HAVING just read your article about the local Bishop saying that the hymn "I Vow To Thee My Country" causes nationalism comparable to the rise of Nazism, I am compelled to write to you to refute this utter rubbish!
The rise of Nazism was crucially down to the severe economic problems faced by Germany after the Wall Street Crash, ultimately resulting in unemployment of six million people (33 per cent of the German workforce).
In these desperate times, Germans sought an answer as the traditional political parties had failed to offer a solution. Anyone looking at the election results between 1929 and 1933 can see this VERY obvious link!
Whether you like Tony Blair or not, Britain is certainly not in such an extreme position!
However, it has to be noted equally that the Communists were gaining popularity at this time. German fear of Communism was a key reason why Hitler was finally appointed Chancellor in January 1933 by President Hindenburg. What political opposite to the extremism of the BNP exists in Britain at the moment?
One of Hitler's vote-winning positions was his promise to undo the Treaty of Versailles. Is the UKIP's anti-European stance (which has some nationalist overtones, but not of the extremist nature of nationalism the Bishop suggests) supposed to be comparable? I could go on.
Working in Argentina, which states it is Catholic, I was surprised to not get any religious holidays but instead National Days - for the flag, for the day the nation was declared and for the liberator, among others.
Yes, this country is very proud of its achievements and nationhood (and I've talked about the Falklands/Malvinas as well) and it is a great pity Britain (or does the song specify England?) cannot and does not take a similar pride in its many achievements.
The Bishop obviously does not appreciate why people celebrate D-Day with nationalistic pride, despite working for an institution that advocated British involvement in the First World War.
The Church has a role in society (although many seem unclear what it is, other than to fight among itself). As an institution, it played the stock market in the 1980s, and when the crash came lost a reported £800 million - so economics is something else Church leaders know nothing about. They are willing to ordain ministers who disagree with fundamental beliefs of Christianity, and yet the Bishop can lecture others that a song written during the suffering of the First World War leads to nationalism which we should all reject because we are going to become Nazis.
Pride in one's country is not something to be ashamed of; Jingoism or extreme nationalism is.
Perhaps the Bishop would be well advised to spend his spare time reading history books to check his facts, rather than firing off letters against individual hymns.
R Alergant
Olivos
Buenos Aires
Argentina
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