Merkel dismisses proposal to make German anthem 'gender sensitive'

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has rejected to change gendered language in the country's national anthem as suggested by a government official.

"The chancellor is very happy with our nice national anthem as it is in its traditional form and doesn't see any need for change," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular news conference on Monday.

The proposal was made by Germany's family ministry commissioner Kristin Rose-Mohring.

"Why don't we make our national anthem ... gender sensitive," the commissioner said in a letter as quoted by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Rose-Mohring recommended changing "Vaterland", the German word meaning fatherland, to "Heimatland" which roughly means homeland in English, and the German phrase meaning "brotherly with heart and hand" to a phrase translating to "courageously with heart and hand."

The letter sparked a social media debate, as many people criticized the move as "misappropriate" and some others supported.

There were also some Germans taking a further step and suggesting to include the gay community or other multicutural elements into the anthem as well.

A spokesman for the family ministry said Rose-Mohring's letter had been a personal proposal and it was internally sent to ministry employees.

The similar case in Canada could serve as Germany's reference, as the North American country on Jan 31 changed "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command" in the second line of its national anthem.