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TandemJeremy - Member
Hilldodger - I know no one who is doing anything to celebrate the jubilee and I have seen nothing to celebrate it around the place at all.Really - its a non event here
Shame really, plenty of people getting together for a drink and a laugh on "my estate" - neighbours getting to know each other better, toddlers playing in the puddles, old'uns reminiscing and telling stories of the "good ole days" to wide eyed face painted kids, plenty of men who should know better doing the drunk uncle dance, front doors left open, all kinds of music mixing together - hmmm, maybe I'd have been better off spending the day whinging on the internet......
...naaaaaah it's jubilee innit, sod the politics and the spelling lessons, pour yourself a large one and hug a neighbour 😀
Not overly bothered about about being British or English, Scottish , Welsh or Irish. But i thought the Queen was great today, so don't really care what anyone else thinks. Felt rather proud and didn't tug my forelock as i am a baldy
Well Ernie, that is indeed a very good question albeit not exactly in relation to my point. Where is the causation, if any, between the existence of a monarch and the freedom to tolerate different views?
TBH I don't know mate, I think I'm overdosing on patriotism - I reckon the sight of those women sing "God Save The Queen" in the pouring rain tipped me over edge.
I was proud of my river today- i have lived along it's banks all my life (at the smelly end- the pageant didnt come this far down. Erith that is 😉 ), i ride along it most weeks, i have been fishing at the posh end of it many times and i have commuted along it lots.
It seemed very apt that it should belt down with rain today, it added to the overall spectacle i think. And what's England without rain when the world is watching!
Next up is the Olympics- great to see the flame do a lap of the TT mountain course without going out!!
I've had a fantastic day! Wife, kids, party at the village hall = beer festival, hog roast, pantomime and bouncy castle.
Met neighbours I've never seen, everybody was happy, shame on Wednesday it will all be forgotten and we'll be back to the grindstone
Might we say that we saw a bit of the old Blitz spirit alive and well in this day and age- this time the enemy was the weather and not the Luftwaffe 😉
That's another thing that makes Britain Great...
Wouldn't have been properly British if the weather was nice for it 😆 It was alright but I got bored of watching boats going down the thames pretty quickly.
TandemJeremy - Member
"In Edinburgh's leafy and affluent suburbs
say it all
TJ in denial, he lives in those leafy suburbs
The whole of this thread makes you proud to be British, all sorts of people with a multitude of views and opinions, now that's great as far as I'm concerned.
This!!
Nail on the head..... 😀
Duckman - if only mate. I live in leith - not a leafy suburb by any means
Might we say that we saw a bit of the old Blitz spirit alive and well in this day and age- this time the enemy was the weather and not the Luftwaffe
Her Majesty is made of sterner stuff mate.
Here she is showing the classic British Dunkirk Spirit by saving that special royal smile for her subjects - despite the atrocious British weather.
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Note the matching dress, coat, hat [u]and[/u] umbrella, she never let's the side down and does us proud. God bless her.
...and the rulers decided the best way to subdue the mob, is to keep it entertained.
I hope you all enjoy the [s]distraction[/s] bank holiday.
what is the strange mark on that man behind her on our right YIKES he really was pleased to see her 😯
Note the matching dress, coat, hat and umbrella, she never let's the side down and does us proud. God bless her.
She let the side down with the handbag though....
Uncle Jezza. Much as you hate it, your alternative is President Salmond. And look into his smug, smarmy face and tell me honestly he wouldn't bloody love that!
You don't have to be a royalist (I'm bloody not!) to realise its the least worst option! The alternative is almost too horrific to imagine! President Boris anyone? 😉
Why would we need a president?
I think TJ might be happier over here:
http://www.scottishrepublicansocialistmovement.org/
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Why does there need to be an alternative for the queen, if as we are told by the royalists, her power is theoretical, then the system would remain as is without the theoretical ruler at its head.
If however she actually wields real power, then having that power by a freak of inbred birth has got to be the worst option available in any country that claims to be free.
She let the side down with the handbag though....
There's always one isn't there ? 🙄
Here is she with a matching dress, coat, hat, umbrella, [b]NO[/b] handbag, and a smile......I hope it's more to your liking
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And yes JY, I noticed that suspicious bulge on the top knob's pants......I didn't like to mention it 😐
Personally I'm ambivalent about the Royal family but I'm certainly proud to be British and I'm not embarrassed by, or for, the people who choose to show a little respect...
