I am proud not to have done. Why swear allegiance to the descendants of minor German aristocrats whose only reason for having that position is to have been born. Something all of us have managed.

I am not chippy Heb, that is projecting your ideas on me. I am in favour of social justice and a hereditary monarchy is its antithesis.

Well, to be fair I suppose that I am a bit old fashioned.

Ideally I would be reiving on the Anglo-Scottish border in the 16th century.I still have an issue with Elliots, Kerrs and Armstrongs. Amongst others.

I also think schools should sing the National Anthem every morning and much regret that it is no longer sung at the conclusion of a film at the cinema.

Does anyone else stand when the anthem is played on TV, even if alone?

Each to his own eh!

I’m with Spart on this one. I don’t wish them any especial harm, but the idea of a monarchy is all a bit daft in this day and age. I could see the point before there were democracies when you had to have someone in charge, and when they personally led their men into battle, but that’s a long time ago now. I just don’t see what point they serve.

Totem poles Vidal. No matter how international and sophisticated we may think ourselves, we are still tribal at heart. We need a totem, and the monarchy leads my tribe. Practicality has nothing to do with it.

But they will be relieved that you don't mean them any harm

What would people who never suffered be like?
Insufferable?

Suffragettes I think Cat?

I wish I hadn't started all this "monarch" business now, can I blame View?

I don't have access to my library but I do recall a Shakespearian quote "Ever the cow doth know the knave"

Might explain things Spart?

The vast majority of countries don’t seem to need the totem pole of a leader, and manage perfectly well.

Oh and in my defence, I have no problem with HM. I guess she didn't ask to be put into that position and seems to get on with her "job" admirably to be fair. I can't say that of some of the other hangers-on though.

comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted less than a minute ago
The vast majority of countries don’t seem to need the totem pole of a leader, and manage perfectly well.
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I think this might go back to your unfortunate B&B experience in Dumfries. For which I can only apologise. But don't blame the monarchy.....

HebridesRam (U2909)
posted 3 minutes ago

I don't have access to my library but I do recall a Shakespearian quote "Ever the cow doth know the knave"

Might explain things Spart?

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I have never tried playing cards with a cow but I suspect Shakespeare was a bit off the mark with this line.

For what it is worth. If we were developing GB (&NI) from scratch, we probably would not include a monarchy.

But, by a quirk of history, we have one. The alternatives are at best dire.

And don't throw away over 1,000 years of history for the sake of (practicality).

We have, and will have good, indifferent and poor monarchs. The key, is that they endure.......

Anyway enough.

Gràs Dhè 'n Bhàn-righ!

Do any of you know why we are told to use this sycophantic language like your majesty. It was started by Richard II who thought himself next to god and upset the court so much that it was one of the things which led him to be usurped. However the usurper HenryiV (who actually had no claim to the throne but that's another story) decided to keep it.

The "national anthem" was actually a sycophantic song written for the very German George II after he defeated the Scots. So our national anthem is about a middle eastern deity saving a German who committed genocide against the Scots. I never sing or stand for that dirge.

I suspect we will end up agreeing to differ on this one, like the Richard Keogh debate. Surely the National Anthem should be about the country though, not its monarch. Neither the tune nor the lyrics are much cop.

Spart, I wonder if Trump thinks he's superior to our monarch , (lights blue touch-paper and stands well back)?

My daughter left the Brownies aged 9 because she did not see why she should swear to ‘serve’ the queen.

Sorry but in these days, why do we adhere to such an anachronism?

I’m proud to serve and be patriotic to my country but why to person ( who incidentally seems to be very nice)? It’s weird.

Are we still in the pre season

comment by GRIFF....fair price for football fans...not alot to ask for? (U3408)
posted 5 minutes ago
Are we still in the pre season
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Spart's more pre-menstrual Griff.

Griff, what’s happening with Martin, do you know? Seemed to be reasonably fit for the U23s. Is he going off somewhere?

ScouseRam - Deluded since 1975 (U9675)
posted 11 minutes ago

Spart, I wonder if Trump thinks he's superior to our monarch , (lights blue touch-paper and stands well back)?

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Trump believes himself to be superior to everyone. He is in his own words a very stable genius.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-LTRwZb35A

I will be bothering fish in the morning, but very much look forward to rejoining for the pre-match excitement.....

omment by ViewFromTheStudent (U1581)
posted 53 minutes ago
My daughter left the Brownies aged 9 because she did not see why she should swear to ‘serve’ the queen.
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She’d be the first one in front of the firing squad View.
We won’t stand for that kind of bolshiness, especially from the young uns.

You can tell her, her name’s in the book - and your future doesn’t look that rosy either for condoning this kind of subversion.