Sir: Glenn Moore's article concerning the supposed UK national anthem demonstrates a typically anglocentric view to both "God Save The Queen" and the notion of a "United" Kingdom.
He singularly fails to understand that the primary reason behind the Scots booing of "God Save The Queen" is not any republican sentiment, or due to the fact that the English have appropriated the anthem (although this doubtless plays a part), but because the anthem itself, in its verse inserted around the time of the Jacobite rebellion, explicitly asks for divine assistance in trying "the rebellious Scots to crush". Why should any self respecting Scot sing this anthem or be patronised by it? For this reason the song can never be the anthem of Scotland.
CAMPBELL J DIAMID
via e-mail
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