Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Gabon's national anthem is called "La Concorde":

Chorus:

United in the concord and the brotherhood,
Awake, Gabon, dawn is at hand.
Stir up the spirit that thrills and inspires us!
At last we rise up to attain happiness.
At last we rise up to attain happiness.


Interesting variation on the "pursuit of happiness." At first reading I thought, "Gabonese are happy." Since they have already risen up, against the French, ergo, they have attained happiness. But that is not quite literal. They have risen up with the purpose of attaining happiness. Pretty close though to "Gabonese are happy;" closer to attainment than the pursuit of happiness.

Let's see what else there is in La Concorde.

Dazzling and proud, the sublime day dawns,
Dispelling for ever injustice and shame.
May it rise, rise again and calm our fears,
May it promote virtue and banish warfare.


No. That is inconsistent, Gabonese. The sublime day dawned and dispelled for ever injustice and shame. Why the hell would it need to "rise, rise again"?

Yes, may the happy days dreamed by our ancestors
Come for us at last, rejoice our hearts,


That is consistent with the understanding of happiness above: "may the happy days," etc. etc.

And banish the sorcerers, those perfidious deceivers
Who were sowing poison and were spreading fear.


What's up with THAT?

So that, in the eyes of the world and of friendly nations,
The immortal Gabon may maintain her good repute,
Let us forget our quarrels, let us build together
The new structure of which we are all dreaming of


Makes me suspicious when a person says I have to maintain my good repute. Why would you not have a good repute? What quarrels? I don't think Gabonese have yet attained happiness.