should completely change the national anthem instead of literally just one word, or whether we should even have one at all?
What Just Happened To The National Anthem?
Latrell Mitchell has thrown his support behind a new version of Advance Australia Fair with lyrics that better reflect the nation s indigenous cultures.
The song was performed by Aboriginal performer Kutcha Edward during a live theatre production in 2013 but has gained popularity after a video of the performance was shared by Indigenous fashion label Clothing The Gap on Monday.
A number of well-known Australians pledged their support by commenting on the post, including paralympic swimmer Monique Murphy, netball player Courtney Bruce and Indigenous reality TV star Telv Williams.
Vocal anthem critic and Aboriginal NRL star Latrell Williams also shared the post in his Instagram stories.