Politics & Current Events
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
What are your thoughts on the Royal Family?
With all the royal baby watching going on I thought I'd pose this question: what do you all think? I'm excited and happy for them but a lot of the time I think the whole concept of royalty is so outdated. Is the british monarchy really even relevant? The idea of "royal blood" and heirs to a throne seems silly to me. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Re: What are your thoughts on the Royal Family?
LOL. This bolded.
I think it's interesting, actually more enchanting.
Many people care a lot about their genealogical history and I do think it's fascinating that these folks can trace theirs back so far. I'd love to know as much about mine as they know about theirs.
As far as governmental structure is concerned, a great king or queen (kind, generous, smart, humble, etc.), might actually be better than the messiness of democracy (maybe). But a bad monarch would be horrible and that's why democracy is so great and needed (since most monarchs throughout time tended to have stunk in some way).
I am one who can see merits in a monarchy, but my heart likes democracy better.
I'd choose democracy any day of the week over a monarchy. Even if the leader chosen is a dud, at least it was the will of the people, not just because you had the right "royal blood."
I am actually surprised the UK hasn't hasn't done away with the Monarchy yet. It's weird that it's even still a thing.
It's a very modern place, and when I think about it I am always astounded that modern British citizens put up with it.
They don't just put up with it...most/many like it.
I don't think modernity means having to get rid of all the historical importance of a nation's history. Why does a country have to cut off its ancient, old or traditional roots to be considered modern?
Anyway, if they ever got rid of it, it would probably be due to its cost financially and not to appear more modern.
I'm a product of the United States. I believe in a government for the people, by the people. I think it makes a lot of sense that I can't really understand why anyone would tolerate having to give respect to a "Queen." In this country, we fancy that we are equal and that we all could be Queen.
To me a true monarchy is unsuitable for the world we live in. It is oppressive by nature and deed. Now that British Royalty are basically just socialites and not rulers, I can't even fathom it. Not all ancient, traditional roots are to be revered and lauded.
Also, I assumed that the monarchy brought in lots of money in tourism and the like. If the cost is actually detrimental to the Country (you suggested that may be the only reason anyone would ever want to do away with it), then I REALLY can't understand it. Why should the British people be beholden to that?
I'm actually surprised that you, with all the views you have espoused on this board, think hailing to a Queen is NBD. It actually makes me LOL.
"As far as governmental structure is concerned, a great king or queen (kind, generous, smart, humble, etc.), might actually be better than the messiness of democracy (maybe). But a bad monarch would be horrible and that's why democracy is so great and needed (since most monarchs throughout time tended to have stunk in some way).
I am one who can see merits in a monarchy, but my heart likes democracy better. "
This is me quoting myself from earlier in this thread (bolded). You seem to repeatedly read a lot into my words and find themes and ideas that just aren't there. "Hail?" "Laud?" I never wrote anything likened to either of these terms.
All I said was that a monarchy may be less messy than a democracy (a merit of it that I can see), but that in the end, the risk of a bad monarch would be outweighed by a democracy. I specifically said that "democracy is great and needed."
Actually, all forms of government do have some merits (even small ones), but when those merits are weighed against the merits of other forms of government, that's when we see the vast benefits to one sort over another.
I don't have financial figures for how much the monarchy costs the British people. Despite this, the population there seems to like the monarchy as the symbols they are. I also do not have financials for how much revenue the monarchy brings in to the tourism industry - although when you consider places like Windsor, Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, The Royal Jewels and all the museums dedicated to royal history, I assume that the monarchy does actually bring in a fair amount of tourism business to the nation.
Ugh I cringe when I hear "Royal Family". It's so silly, I understand that its a massive part of the whole worlds history but get with the times its 2013. I am a Canadian and we are deeply tied to the Queen. We have a governor general in our government who's a direct representative of the Queen. To gain citizenship in Canada you first have to pledge allegiance to the Queen.We are our own nation and I understand our ties to the UK but at the same time let's cut the apron strings kids. The fact that the Queen is on all of our coins and one of our bills really irritates the crap out of me. There are so many amazing Canadians who have accomplished so much for the country, way more than Queen Elizabeth did but no no lets just keep being England's ***.
Lol sorry about the rant, super excited for Will and Kate as humans, a child is a life changing event. I just dont really care its going to be a prince or princess one day, and they deserve some privacy at this time but their not gunna get it.
Those historical places would still exist without supporting a living, breathing monarchy (and extended family).
I am a British citizen. As a child I stood outside to wave my flag at the queen, made a crown for a contest for her silver jubilee, and once handed a flower to Princess Diana. I used to get a weekly girls magazine called "Princess". My great uncle was a Queen's palance guard.
(I now live in the US)
So for me, the royal family has been a part of my childhood and heritage.
You have to rely on some squirrelly math to figure out their impact on the economy. But for sure they are an enormous part of British culture and affect tourism.
But if you look at what it costs to support them, the finances are public, and spending is waaay down. You would figure it would cost about a paltry 62 pence for each British person to support them last year. And the British people, who grew up with the Windsors as I did, are more than willing to pay it.
DMoney will be a kickass big sister
DMoney will be a kickass big sister