Yes
As another month rolls around, it seems like another occasion to celebrate. This time, we will be celebrating the amazing amount of time that a certain little old lady has ruled our island, and all the things that she has done for our country…
Yet, my objections to the Jubilee celebrations on June 5th are far from the standard republican moaning. In fact, I actually quite like the Queen and the whole of the royal family. I despise as much as the next royalist the populist republican – the ones who sit around complaining how we are still under the yolk of an oppressive dictatorship, but who don’t give a crap about House of Lords reform, political lobbying or any other of the more serious issues that blight our parliamentary democracy.
So when I reject the Jubilee celebrations it in no way reflects my views on the monrachy. Instead, I object on the simple grounds that I’ve had enough.
You see, last year as the Royal wedding approached, I, young, excitable and patriotic, did all I could to join in with the festivities. I woke up early in the morning to watch the wedding in a grotty Langwith kitchen, wearing a full suit. And as the day came to the close, and the Pimm-induced hangover closed in, I was left short on cash, nautious and exhausted.
So this year, as the celebrations begin, I will once again be forced to go through the usual sequence of events, as I feel forced to celebrate with my friends, in fear of being branded a party pooper if I as much as hint at my opposition.
My situation seems a somewhat apt metaphor for the condition of the entire country. As the economy grounds to a halt, we are being forced to take a break from the vicious economic hell and enjoy some patriotic fun.
Sure, these celebrations help us forget our woes, but the country doesn’t need so many in such a sensitive period of growth. Can the country really justify having two royal occasions as well as hosting the Olympic Games? Eventually, we need to say enough is enough.
No
Experiencing these past few days of glorious sunshine is helping me understand why Greece, Spain and Italy are in such financial difficulties. Drinking and lounging outside in the cocoon of warmth and sunshine is enough to make anyone forget their troubles: retire at 50 and live off a generous state pension while getting drunk in the sunshine every day.
Unfortunately, you can’t really do that in this country. Our government cruelly insists we work until 67 and top up our meagre state pension with our own savings. But then again, this is Britain, so an extended alcohol-fuelled retirement gives me these grim-seeming images of a lonesome whiskey-sipping while it rains outside.
However, next weekend, thanks to a God-sent combination of sunshine and the 60 year anniversary of a little old lady ruling this great kingdom, we get to pretend like we’re the Mediterranean. The Queen’s gift to us, two extra bank holidays, means that we have four whole days of barbeques, Pimms, sunbathing and enthusiastic patriotism. I, for one, can hardly wait.
Now, to ensure there are no misunderstandings, I have to admit I am a staunch republican. I believe the monarchy is an outdated and totally unjustified institution that props up the class system, which is the root of all of Britain’s social issues. But, if we are going to let one family represent the pinnacle of British society by virtue of birth, we may as well make the best of it and enjoy a few days off when we can.
But seriously, there are some real economic and political benefits to celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. This is because Queen Elizabeth II is not just Britain’s monarch, but ruler of those many countries in the Commonwealth, all of whom will also be celebrating the Jubilee in some way. Good PR for the royals is good PR for Britain, and helps us pretend Britain is still a huge imperial power.
And at the end of the day, love or loathe the monarchy, you can’t deny that the Queen has dedicated her life to public service. After 60 years, I think we can let her have a bit of a celebration. Some things just aren’t about money.
[poll id=”16″]
do you support fox hunting and bird shooting and cruel sports?
NO
then why suport the royal jubilee and the mega rich paracites.
I have always disliked the Royals. But lately, even more so. The Queen is supposed to represent her subjects, but has been noticably quiet on the suffering they are going through, on the corruption that is being foisted on them, on the thieves and hypocrites (Kinnocks, Prescott, Archer etc.) that she has put into the house of Lords. Her grandchildren parading around in uniforms and medals when legitimate service personnel are dying and wounded everyday. Frankly, the armed services should be up in arms that these two oxygen thieves are allowed to appear as often as they do in newspapers wearing uniforms on active service when everyone knows it is just PR. No get rid of the scum and lets make this the last waste of money.
Cheer up mate
waste of time and money, lets celebrate a 60 year who does not have to worry about heating during the winter and what for ? for sitting on her arse.
woop de do!
A waste of money spend it on the homeless. Kate is taking off Diana and spending a fortune on clothes and William never appears to work
and Kates parents went along for the ride which was disgraceful.
Anne decked out in Naval Uniform a big joke but I did not see Duchess Grumpy the former beautiful Duchess of Kent who now does nothing but pull faces and still gets paid. The Queen could not care less about the sick or the homeless or she would not have allowed this waste of money and would be stopping Wiliam and Kate from the way they live.
It’s a waste of time and money. Putting aside the outdated institution that is the monarchy and the more pressing issues of a very real class war (unfortunately dubbed and nay-sayed as old politics), lobbying, Lords reforms, Lords peerages, etc– it’s a great inconvenience to students whom at this time are sitting important A-level examinations. Schools and colleges are shut for two days denying pupils the opportunity to study in specially appointed study classes, clearing up any possible grey areas in their knowledge. I know that A2 Statistic students get to come back to their exam bright and early on the Wednesday after the Jubilee. Therefore any questions they have about the test cannot be put to a teacher or professor.
It’s a complete joke.
i am fed up with hearing about the amount of money spent on the jubilee and olympics.some people just dont realise the tremendous amount of extra revenue this brings in to the country.you have to speculate to accumulate!