ANYONE who suggests that national identity is a crucial component in the life of nations is likely these days to run into resistance. In our age of imprecise word usage, people confuse a healthy appreciation for national character with aggressive nationalism. But national character (or identity) has many virtues, and it can be manifested in many ways. Among these, one of the most important is a country’s national anthem.
These vary in musical quality, from Joseph Haydn’s incomparable gift to the Austrian people, to the mind-boggling triteness of Italy’s anthem. Yet all anthems do the job of representing their respective countries. Frequently played and sung, the tune becomes imprinted on the souls of children who hear it. They learn to associate their national song with their homeland.
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