I vow to thee my country

Spent quite a significant amount of time reminiscing when I happened upon a facebook page of my alma mater (first high school in a series of three). Granted I was a poor student then and was kicked out for a sorry report card, yet,the one year there indeed impressed upon my life quite a span of memories. Good to find echos of my memories from alumni on the face book group: Ecce Romani, Jardin Public, the Pavillion, the seamstresses, etc. I am most grateful to that experience, the friends that have lasted with me since then and the knowledge that has endured.

However, in the spirit of good critiquing; my Religion and Governance instructor from here will be quite pleased to see me critiquing the hymn of my days there thus, just as some might use religion for self-serving gains; so can some use governance for their own ends. And yet, as students; we sung a hymn of such a strange allegiance. The first verse below, hmmm, nie? just follow the words in bold font. What in the world was the writer of this song thinking? Patriotism is good, but asking no questions? what is democratic about that? Just a thought. And to my alma mater, thank you for always, too bad I never made it to the Appian Way. Form One's were not allowed :-(

'I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

(Right Reverend Steven Lowe, Bishop of Hulme: His view that it placed ... an unquestioning support of governments opened a debate on its wider implications--Wikipedia)

Comments

Folkert , Fries, om útens said…

With the danger of being ignorant (I am not an American) and the danger of insulting people (pepani) I have to point out that this doesn't sound much different from an American pledging allegiance to a piece of cloth with stars and stripes.

May 11, 2010 at 1:14 PM

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