Nik,

That is one fine looking dog mate, is it a Siberian Husky? I'm speaking with a Russian friend on skype, just showed her your pic on the cam I'll know tomorrow if I'm sucessful with my adoption, thanks for posting this pic.

With a Forum T-shirt on the dog, I trust!

None of us needs to prove or disprove our Britishness, but for the record my ancestry is English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish in approximately equal proportions. Won't even start on the religious stewpot in my genes, but suffice to say, something there to please or displease most tastes...

Anyhow. I'm friends with everyone. Aaahhh...

I've just taken a quick canter through a biography of Blake, and I know I shouldn't ask, but I'm struggling to understand what Niki's comment on "British Zionism" has to do with singing Jerusalem on St George's Day...?

I'm going to regret this, aren't I...?

- C

Yep, he will have his forum tee and shades on C I have no right to claim British-ness, I was born n breed in California

Its my understanding that the song refers to the british zionists anti semetic stance and belief that england should be the new jerusalem. Its not important and i'd like to be proved wrong on it.

Snowy the dog is siberian but a sammoyed not husky. The friendliest of all arctic breeds. The band 3 dog night took their name from the breed. The nomadic siberian tribes used to get the dogs in the tents with them of a night for the extra heat. The dogs whilst being one of the purest breeds (only 4 generations from wolf) are consequently superb family dogs. Truth be told their not happy unless their surrounded by babies and kids. Its a problem finding dog sitters sometimes but he's worth it.

Huskies are more alaskan/canadian in origin arent they?

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No no and no

If it allows you to sing that song, then permit me. (After all, quite rare amongst patriotic songs, it isn't about slaughtering or vanquishing anyone, and is about making something...)

British Zionism in the 19th century was about establishing a homeland for the Jews in Palestine. I make no further comment on that - too contentious and really not appropriate on a guitar website.

However, William Blake, religious non-comformist, had no interest one way or another in the real Holy Land and anyway pre-dates Zionism as a movement. Physical geography was not important to him: he was deeply religiously non-materialistic.

In Blake almost everything is metaphorical. The hymn Jerusalem talks about spears and swords, but they are to do with struggles of the mind and soul ("I will not cease from mental strife...").

I like Jerusalem. It starts with some nice English angsty self-doubt, asking what we have lost and replaced with the "Satanic mills" (which people variously interpret as the factories of the industrial revolution, or the churches of conformist religion); continues with some blatently sexual imagery of "arrows of desire" and clouds unfolding; and then goes on to say that we need to build Jerusalem (for him a spiritual symbol) in our own land, by which many take him to really mean our own hearts, whoever and wherever we are.

Not bad for two verses!

By the way, Blake was against Imperialism, slavery, racism, sexism and other forms of oppression. I think we can sing his strange song with clear consciences!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI13MUf7 ... re=related

Cheers - C

WOW that's a great view!!

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2010 Gibson Les Paul Studio (Silverburst)
2007 Fender CD-60 (Sunburst)
G.A.S-ing for a Fender Stratocaster HSS with floyd rose

He's a beautiful looking big dog, very wolfy looking. The background doesn't surprise me, he looks a friendly big guy

Snowy theres various organizations for animal welfare. In fact theres 2 or 3 for pretty much every breed. Mine was pretty much a rescue as was his predecessor. All the best with that adoption. Mistreated/abandoned dogs always seem to become better companions.

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No no and no

Great pics Niki!

I think I'm experiencing deja-vu

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I saw this spaniel on saturday Nik, I didn't realise he was on his way to jail I commented on the dog, and the girl who had him asked me if I wanted him. She explained she was on her way to the police station, the dog had been in her area for nearly a week. He was under weight, obviously not being fed. I almost took him, but it was too big a decision to make there and then. As soon as I got home, I rang the police lol. The cop advised me to get in touch with the animal rescue centre, which I have. I'm going there 10:00am tomorrow. I don't forsee any real problems, I have a big house and a huge garden front and back. The River Clyde is a ten minute walk from my front door, all wooded area, lots of wildlife. My last dog was a springer too, he was also a rescue. As you have already said, they make for great dogs.

I'm not one for taking loads of snaps mate.

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No no and no

Blake was also mad as cheese and pretty much against anything that didnt conform to his very particular beliefs from what i can understand.
http://www.autodidactproject.org/bib/blakebib-jews-a.html.

Whilst i could say that in light of the opinion of more educated people than I he is quite anti semitic especially considering the self emancipation/blood ritual hysteria of the time (and presumably boiling up to it from years past). I think I'd rather consider it the work of a madman smiling politely and try to garner some enjoyment.

Thankyou for pointing out that i was partially/wholly wrong. I'll have a singsong now.

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No no and no

That's absolutely true!

No evidence whatsoever. The nearest I can find to that (after an evening of reading and a couple of phonecalls to art historians[!]) is that he had a major falling out with a dealer called Cromek, who happened to be Jewish - but then find us an artist who hasn't fallen out with their dealer!

Anyhow. It ain't what the song's about. It's a great if weird song: enjoy it's oddness without worry...

Onwards: very cool dog. Much more important!

BTW: I was going to invite you to a gig next Monday - but the wife has just said she wants her ticket after all. Sorry...

Cheers - C

Any other details to share on said gig that could further ruin my wet tuesday? I strongly advise going to see Camille O'Sullivan, did you see that very leggy performance on the Jools Holland show.

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No no and no

I don't think "Jerusalem" can be taken literally, since Blake was (as noted) a mystic of the spiritualist order and also barking mad.

But can you not feel a stirring your blood when they sing, "Bring me my bow of purest gold, bring me my arrows of desire?" Hell, I'm a freakin' American and it gets to me!

In my ears, "Jerusalem" is a declaration of an artist to the world...

"I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land."

I think in Blake's poem, Jerusalem is a state of mind. Now, I don't know enough history to know if Zionists took it as an anthem, but, sort of like Humpty Dumpty, all that matters to me is what it means when I hear it.