STRONG Britain, Great Nation. Strong Britain, Great Nation. Strong Britain, Great Nation. Strong Britain, Great Nation.
While that sentence may look like the words of a brainwashed drone, it is the actual finishing lyrics to a song promoted by the UK Government as part of their push to promote the Union.
Rather than confront the significant and multiple failings of the UK system, it seems the Tories are hoping to simply make children learn Unionism by rote.
And the song, dogmatic as it is, is just one aspect of the One Britain One Nation (OBON) day schools across the home nations are being urged to participate in on June 25.
The fact that most Scottish schools will have broken up for the holidays by then seems to have escaped the notice of the Whitehall bigwigs.
READ MORE: One Britain One Nation: What is this push for British nationalism?
What’s more, the Welsh don’t seem particularly taken with the idea. In fact, it may be more accurate to say it has gone down like a bucket of cold sick.
Various people in the nation hit out at the “nonsense” on social media, with abundant comparisons to North Korea and the Soviet Union.
Even the Welsh Government got involved, pointing out that education is devolved and saying they were not “engaged” with the project.
Now, the Welsh football team (who are still in the Euros in case the UK media’s tunnel vision caused you to think only England qualified for the next round) have taken their own jab at the UK Government-promoted Unionism day.
READ MORE: Ministers want schools across UK to celebrate 'amazing' One Britain One Nation day
In a tweet posted to the team’s social media, they have asked the schoolchildren in Wales to consider singing a different song on June 25.
The post reads: “Ahead of our Euro 2020 Match against Denmark on Friday, we would love to see the support of our fans across Cymru.
“We would like schools across the country to sing Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau with pride this Friday morning and send us your clips for a special compilation to be created ahead of matchday.”
HEN WLAD FY NHADAU ❤️🏴#WAL | #EURO2020 | #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/SBFS2bCZW1
— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 23, 2021
The teams adds: “Canwch gydag angerdd, dros Gymru,” which means: “Sing with passion, for Wales.”
The song Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, which is also referenced at the top of the tweet in block capital letters alongside the Welsh flag and a love heart emoji, means “Old Land of My Fathers” in Welsh.
It is the nation’s national anthem and is sung ahead of sporting events, having taken over from the rather more Unionist “God Bless the Prince of Wales”. We can’t imagine why.
The Welsh game against Denmark is actually on Saturday June 26, which makes it even more clear that this is just a joke at the UK Government’s expense.
And it’s a joke which people are loving, with the responses online full of praise for the team.
Here’s a few of the best (warning, strong language):
Hey, @educationgovuk @UKGovWales - Wales will be singing its own song on Friday - it's our Anthem. We like it. Diolch, ond dim diolch Gav. Caru @Cymru. https://t.co/vqrGBUHabK
— YesCymru 🏴 (@YesCymru) June 23, 2021
This one's from the foreign affairs columnist of the Washington Post. Global Britain going well then:
So much for "One Nation, One Britain" https://t.co/z3cn8X5xDT
— Ishaan Tharoor (@ishaantharoor) June 23, 2021
Fantastic response to the Britler Youth nonsense being peddled by the UK Gov
— Tomos Wyn Edwards (@TomosEdwards) June 23, 2021
Brilliant! Now this is what I’m talking about! The UK government can shove their 'One Britain, One Nation' so far up their arse they will be able to taste the shit they talk. #WELSHNOTBRITISH 🏴🏴🏴 #WAL #EURO2020 #TOGETHERSTRONGER https://t.co/x4c3Ft8HG9
— J. Thomas 🏴 (@mynameisjamiet) June 23, 2021
I fucking love this country 💚🏴 the best dig at the British Government in years https://t.co/v7p3U6uz1h
— Matthew Bigley (@matti_bigley) June 23, 2021
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