The Irony of the French National Anthem. "Cut the Throats of Your Sons, Your Women"

They say that history is written by the winners. Whoever wins the war writes the stories for the following generation. No history text book in the world says “and then we conquered the forces of good and spread our evil empire across the land.” The victor always represents the hero and the losers play the villains of the piece. You only have to look at the genocide of Native Americans for evidence of this.

The English Football Association has urged fans attending the international friendly between France and England to join in the singing of the French national anthem 'Les Marsiellaise' in a demonstration of solidarity with our French cousins.

Whilst we undoubtedly condemn the barbarous terrorist attacks they recently suffered at the hands of Jihadi extremists one must pause to reflect on the irony of signing the French national anthem at a time like this.

The lyrics of 'Les Marsiellaise' celebrates in very graphic terms a a period of French history that was as ideologically driven, intolerant and bloody as the terrorists they have declared war upon.

This is a song containing the lines: “The roar of those ferocious soldiers? They're coming right into your arms, to cut the throats of your sons, your women!” A peaceful ditty if I've ever heard one.

You could argue that the French revolution was hundreds of years ago and that a song celebrating and glorifying violence has no place as a progressive nations national anthem. That Les Marsiellaise should also be consigned to the history books and replaced by something a little "nicer".

You could argue that the song is symbolic of France's battle to liberate itself from tyranny, that the revolutionary forces were fighting against an oppressive regime and that in this case the beheading of 40,000 political dissents between September 1793 and July 1794 was not only necessary but the right thing to do.

Or you could remember that history is written by the winner.