Democracy and Monarchy

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think the issue of the BBC in all this seemingly OTT adulation is very much related to the way the corporation wants to be seen. Walk to wall BBC. That Proms trailer, “Curated by us; enjoyed by you” says it all. Basically, the BBC wants to he seen as Top Dog. The actual content isn’t so important to them - keeping you hooked is what they’re after.

[Joseph K]

As has been pointed out, the media has never played so big a part in people's lives. But I think there's not much difference now compared with previously when people have an emotional attachment to an idea, a symbol of something which meant a great deal to them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_air_disaster#Memorials

I'm not sure that current displays can be called 'rampant populism'. As a bystander, I find the different reactions interesting - so I welcome the reporting - because nothing like this has happened before in my lifetime. As a bystander, I may have a few years to witness what kind of king Charles turns out to be. I'm not sure that one can prejudge: he'll have his good points and his bad points, I daresay.

I find the reactions mostly depressing but unsurprising. The fact that you say 'nothing like this has happened in my lifetime' seems to speak of some awe-inspiring amazing event, when actually some old lady with no distinguishing achievements or other qualities other than that she happened to be born into a particular family has died. The rest is just collective hysteria and bread and circuses.

[muzzer]

As has been pointed out, the media has never played so big a part in people's lives. But I think there's not much difference now compared with previously when people have an emotional attachment to an idea, a symbol of something which meant a great deal to them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_air_disaster#Memorials

I'm not sure that current displays can be called 'rampant populism'. As a bystander, I find the different reactions interesting - so I welcome the reporting - because nothing like this has happened before in my lifetime. As a bystander, I may have a few years to witness what kind of king Charles turns out to be. I'm not sure that one can prejudge: he'll have his good points and his bad points, I daresay.

The rampant populism I mean to refer to is that of this government, sorry if that wasn’t clear.

[french frank]

The rampant populism I mean to refer to is that of this government, sorry if that wasn’t clear.

In fact

[french frank]

I find the reactions mostly depressing but unsurprising. The fact that you say 'nothing like this has happened in my lifetime' seems to speak of some awe-inspiring amazing event, when actually some old lady with no distinguishing achievements or other qualities other than that she happened to be born into a particular family has died. The rest is just collective hysteria and bread and circuses.

Yes, but that simply means tht some things are important to you, other things are important to other people. As you say, unsurprising.

If I have a feeling about it all, it's embarrassment. I don't like fuss, formality, ritual. Oh, damn, I was going to close the forum at 11.00 but forgot

[Sir Velo]

As has been pointed out, the media has never played so big a part in people's lives.

Oh, I don't know.

[Joseph K]

Yes, but that simply means tht some things are important to you, other things are important to other people. As you say, unsurprising.

If I have a feeling about it all, it's embarrassment. I don't like fuss, formality, ritual. Oh, damn, I was going to close the forum at 11.00 but forgot

I agree about the monarchy being an embarrassment.

And yes, what is important to me is not the irrelevant death of an unremarkable person. I would argue, if people feel the death of the Queen is important, that this is a wrong and misplaced feeling. Such people need to get their priorities straight.

[Bryn]

I agree about the monarchy being an embarrassment.

And yes, what is important to me is not the irrelevant death of an unremarkable person. I would argue, if people feel the death of the Queen is important, that this is a wrong and misplaced feeling. Such people need to get their priorities straight.

Indeed. In a recent post, I used the word "fawning". Perhaps "lickspittle" would have been more apposite?

[Joseph K]

Indeed. In a recent post, I used the word "fawning". Perhaps "lickspittle" would have been more apposite?

Yes.

[cloughie]

I agree about the monarchy being an embarrassment.

And yes, what is important to me is not the irrelevant death of an unremarkable person. I would argue, if people feel the death of the Queen is important, that this is a wrong and misplaced feeling. Such people need to get their priorities straight.

…and isn’t it good, J K, that we can all say what we want, and agree or disagree as we wish. As things stand we can do so. There are certain republics across the World where this is not the case - be very careful what you wish for! What are your priorities? You are entitled to your opinion but to describe the Queen as unremarkable is maybe more than a little disrespectful, but if that is really your view…

[Joseph K]

There are certain republics across the World where this is not the case - be very careful what you wish for!

Are you seriously suggesting that such places would have freedom of speech if they had a monarchy?

What are your priorities? You are entitled to your opinion but to describe the Queen as unremarkable is maybe more than a little disrespectful, but if that is really your view…

My priorities at the moment are the cost of living and climate crises. Please explain to me what was remarkable about the Queen.

[Bryn]

…and isn’t it good, J K, that we can all say what we want, and agree or disagree as we wish. As things stand we can do so. There are certain republics across the World where this is not the case - be very careful what you wish for! What are your priorities? You are entitled to your opinion but to describe the Queen as unremarkable is maybe more than a little disrespectful, but if that is really your view…

Just be careful you don't hold up a blank piece of paper. Phew! Where have you been the past week?

[RichardB]

…and isn’t it good, J K, that we can all say what we want, and agree or disagree as we wish. As things stand we can do so. There are certain republics across the World where this is not the case - be very careful what you wish for! What are your priorities? You are entitled to your opinion but to describe the Queen as unremarkable is maybe more than a little disrespectful, but if that is really your view…

As Bryn points out, actually we can't all say what we want, and here I would also point out that the present government and its immediate predecessors have done more than any previous ones in restricting people's right to protest in public. And remember the police response on Clapham Common last year to a peaceful vigil at the site of a woman's murder by a police officer. The only remarkable thing about the Queen is the fact that she was born into a fabulously wealthy and privileged family, and managed (with much assistance no doubt) to preserve the supposed legitimacy of that wealth and privilege in the eyes of the public for many decades, which I don't believe her son will be capable of for even the fraction of that time he has left. I guess that counts as remarkable in a way, but not in a good way, in my opinion.

Certainly there are republics in the world with more restrictions on freedom of speech than in the UK, but that is hardly an argument in favour of retaining the institution of monarchy, is it?

[smittims]

And there was me thinking the temperature was cooling. Not 'ere it ain't!

[teamsaint]

…and isn’t it good, J K, that we can all say what we want, and agree or disagree as we wish. As things stand we can do so. There are certain republics across the World where this is not the case - be very careful what you wish for! What are your priorities? You are entitled to your opinion but to describe the Queen as unremarkable is maybe more than a little disrespectful, but if that is really your view…

Freedom of expression took a massive battering from early 2020 onwards, in whichever channel you are to examine, viz the of Ofcom directives of March 2020, for example.