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Posted: |
Jul 25, 2013 - 9:10 AM
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By: |
Ado
(Member)
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It's important because it will be part of history in 400 years time. If you don't know who Henry VIII was married to, and how his children (Henry the 9th and then the 10th) came to power, you are extremely ignorant of British history and the shaping of its culture. So if in 400 years time people don't know that Harry and Katy had a Boy George, then they will be deemed nincompoops.
I don't know anything about that stuff and don't give a hoot. I don't care if I'm a nincompoop because of my ignorance. I think you are joking about Henry the 9th and 10th. Not sure though.
As for the current lot, I mean - what's the attraction? I genuinely can't find or feign the slightest scintilla of interest in the Royal Family.
Still, if it keeps the tourists coming ...
Total agree, it could not be less relevant these days. Perhaps it WAS important in history, that does not mean the current royal family is important, because it is a mere facade of what it was. it is such a meaningless thing, such a huge public expense.
When people are googly eyes over the royal family, especially outside of England, it equates to everyday celebrity gawking, except our celebrities are probably more interesting.
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This reminds me of a conversation several decades ago between my Royalist aunt and my non-Royalist one. You can guess which one is saying what...
"Oh, the Queen! It must be hard for her. I wouldn't want her life".
"Aye, an' she widnae want mine"!
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I dont have too many feelings one way or the other and we have had to put up with some fking wastes of space like queen of the ya-yas fergie over the years, but, if you imagine a Britain without a royal family, however silly and antiquated the concept of a 'royal,' there would be a peculiar void.
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It's important because it will be part of history in 400 years time. If you don't know who Henry VIII was married to, and how his children (Henry the 9th and then the 10th) came to power, you are extremely ignorant of British history and the shaping of its culture. So if in 400 years time people don't know that Harry and Katy had a Boy George, then they will be deemed nincompoops.
Hey, there may have been no Henry IX yet, but there was a ninth Henry. Back in 1170, Henry II's first son was crowned, coz Henry II was so anxious to have a successor he wanted him corwned while he himself was still alive. He has no regnal number, because he kicked the bucket in a French dungeon in 1183 and his dad outlived him. He's generally known as Henry the Younger or Young King Henry. His death resulted in all the wranglings you see in 'The Lion in Winter'. Thomas a Becket was against the crowning.
I can't get into this argument either way. I'm easy either way re royalty. I see the advantages and the disadvantages. It's worth remembering that they have no 'power', and very regimented lives.
As for the stuff above re Britain being an 'oppressive nation that we rejected', I'm always delighted to find that there are good people who've managed to attain the ripe old age of 250 among us. It's heartening. Why, there are people here who fought in WWII, and WWI and all the George wars, and the Civil War, and probably rode up San Juan Hill. It's good to know that film-music brings such longevity.
's funny y'know. People talk about being 'proud of their country'. I mean, there's two ways to take that. Semantic problem. You can be proud of a pie you've cooked, because you cooked it, like an achievement. But you can't be proud of your country that way, because you did nothing to MAKE that country. All you can say really is that you're THANKFUL and GRATEFUL that you live in this or that country, no more. You're standing on the heads of giants. Anything else is hot air and tribalism from not nice people. That's probably why the man said patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
I'm just thinking: when did various oppressive nations abolish slavery? And segregation? 'Just wondering about that. Sittin' round the old teepee 'n all, counting my wampum.
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I've often wondered about the "pride" issue myself, William. People say they are "proud to be British" (or American or whatever), but it's a simple accident of birth. What about the poor sods who had the misfortune to be born in a shit country?
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