Havin watched all the Queens Diamond Jubilee gig last night, out side buck house, I must admit at feeling very proud to be british! I'ts the first time I've felt like that for year's. Ever since Diana was Murdered!... I've felt nothing for the monarchy and I still don't and never will do! Havin said that it was a great night to be a true Cockney Brit!
Whatever you might think of the Royals you have to say the Queen deserves all the plaudits she has received and it's fair to say the monarchy is in it's strongest position for many years. All the events of this weekend have been a great example of what this country excels at and you'd have to be really mean-spirited to say she doesn't deserve such respect...
Very well said. And I'm not a royalist. It's easy to see the whole thing falling apart after she's gone.
I must be very mean-spirited then................................(mentally prepares to be shot down in a hail of Royalist abuse )
In what way did it make you proud to be British, Ed? Probably best not to do the Diana thing again. I'm happy to accept that you have proof.
Maybe the best place for such things are in a museum in this day and age. But I can see why people would want to hold onto it. Its very unique and generates a lot of tourism so whats the harm?
If I was celebrating 60 years of anything and someone wheeled out Tom Jones, Elton john, Cheryl Cole and Gary Barlow then I'd be mortally offended. No problem with Madness though.
The alternative is a Republic and a President, you'd then be into personality politics and have only to look at the London Mayor for an example of the types of arseholes we'd be lumbered with...
Thats exactly my point Swords, personally i feel the monarchy are a tad outdated and should be resigned to history, but yes you are right i also can see why people want to hold onto it, especially the older generation, and i respect their views, just as they should respect my views that i would love to get rid. And i really don't hold to the 'Tourism' theory. People would still come to London even if we didn't have the Monarchy. There is always gonna be a lot of history to this city both connected and not connected to the Monarchy, and if the Queen and her family resigned tommorow it's still gonna be here and people will still come and see it. Sorry for short answers but at work and meant to be working
I really struggle with the appeal of the Lennonesque Utopia that so many seem to crave. I realise that I am a dying breed, but feel that as a society we'd be much the poorer for the loss of our Royal Family, the church and many of the other establishments that a growing number would do away with. It is most likely inevitable that all these things will be gone in a comparatively short period of time. It will be a case of what you've never had, you've never missed for later generations.
No doubt the UK presents the notion of monarchy like no one else these days. If you've got it, flaunt it as they say. As for being a Brit, it's certainly not a bad nationality to have. I'm sure most people on the global grapevine realise we're a bit better than our government and football reps make us out to be... don't they? I mean they do know that, don't they?!!!
But the Yanks bloody love it. It would be interesting to see (although its probably impossible to get such figures) how much money the Royals generate directly through tourism vs the amount it costs the tax payer to keep them. Anyway, its none of my business lads. It sure does look great when its rolled out with all its bells and whistles attached. Like I said, only England does this kind of thing so well.
Whats wrong with our football rep Brix ??....Our fans were welcomed around the world with open arms in the 70's/80's/90's.......
Definitely proud to be British. Not born here but lived here since I was 2 yrs old (let's just say more than 50 yrs!). Die hard Monarchist too. Thrilled to see Best of British being celebrated without apology or reference to any body else. As a foreigner (by roots at least), I often find myself perplexed at why we seem so keen to relinquish our 'Britishness' to all and sundry. Having said that, had to watch Bourne Supremacy this afternoon due to DJO (Diamond Jubilee Overload)
I was talking to my about this Mum who put it well. She's as republican as you get but she said she respects the Queen as she seems to really care about her job and the fact she's there to serve the country. The rest, however, can get lost (to put it lightly). Why should she respect them? They appear in all the glossy mags and are just celebrities. The Queen however seems to represent the traditions of the country.
Well said Hamish. However, Alex Salmond seems hell bent on getting you boys out of it. The mans on a mission. Can't see him getting his referendum passed though.