Indeed, North Korea needs some British media advisers.
iam pridem, ex quo suffragia nulli
uendimus, effudit curas; nam qui dabat olim
imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se
continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat,
panem et circenses
(Juvenal, Satire 10.77–81)
MSP - MemberWhy does there need to be an alternative for the queen, if as we are told by the royalists, her power is theoretical, then the system would remain as is without the theoretical ruler at its head.
If however she actually wields real power, then having that power by a freak of inbred birth has got to be the worst option available in any country that claims to be free.
That's the thing that I can't get my head around.
It is as if a large proportion of the population somehow believe that hereditary nature of the monarchy is somehow [i]better[/i] and more [i]virtuous[/i] than any alternative....
We don't need a monarch (nothing would happen to the running of the country or the economy, other than short-sighted people possibly flogging their shares, if the monarchy and royalty were disbanded tomorrow). I'd be happy to have a president similar to the Irish model, with the Prime Minister remaining the person who heads the government and 'runs' the country with the cabinet.
I used to be a staunch Royal supporter. But then I got to thinking about just why?
Struggling with my conscience I asked Mrs Slim (a Royal patriot) to tell me [i]exactly[/i] why I/we should follow a heriditary titled Germanic family, and just what exactly, for example, made them worthy of such fortunes and adulation?
She gave me some reasons, I defused them with answers as complex as 'but why?'
Eventually, we both drew blanks.
I'm all for tradition and a bit of pomp, and have thoroughly enjoyed the spectacles of the last few days and seeing a bit of pride injected back into blighty. And I'm certain The Queen has a place. I'm just no longer certain where?..
answers on a postcard
With reguards to royalty and all that, Slim has a point. But yesterdays spectacle and the coming of the Olympics has given us all reason to stand up and be proud to be British rather than quietly mention it in conversation as usual.
Ok so im in London and it's all about London really, so maybe others around the country feel different- for me it was all about my corner of the world being shown to everyone else in the world.
We actually do exist, and people on the other side of the world actually would like to come and see us (in a non hostile way for a change) 😉
Thinking about it, the only pro for a monarch is we don't get president blair, but why do we need either?
Anyway who is looking forward to the reign of King Charles? i wonder if that will affect the views of a few royalists, opinion polls don't seem to be very supportive?
Anyway who is looking forward to the reign of King Charles?
The prince's trust is the only genuine good thing that has been done by a member of the royal family in my lifetime which hasn't really been about self promotion.
Old Charlie seems to be one of the better members of the royal family- even in a Boris Johnson amusing kind of way 😉
He looks like he's just let one rip here 😆
Anyaway, i dont think he will be king- i reckon he'll hand it over to Wills...
Her maj does have style in abundance, this one must have blocked the u bend.....
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Sorry, had to share it made me laugh 😆
I used to be a staunch Royal supporter. But then I got to thinking about just why?Struggling with my conscience I asked Mrs Slim (a Royal patriot) to tell me exactly why I/we should follow a heriditary titled Germanic family, and just what exactly, for example, made them worthy of such fortunes and adulation?
You see that's the problem. If recent threads on the monarchy have proved one thing, it's that those who support it don't seem to know why they do apart from vague suggestions that it's a "good idea", whilst those who don't, don't seem to know why they don't, apart from vague suggestions that it's "not a good idea".
If you want to change the status quo and the existing order of things, then it's generally a good idea to come up with a compelling argument as to why it's necessary - offer real tangible reasons. Otherwise the status quo will persist.
The argument "I think revolution is probably a good idea but I'm not entirely sure why" never won the day.
So the anti-royalist need to come up with some real compelling reasons as to why abolition of the monarchy is such a good idea, and how this will change the lives of ordinary people in a real and tangible way. Otherwise nothing will change. The pro-royalist need do nothing other than argue that there is no reason to change the existing situation.
If you want to change the status quo and the existing order of things, then it's generally a good idea to come up with a compelling argument as to why it's necessary - offer real tangible reasons
as I think a number have said they are the poster boys and girls for social immobility, I'm not sure anything can ever seriously change the blight of social issues in this country if we have them at the top and people thinking its in anyway right.
So no real tangible reasons which you can offer people to show them how it will change their lives in any meaningful way then. More work required I reckon.
