Sunday, April 22, 2012

Animal Farm, Squealer's Speeches and Propaganda

                Comrades, come closer! Our Leader Comrade Napoleon has made a new rule that our regular work hours will be extended by thirty minutes starting tomorrow, He says this is an effort to increase our farm’s production. Now don’t fret comrades, we have a very high output of crops already but, to catch up with the other farms, our Leader Comrade Napoleon wants us to work longer.
            To start with, the hens are now expected to stop working in the fields or getting stone for the windmill and only lay eggs. Comrade Napoleon says they will be more valuable in trade with the humans. You may think that this violates the first commandment, but let me remind you, the commandment really says whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy unless it is for business reasons.
            Also, the cows are to have reduced work hours so that they can be milked more often. Their milk will also be more valuable in trade. We pigs will also have reduced work hours so that we can try to work out business agreements with the other farms.
             Lately, I have noticed many complaints about the rations we give you. Some of us have been saying they are too small or that we must not have a very large supply of food left but don’t worry comrades.  Your rations are the same size they always have been since the rebellion. It may seem smaller but the only reason is that now a portion of our harvest goes to be sold at the market. There have also been rumors that we pigs are getting larger rations than you. This is true, but they are not much larger than yours and remember, we pigs are the brainpower of this farm. Without us, Jones might come back. If he comes back, everyone’s rations would be smaller and there would be much harder work. Nobody wants that! Right comrades?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Animal Farm Chapter 4

Russia’s National Anthem
Throughout history Russia has had several national anthems. The first was called "Боже, царя храни", translating to God Save the Czar. The song was to the tune of the British song God Save the Queen.  Its lyrics translated into English are roughly:
 God save the noble Tsar!
Long may he live, in power,
In happiness,
In peace to reign!
Dread of his enemies,
Faith’s sure defender,
God save the Tsar! 
            This was the national anthem from its adoption until 1917 when it was replaced by a Russian translation of the Hymn of the French Revolution. Themes from it can be heard in Tchaikovsky’s well known 1812 overture along with themes from the original anthem, God Save the Czar.
Link to Hymn of the French Revolution:
            In 1944, the Hymn of the French Revolution was replaced by the Stalinist song Hymn of the Soviet Union. After Stalin’s death it became forbidden to sing the song but, in 1977, the original lyrics were edited to remove the Stalinist aspects and it was acceptable to sing the song again. After that, there were disputes over the national anthem but in 2001 it was decided to be the Hymn of the Soviet Union with new lyrics by Sergey Mikhalkov.
Link to current national anthem:
Japan’s National Anthem
            Japan’s national anthem is based off a poem called 君が代 or Kimigayo. In 1860, it was put to music by William Fenton who was the band master of the Japanese army. In 1881 a committee chose a different tune to put the poem to by Oku Yoshiisa. This song was not officially adopted until 1999. Japan’s national anthem is one of the shortest in the world.
Link to Kimigayo:
Spain’s National Anthem
             The origins of Spain’s national anthem are disputed. Some people say it was composed by a German to be given to King Carlos III. It is also said to have been a French song brought to Spain by King Philip V. Under King Carlos III, it was rearranged for military orchestras. In July of 1942, it was declared the national anthem. There are no official lyrics to the song but a well known version was written by Eduardo Marquina. Spain’s national anthem is one of the few in the world without lyrics.
Link to Spain’s national anthem with unofficial lyrics:
            National anthems and monuments bring more patriotism to countries. It gives the people a sense of national pride to all and unites them because they experienced the same hardships. It also makes them think more highly of their country and that if they have won one battle they can win another.

Sources Used
recordings of national anthems were found on You Tube