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Republicanism

(183 Posts)
carboncareful Fri 08-Jun-12 12:15:20

Been weening myself off gransnet due to other commitments but thought I'd just come back to have a quick look what was being said about last weekends malarky. What a disappointment. What's the matter with all of you? I can't believe there are no republicans in gransnet - are they frighteneing to "come out"? Royalty is not compatible with democracy. full stop. The whole hereditary system is anti-democracy. Why aren't you all firing away?
Or have I missed a thread? if so, please direct me to it. Not the jubilee thread please - that made me feel sick......

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 19:04:29

I'm not on the wrong thread am I? confused

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 19:03:50

Hate the expression, "Enough already".

Have you read any of this? hmm

Bags Tue 12-Jun-12 18:59:54

Hate what? Sorry, you've lost me there, jings.

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 18:55:48

I don't care where it effing flippin' well comes from. I hate it!

Annobel Tue 12-Jun-12 18:53:24

I don't know about the military but the Police take an oath of attestation to: 'well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.....'

www.watchingyou.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=133

nanaej Tue 12-Jun-12 18:51:40

bet she gets peeved if people do not treat her with the deference she is used to though!

nanaej Tue 12-Jun-12 18:47:45

form all your responses I'd say you did j04 wink

Bags Tue 12-Jun-12 18:46:51

nag wink

Anagram Tue 12-Jun-12 18:44:47

Yes, that's how I interpret it too, Bags. The Queen isn't sitting there, on her throne, demanding 'loyalty' and 'obedience' to her, personally......sigh...

Annobel Tue 12-Jun-12 18:44:15

Enough already:
The origin is the Yiddish genug shoyn, literally ''enough already.'' It is part of an array of phrases using shoyn for emphasis, from the similar gut shoyn, ''All right already!'' in the sense of ''Stop bugging me,'' to shvayg shtil shoyn, ''Shut up already!''

www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/magazine/on-language-enough-already-what-am-i-chopped-liver.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Bags Tue 12-Jun-12 18:41:54

Does the swearing of loyalty to the queen, if it is still required in the military, not just mean you are swearing loyalty to your country (i.e. you won't defect to the other side)? That's how I've always interpreted it. Not that I'd be a military person ever.

Annobel Tue 12-Jun-12 18:40:41

I was using it tongue in cheek. But yes, it's an American/Jewish import.

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 18:25:29

Yes. Most likely an American import.

nanaej Tue 12-Jun-12 18:17:44

I think that 'Enough already' is a very established phrase but used more in US, possibly Jewish in origin.

Just because you don't like something j04 does not necessarily make it silly!

Annobel Tue 12-Jun-12 18:16:09

I can't imagine what you mean, jingl. I don't think I am mean-minded to point out that HM is a wealthy and highly privileged person and that moreover she never had to make any effort to achieve her position. Just because you are born to a rank in life doesn't mean that you deserve it or that you deserve the adulation of so many of your 'subjects'. And what a concept that is - 'subject'. Why should I be anyone's 'subject'? And, jingle, there is nothing I can do or say to prove that I am not jealous - you will just have to take my word for it.

Ariadne Tue 12-Jun-12 18:11:53

Hereditary privilege = elitism of the worst kind. It does not tally with any sort of democracy, but exacerbates the notion that the more money a person has, the more privilege. Cf the politicians (mainly) the monarchy, the CofE, the Roman Catholic Church ( the last two also having the added manipulative power of religion on their sides) etc.

Tradition and pageant are attractive, I will admit, but could be simply maintained as the rituals they are.

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 18:04:51

Does anybody really care about this stuff?

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 18:04:02

Too tired to have a tantrum Nannaej.

Another time perhaps.

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 18:01:58

We have been out for a long country walk and I am knackered. Don't know what I'm doing on here.

hmm

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 18:00:48

Oh God! I need my dinner! That should have been smile, not [mind] grin

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 17:59:47

No. You are right. Posts don't have minds. [minds]

It was the tone of the post that irked.

"Enough already" is a silly modern phrase that my daughter insists on using to my grandkids. I hate it!

And I don't like small minded jealousy.

nanaej Tue 12-Jun-12 17:59:05

This thread is starting to sound like a like a royalist tantrum!

I have the right to say that I would prefer to have an elected head of state than a hereditary head of state.

I do feel that some of the things that have been said of royals in the press, and by members of the public, have made them sound like deity which they are not. The royal family are, as others have clearly articulated, a highly privileged family who are only 'special' by dint of birth..not contribution, skill or action. It is my honestly held opinion that by having a royal family , so revered, helps to maintain the wide gap between the haves and have nots.

PS
I am not a killjoy nor mean minded.

carboncareful Tue 12-Jun-12 17:56:32

j04 How can a post be mean minded? Post don't have minds!
Those of us who are not royalists are entitled to our opinions. Perhaps you think its treason to be disrespectful to royalty? Perhaps you'd like to chop off our heads?

What about the business of having to swear loyalty to the queen? Why should someone have to lie in order to get a job or position or whatever. I think politicians, armed forces, have to do this swearing thing but I may be wrong? Are they allowed to decline?

j04 Tue 12-Jun-12 17:35:03

Annobel, that whole post was mean minded, from the first word to the last.

gangy5 Tue 12-Jun-12 16:41:41

I think we should finish this thread unless carbon is going to come up with her reasons for wanting a republic. This would then give those of us who are interested to put over our ideas. As it is I can see this turning into a nasty bun fight.