God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
I went to my daughter-in-law's capping ceremony yesterday. She has gained a Bachelor of Business degree. Well done Laura! I sat next to these two.
One of the degree recipients gave a speech. She spoke very well and her story was interesting but, her first words were, "Thanks be to God." She told us that her family was from Tokelau, so maybe she was talking about a Tokelauan god?
When she was finished we were asked to stand for the national anthem.
I didn't sing along because I find the words inappropriate. Anyway, I think they might have been talking about two different gods because the Maori verse sings about a god too.
E Ihowā Atua,
(Oh Lord, God)
O ngā iwi mātou rā,
(Of nations and of us too)
Āta whakarongona;
(Listen to us)
Me aroha noa
(Cherish us)
Kia hua ko te pai;
(Let goodness flourish),
Kia tau tō atawhai;
(May your blessings flow)
Manaakitia mai
(Defend)
Aotearoa
There's a lot of talk about colonization these days. Quite a few Maori, and others, talk about the damage colonization has caused. I certainly get their point. Okay, there have been some good spin offs (like the guitar and tempered music) but I imagine that the last thing they'd want to be stuck with is the god that colonizing missionaries brought with them from Europe (and other places). It's pretty safe to assume that the verse in Maori refers to another god.
Personally, I don't need to thank/sing to any of these gods. If we must have a god, let's go with Zeus.
Zeus, in ancient Greek religion, chief Deity of the pantheon, a sky and weather god who was identical with the Roman god Jupiter. His name may be related to that of the sky god Dyaus of the ancient Hindu Rigveda. Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. He was called the father (i.e., the ruler and protector) of both gods and men.
What a guy!
Ciao tutti.
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
One of the degree recipients gave a speech. She spoke very well and her story was interesting but, her first words were, "Thanks be to God." She told us that her family was from Tokelau, so maybe she was talking about a Tokelauan god?
When she was finished we were asked to stand for the national anthem.
I didn't sing along because I find the words inappropriate. Anyway, I think they might have been talking about two different gods because the Maori verse sings about a god too.
(Oh Lord, God)
O ngā iwi mātou rā,
(Of nations and of us too)
Āta whakarongona;
(Listen to us)
Me aroha noa
(Cherish us)
Kia hua ko te pai;
(Let goodness flourish),
Kia tau tō atawhai;
(May your blessings flow)
Manaakitia mai
(Defend)
Aotearoa
There's a lot of talk about colonization these days. Quite a few Maori, and others, talk about the damage colonization has caused. I certainly get their point. Okay, there have been some good spin offs (like the guitar and tempered music) but I imagine that the last thing they'd want to be stuck with is the god that colonizing missionaries brought with them from Europe (and other places). It's pretty safe to assume that the verse in Maori refers to another god.
Personally, I don't need to thank/sing to any of these gods. If we must have a god, let's go with Zeus.
Zeus, in ancient Greek religion, chief Deity of the pantheon, a sky and weather god who was identical with the Roman god Jupiter. His name may be related to that of the sky god Dyaus of the ancient Hindu Rigveda. Zeus was regarded as the sender of thunder and lightning, rain, and winds, and his traditional weapon was the thunderbolt. He was called the father (i.e., the ruler and protector) of both gods and men.
Ciao tutti.
9 commenti:
Electricity. Don't forget about electricity that colonisation brought.
And flushing toilets. Refrigeration is a big plus in my book but my favourite is the book. Not that 'book', I mean books in general.
Nice news about the daughter in law.
I struggle with the national anthem and don't sing the silly words so am left with just a few like ... well, only " Kia hua ko te pai" to be honest. It's time that we put on our big person's pants and constructed a more fitting anthem for the times.
Yes, yes, but what did you think of the video?
Not quite Martin Scorsese but I blame the videographer.
That's my grandson.
I know it is and what a great wee chap he looks to be. Your son looks like a good and doting father as well.
Gosh!
I visited this blog expecting a new post but ...
Oh dear. I'd better see what's on Netflix.
Well, unless Robert skipped church today and praying those funny prayers, he won't have much time to post. Mind you we shouldn't encourage him to run up a mortal sin.
I don't know about that. It'd be a good test to see, after he 'ran up' a mortal sin on Sunday, whether he gets hit by a bolt of lightning or something on Monday.
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