Young man, I have to say that free speech is all very well. But at the same time, I consider Matt's comments on our Royal Family way out of line and completely uncalled for. I can well recall, the triumphal mood that prevailed among the people in the village where I spent most of my childhood ... as folk of all ages crowded into the local Public Hall to witness the dawn of a 'New Elizabethan Era', [in the form of our present Queen's Coronation] on a 17" black & white television screen positioned centre-stage. That momentous event took place more than 56 years ago ... on June 2nd, 1953 ... and upwards of three decades before the likes of Matt was scarcely even a twinkle in his mum's eye. And now, not far short of sixty years on, we are privileged to be the subjects of this most gracious and dignified lady who is revered and respected worldwide.Originally Posted by Northerner
Matter of opinion. The fact that a simple joke about the Thai king could get you in very serious trouble in Thailand or get your website banned from that country is nothing to sing the praise of! We have a right in this country that we should learn to respect, even if it means hearing things we do not like.
I will happily debate people on matters like the monachy or religion or whatever, because I can! And if I say something offending towards them in the process, then so be it
We already live in too much of a nanny state as it is without giving up any more of our rights to political correctness. Matt has every right to say what he does about the monachy and in many ways I respect him for saying so. I too dislike the notion of what they stand for, but understand that they pay for themselves many times over with the boost to our economy through tourism. And yes, perhaps that is debatable
In an ever-changing Society, the Monarchy is inherent in our centuries-old National Heritage. By virtue of its sheer constancy, it represents a certain stability. As a Scot- and in a wider sense - as a British Citizen,
I am fiercely proud of our nation and its traditions ... which are envied amongst our European neighbours, and practically everywhere else on the planet. Like many of my counterparts, I'm perhaps less enamoured with our system of government, although it remains preferable to that of most other countries. I have to ask all would-be dissenters if, in all honesty, they'd rather we evolved into a Republican State with a President at the helm ... a kind of 'dictatorship' ... and all THAT entails? "Loyalty to Royalty", I say.
So please, spare us the unjustified crticism of noble Institutions like the Monarchy and the NHS, and just be thankful for their continued existence! Because if you don't/are not, then I suggest you go and live elsewhere.
Arise, Sir Arthur!
