The Summer Solstice.

In the Northern Hemisphere, June 21st is the #SummerSolstice. It is the point in our celestial year when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. In the Southern Hemisphere, it represents the winter solstice when the path of the sun in the sky is at its lowest. For many thousands of years our ancestors would have celebrated this time of year and celebrations of fertility and harvest exist around the northern hemisphere. Although many festivals have been bastardised and assimilated in to recent religious calendars, there are many secular and ancient traditions associated with the Solstice. We should celebrate it with a public holiday and marvel at our place in the solar system. Linked to my articles on Xmas & Oestre/Easter, Halloween and American 'Thanksgiving' found here and here .

Time for a new English National anthem. Here is my suggestion.

"God save our gracious Queen..." - the opening line to the English national anthem. As a non-royalist and an atheist, singing these words at sporting events such as the World Cup or Olympics with passion and pride is next to impossible. I am proud to be English, we have a great country that should represent fairness and equality, providing a beacon to emerging nations around the world, a modern and advanced society. Our national anthem should represent this nation and be uplifting and inspiring, with lyrics that fill people with pride and awe, not divide the nation along religious/royalist/nationalistic lines by banging on about gods, a ruling monarch and an historical warring past.

The idea of singing about national pride at sporting events seems a little silly in the first place but, if we are going to do so, then we should at least be singing something that all involved can feel connected to. There are even other verses to the English national anthem that seem more appropriate than the one we currently use. ( Same Tune ) Check out the lyrics for the 4th verse:

 

"May just and righteous laws

Uphold the public cause,

And bless our isle.

Home of the brave and free,

Fair land and liberty,

Breaking News - Human man quits privileged position.

Can a #Humanist/#Rationalist be a Royalist? After all, we are talking about a fellow human who is considered to be better and more worthy than those beneath them. Living in a privileged position of generational wealth and power, handed to them by war and tyranny throughout history. I'm not sure that it is something that belongs in a modern world of equality and rationality.

King Juan Carlos of Spain has recently (2ndJune2014) abdicated the throne, handing the 'job' to his son, Felipe in what could be seen as a PR stunt designed to halt a slide in Royal popularity. Is that cynical or does it have some truth - Juan Carlos Human has had a hard time publicly in the last few years. He went Elephant hunting in Botswana, splashing his inherited wealth whilst the vast majority of the Spanish people struggled through a large financial crisis. Is that not a bit anachronistic?

Is the idea of a British monarchy ruling over the lower orders relevant in a modern society? Does it have a place other than as a figurehead for a 'Disney-style dream castle theme park' with a large team of PR bots designed to boost tourism? Should a royal family have any power to rule or hold any opinions? When they do, they find themselves in hot royal water for expressing an interest. ( see Prince Charles discussing Ukraine/Russia ) Are there really some humans that are genetically better suited to rule over others? When you say it like that, it makes you wonder how relevant it really is. Or is that just cynical me? Discuss.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27662301