Eric James states and asks:

>From time to time we hear suggestions that the monarchy in Great Britain
>should be done away with.  I won't comment for or against such a notion,
>but I do wonder what the country would do for a national anthem should the
>Queen step down.

Why should it do anything.  We already have a perfectly good national
anthem, which has survived governments of different political flavors,
monarchs of differing sexes, abilities and qualities and expresses that
which a national anthem ought to -- a sense of identity stemming from
tradition and history.  I simply cannot understand why there is such a
fascination with producing something new -- which would have to struggle
to find widespread acceptance and would be highly unlikely to express an
identity from Day One.

Not that I'm resistant to change -- quite the opposite.  However, I am
resistant to change for no good reason.  If it ain't broke.....

Tim Mahon
[log in to unmask]