Is Australia's national anthem racist?

[Cosmos]

There have been calls, in Australia, to change the anthem. In an upcoming boxing match one of the pugilists (Anthony Mundine) says he will remain seated in protest while the anthem is played.

I think it's fairly obvious that it is racist but judge for yourself . Note that the first and third verses are all that are normally sung . Some people take fair to mean fair skinned / fair haired.

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

[jacquesdor]

I think it is merely an exultation that they have the fairest ( most beautiful ) land in the world. Australia fair, is Australia beautiful. How many old English songs and poems mention 'fair maiden' ? There is also a line which appears to welcome all peoples to share in the beauty.
No, I don't think it is at all racist.

[siasl]

The "plot" seems to be "Brit/English bloke sailed around and found this rather spiffing place to live in". Perhaps you can read more between the lines regarding "fair" than I do, but then it was probably written quite a while ago when moral values and interpretations were different, but there is still the reference to "Her sons in fair Australia's land" in the final verse that I would interpret to mean Australia is pretty, not that it is white.

[P-Kasso2]

I agree with Jacques and Siasl totally - I can't see anything racist in the Aussie anthem. Okay, it IS a bliddy long-winded anthem and far too arty farty faux-archaic in its poncey language...and that's more than enough to recommend it for replacement. Pronto.

How about a nice Hip Hip or rap version instead? And, for a real change, how about for the very first time squeezing in to the new groovy anthem a little reference (or maybe two if the Aussies are feeling particularly PC)  to some of those Australians known as the Aboriginal peoples? And maybe the fact that they actually owned the sunny place lock, stock and barrel for 60,000 years before whitey Cook and his crew barged in and nicked it all off them and started the process of reducing them to third class status? That'd make a very welcome change. And an un-racist one at that.

[Cosmos]

I believe it's racist because it favours a nationality - the British. When you favour one nationality you discriminate against all others and that makes it racist.

As for being long-winded, the vice-regal anthem (God save the queen) has twelve verses, I think.

[P-Kasso2]

I believe it's racist because it favours a nationality - the British. When you favour one nationality you discriminate against all others and that makes it racist.

As for being long-winded, the vice-regal anthem (God save the queen) has twelve verses, I think.

I wouldn't say that being pro-British in the Aussie national anthem is racist - it's just common sense! Of course you praise Britain and Britons. We are such a wonderful race. God's gift to the Earth. Never ever invaded anyone who didn't deserve invading. Fact. What's racist about praising that?

And as for our own 'God Save the Queen' being long-winded, well Cosmos, yes it is but there are only 6 verses not 12. Six admittedly very dirge-like and embarassing verses, yes, but only six. Of course we only ever sing or even know the words to the first verse, even less if you are a professional footballer.

If you have ever read the 'God Save the Queen' anthem thingy in all its full glory you'd be shocked to find out how racist a proper anthem can be. Teeheee. The last two lines are scathing about the Scots and I am surprised that our dear Queen hasn't had to get down on her kilted knee and apologise to the hordes of Picts and Celts skulking around north of the border. How fine are the sentiments in those last two lines in verse 6 below? Not very I say. OK, all together now, verse 6, on the count of ah one two three tra la la...

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring
May he sedition hush
And like a torrent rush
Rebellious Scots to crush
God save the King.

Now that really is what I call non-PC.

Here, Cosmos, for your delight is the whole of our charming and bloood-thirsty national anthem including the universally unsung verses 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6...

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen

O Lord our God arise
Scatter her enemies
And make them fall
Confound their politics
Frustrate their knavish tricks
On Thee our hopes we fix
God save us all

Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour
Long may she reign
May she defend our laws
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen

Not in this land alone
But be God's mercies known
From shore to shore
Lord make the nations see
That men should brothers be
And form one family
The wide world over

From every latent foe
From the assassins blow
God save the Queen
O'er her thine arm extend
For Britain's sake defend
Our mother, prince, and friend
God save the Queen

Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring
May he sedition hush
And like a torrent rush
Rebellious Scots to crush
God save the Queen.

[Cosmos]

 Of course we only ever sing or even know the words to the first verse,

I pointed out in my original post, ‘‘ Note that the first and third verses are all that are normally sung ’’.

[P-Kasso2]

 Of course we only ever sing or even know the words to the first verse,

I pointed out in my original post, ‘‘ Note that the first and third verses are all that are normally sung ’’.

Are there any discussions afoot to include a passing reference in any new national anthem to the Grand Theft of Australia from its rightful owners who, incidentally, have a culture and a right of ownership stretching back a mere 40,000 or 50,000 years before the British empire-snatching culture?