The Monarchy

[rhondda rudie]

Originally Posted by kate13

Hang on, those oldies our grandparents yeah the fought against fascism.
Those oldies fought for Queen & Country, i'm sure those same oldies started booing Brown or someone in Normandy the other year...It the politicans who treat our pensioners like shit not the Queen.

I'm with Anant here, if the Queen wasn't the lastline in power and we lived in a republic you've got more chance of another hilter happeniing.

I'm not sticking up for Brown or any other politican Kathie.I'm just making the point that medals should be awarded on merit.How can a man who's never fought in a war have 3 or 4 times more medals than the men to whom we owe our existence as a free nation.Surely that can't be right.In a republic,if you didn't want Brown or Cameron as head of state you could vote against them.Another thing,what about that bloody awful anthem.The national anthems of virtually all other nations pay tribute to their lands and peoples but England has a terrible dirge paying homage to whoever happens to be on the throne at the time.

[flyin'irie]

Originally Posted by kate13

I'm sure what your going on about, they are professionals Prince William in the RAF he's in Anglesey training as a search and rescue pilot and Prince Andrew flew in the Falklands War.

ahh, yeah maybe I was not very clear Kathie
My point is simple.

The RAF is TAKING THE RISK of training this gentleman without requiring him to pass the selection tests... ie without having a reasonable idea as to whether he has the required potencial to succeed within the standard budget. In military aviation training, money is a very sensitive thing given the huge costs involved...

At the same time, KNOWN maintenance costs for aircrafts operating on the battlefield are not covered, leading to stupid crash [due to tech failure ...as opposed to "ennemy" engagement] ... killing those on board ...

Of course the two events are not directly related. But it shows the kind of HUGE favours the Prince is granted while at the same time, some basic requirements to keep other true professionals alive are not even complied with.

I hope that at least Prince William will become a competent professional like his collegues who have worked very very hard to gain their right to be trained. Thats one of the reasons why I mentionned merit in a previous post

[Nizzy]

Ours is terrible - Flower Of Scotland. It's a waltz, for a start, which isn't exactly stirring, and the lyrics are embarrassing.

I actually think the lyrics and tune to The Star-Spangled Banner are fantastic. It must be about the only national anthem written about a flag - which explains why Americans start getting upset when people burn Old Glory.

[rhondda rudie]

Originally Posted by Nizzy

Ours is terrible - Flower Of Scotland. It's a waltz, for a start, which isn't exactly stirring, and the lyrics are embarrassing.

I actually think the lyrics and tune to The Star-Spangled Banner are fantastic. It must be about the only national anthem written about a flag - which explains why Americans start getting upset when people burn Old Glory.

I quite like Flower Of Scotland.When Scotland play rugby down here the words are in the programme and both sets of supporters sing it.It makes for a great atmosphere.After ours (Land Of My Fathers) my favourite would have to be the French anthem.Incidentally Craig,on an episode of the brilliant QI Stephen Fry revealed that the national that burns the most American flags is the US itself.Apparently it's seen as the only dignified way of disposing of a tatty flag.

[flyin'irie]

Originally Posted by rhondda rudie

That's just my point Kathie.He should go through the same selection process as everyone else.His royal status should be neither an advantage or disadvantage..

Exactly Tom.
Those who apply for these kind of careers do it because it's their dream job and they are totally committed to it ... generally from a very young age.
And the number of those who actually make it is very limited ... because of the limited number of slots available ...
Then you have a gentleman who simply comes over and have a slot just because he is well born...which means that one of the hard workers "was" failed ...

[rhondda rudie]

Originally Posted by flyin'irie

Exactly Tom.
Those who apply for these kind of careers do it because it's their dream job and they are totally committed to it ... generally from a very young age.
And the number of those who actually make it is very limited ... because of the limited number of slots available ...
Then you have a gentleman who simply comes over and have a slot just because he is well born...which means that one of the hard workers "was" failed ...

Well said mate.Prince Harry is another case in point.I salute his obvious desire to serve his country but anyone else with his qualifications would have entered the Army as a Private.You summed this sort of thing up in one word.MERIT.As you rightly point other,more capable,candidates are being passed over to accomodate the young princes.Surely that's wrong.

[flyin'irie]

Still, I think the English Speaking world would loose its Cachet without the Royal Family...
How important is that, I am not sure tho...

[kate13]

Originally Posted by rhondda rudie

I'm not sticking up for Brown or any other politican Kathie.I'm just making the point that medals should be awarded on merit.How can a man who's never fought in a war have 3 or 4 times more medals than the men to whom we owe our existence as a free nation.Surely that can't be right.In a republic,if you didn't want Brown or Cameron as head of state you could vote against them.Another thing,what about that bloody awful anthem.The national anthems of virtually all other nations pay tribute to their lands and peoples but England has a terrible dirge paying homage to whoever happens to be on the throne at the time.

Oh Prince Charles was only in Normany bacause Brown though he could decline the offer of the Queen being there, when the French Goverment had invited her. And i'm sure the Queen was in the land army and Prince Philip was in the Navy through the War.

Tom in WW2 apart from the Military cross, Every soldier who fought got a medal, then they got another medals for every country & campaign they fought in, Some oldies kept there medals others didn't give a dam about them

[McDUB BOY aka Superal]

Waste of time , off with da heads