The real question is, could Kate do with a bit more meat on her gorgeous bones? She has always been in with a chance but could do with a few more sausages IMO.
with a few more sausages
Or some lovely Richmond ham, just as nature intended.
So no real tangible reasons which you can offer people to show them how it will change their lives in any meaningful way then. More work required I reckon.
You're entitled to your opinion of course, but, I think that symbolism can be an extremely powerful force in the way people behave. Just look at the American dream.
I think that symbolism can be an extremely powerful force in the way people behave.
So just for "symbolism" then ? Exactly as I suspected, so it's nice to see that confirmed. When we have an agenda which shifts economic and political power into the hands of ordinary people, in a tangible way, then society can progress in a meaningful way.
But right now that's way too scarey for most people to handle, so instead meaningless cosmetic nonsense is offered as an alternative. Carry out reforms which change people's lives and I will enthusiastically support them, but play around tinkering with symbolism and I will see it as a waste of time. I'm not interested in playing games.
Besides, in the case of the monarchy you won't succeed in abolishing it if the only reason you can offer is a change of [i]symbolism[/i], I'm not aware of any examples where that has happened and I see no reason why it would happen in the UK. Monarchies are invariably abolished when there is a grab for power - whichever way that might represent itself.
/\ Took the bait there- well done Ernie 😆
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The real question is, could Kate do with a bit more meat on her gorgeous bones?
Nothing wrong there- i think she's lovely just as is 😀
What bait was that rossi46.......anagallis_arvensis's bait ?
Haha yes, I fell for it hook line and sinker. He definitely got me there.......you can imagine how silly I feel now ! 😀
I have been privileged, over the years I have worked all over the world, and I have worked with some fantastic people from all over the world. This has led me to the following...
I am Very proud to be British.
I am Proud of British People.
Why, am I proud of British People ?
Work Ethic
Sense of humour
Innovation
diversity
Tolerance
Charitable
Fairness
Ability
I am not sure why British people show these qualities, but we are doing something right as a country.
I am not saying that Foreigners ( for want of a better word) do not show these qualities. But British people have them in abundance.
I would also include a load of British institutions that add to this Pride.
BBC
Orange Bikes
Royal Family
British Films
British Authors
Library's
Bin Collections.
Etc Etc..please feel free to add to the list.
I would like to add that even though I am English, I include Scottish Welsh and Irish in this Pride ( even though I respect their right for independence if they want it, cause I think we close enough to take it without too much change to any of us )
I have enjoyed the weekend celebrations for the Queens Diamond Jubilee.
What would you suggest we do instead ?
Paul
What would you suggest we do instead ?
compulsory eating contests.. all must enter.. until the one true champion remains
and/or a week of compulsory nudity
What would you suggest we do instead ?
Evolve.
Well, I hope the British feel proud of this particular little nugget. Deserves a question in parliament for sure.
[url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/04/jubilee-pageant-unemployed#start-of-comments ]Unemployed bussed in to steward Queenie's party[/url]
Well I'm working today and I'm pretty apathetic about most things Royal but on this point, kind of-
they are the poster boys and girls for social immobility, I'm not sure anything can ever seriously change the blight of social issues in this country if we have them at the top and people thinking its in anyway right.
Maybe not right, but its part of a long tradition and that itself is a big part of what makes the UK what it is now.
My Mum pointed out that if you don't have the Royals, you'll have a super-Jordan or some horror show of a celebrity monstrosity that the public will obsess over. I think she's right.. At least the Queen / Royal family put he chavvy rich-celeb types in their place. Too many people will always look up to something liuke that. The French lopped off heads years back and now Paris Match is full of Sarko and Mrs Sarko-whatsername. Don't blame the elite, blame the plebs? I think I just saw a good point for the whole Royalty / class thing )
And on the proud to be British - well.. I have a lot of things to be thankful for that come from simply being born here, British. Proud may not be the right word. I think we need to do better in some areas but that would all be idealistic and the ship's too big to turn. But 'appreciative', for sure. Very much so.
[i]My Mum pointed out that if you don't have the Royals, you'll have a super-Jordan or some horror show of a celebrity monstrosity that the public will obsess over. I think she's right.[/i]
have you seen the on line daily mail? errr wake up...
Seeing as the British tabloid press are pretty much considered to be the worst in the world, the Royals have failed abysmally to save us from celebrity hell.