Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Pomp & Circumstance
Labour may have tried to ruin many of our ancient traditions during their 13 years in power, but they couldn't quite ruin the ceremony attached to the State Opening of Parliament. Watching it, as I am at the moment, I am struck by what it represents and the centuries of tradition which have led to what is playing out at the moment. No other country in the world can do pomp and circumstance like this and we should be proud of it. It's a very important part of what makes this nation what it is.
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25 comments:
"No other country in the world can do pomp and circumstance like this and we should be proud of it. It's a very important part of what makes this nation what it is."
Well, colonial english people maybe, the rest of us think it represents something completely different, and pride is not what springs to mind.
Absurb, antideluvian dressing up games more like.
It's fantastic. Plaid members tend to act disgustingly when the Queen is involved. They have no shame
What nation are we talking about here? Not Wales or Scotland by any chance is it?
Benny seems to think that being Welsh is disgusting, says it all about the followers of this Tory blog
Utterly ridiculous
It starts at public school, continues at Oxbridge and then ends in the farce we saw today.
No wonder people have had enough
As a Scot living in England, I'm transfixed by the centuries of hitory playing out in all the pomp & circumstance, showing how the tensions between the Crown and Parliament have resulted in our modern system of Government.
How much does it cost?
It's funny that when the Queen comes to tell us about how her Government are looking for efficiency savings everywhere, she rides in with such pomp.
Traditions are one thing, but is it not slightly out of touch with reality/crass?
Benny,
I am republican, many outside of Plaid are, including a good many English people I would imagine.
This idea of a 'nation' as meaning the UK is not as I see it. It is disgusting for daring to merely restate my own national identity.
I don't hate anyone, I love the English as comrades (Oh yeah, and my wife too), but I just pointed out that the British Empire is not something I feel proud of.
"Benny seems to think that being Welsh is disgusting, says it all about the followers of this Tory blog."
How much more fun it is making up stuff instead of addressing what people actually say. I agree with you that Tories are worse than Hitler. At least Hitler was nice to his pets.
Outdated and pompous ceremony which means nothing to all but a few who seem to think that show is more important than substance. Ludicrous.
What is wrong in showing some pride in our shared heritage? The British parliamentary system has been an example to countries all around the world, so we obviously got something right.
Somehow I dont think people will be looking back at the Scottish or Welsh parliments after 300 years with quite the same sense of history. Without wanting to knock devolution, you have got to admit that Labour were responsible for some pretty ugly buildings...
"Benny seems to think that being Welsh is disgusting ..."
If you actually believe that that is what Benny wrote, then you are puddled.
Plaid Panteg :
I'll think you'll find Benny was commenting on your political party, not on the Welsh as a whole.
And as a Welshman I wish you and Plaid Gwersyllt take those evenly balanced chips off both shoulders. You don't speak for all of us (in fact you speak for very few of us). I'm proud that despite all it's woes we still have the grandest parliament on the planet and it's a symbol that Britain will go on...long after we're all pushing up daisies.
"It's a very important part of what makes this nation what it is."
Yes Iain - which is why the Left loathe it so much.
as a comfortably english englishman of welsh and scots extraction, i don't particularly care what a perpetually chippy celtic fringe think of our fabulously anachronistic and anachronistically fabulous regal ceremony.
I always expect negative comments when tradition is mentioned.
Reminds me of the time a young white English female lecturer told me "religion" didn't influence her thinking. She was to opened minded.
I pointed out that if it wasn't for the Reformation she wouldn't have the opportunity to go to university. And if it wasn't for a Protestantism there would be no questioning.
I thought she was supposed to be taking the tube in now?
Oh great big hairy bollocks Iain,
Nobody mentioned 'Ruritanian' yet? Sombody should. Oh, I see that I just have.
The whole thing is now a deep embarassment, nationally and internationally. The queen's hat gets a coach all to itself.
Maybe in the past Iain.
The last major state occasion which did us proud was the wedding of Charles and Diana, stage- managed by the incomparable Lord Chamberlain of the day, Chips MacLean.
Standards have fallen since then.
Forget Fergie. Nobody purporting to be royal should wear spectacles with a crown. That is just vulgar.
What bitterness!'Labour may have tried to ruin many of our traditions..''
not enough unfortunately, they completely bottled reform of the House of Lords.
Todays ceremony is ludicrous - all the 'over the top' robes, pageboys and old fashioned ritual. It could be modernised without in any way disrupting the role of the monarch
in our political. As a ceremony it reinforces the separation between those with power and the people.All the hangers on that come out of the woodwork.
Hangers-on is right.
As to Labour ruining many things, I quite agree. I'd bet though that when this whole charade is cut right back, as it will be, or Will be, it will be a Tory who leads the process.
I think anything which gives anybody, especially Tories, any crumb of pride about being British should be banned.
Why not have "I Hate Britain" days instead?
Uncle Bob.
Eh? I merely said some people, including myself, don't take much pride in what Iain does.
Not sure I signed up the whole of Wales to that view in my comment.
Jim Baxter -
"The queen's hat gets a coach all to itself."
Now that made me laugh!
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