Post ANg6FE4UI5hhPvgSHI by mittimithai@neenster.org
(DIR) More posts by mittimithai@neenster.org
(DIR) Post #ANd7r00QYF5VHITq7c by macha@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T18:18:24.017910Z
3 likes, 0 repeats
So it seems a new divide is opening up in the UK elites. Those who queue with the ordinary people to see the late Queen lying in state and those who jump the queue and just do a photo opportunity.David Beckham and Susanna Reid are good and stood in the long queue, chatting, sharing food and posing for selfies. Not surprisingly Holly and Phil are nasty queue jumpers.
(DIR) Post #ANd7tdJXNKE3llfu2S by LadyMont@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T18:23:19.133755Z
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@macha Why am I not surprised? Smh.
(DIR) Post #ANd9ibpckLXvtWYQS0 by macha@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T18:24:47.845209Z
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For non UK Spinsters, you probably know who Beckham is as he is a very famous ex-England footballer, married a Spice Girl and is mostly lovely and gorgeous. The others areSusanna Reid - journalist/TV presenter who now does one of the major morning shows in the UK.Phil and Holly - TV presenters who do a daily mid morning show. Holly is mildly annoying but Phillip Schofield is fresh nuclear waste level toxic.
(DIR) Post #ANd9icK6uzvtQ4olyC by macha@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T18:34:07.946297Z
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And here is Beckham explaining why it was important to him.Lots of my family and friends relate more to this than official and more staged things. Well done to him for doing this and being decent and honest about it.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkBIxCwApbM
(DIR) Post #ANdE6TKaP2G8ITfeGu by FeralDandelion@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T18:38:19.100689Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@macha Serious question/not being snarky— Why do people in England have fondness for the royals? I’m in the US and it completely baffles me.
(DIR) Post #ANdE7NDmbW5jdav0RU by macha@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T18:54:59.874195Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@FeralDandelion I do not consider myself a monarchist but the system we have works in some ways and I yet to be convinced that for example a system that allows Trump to get elected as Head of State is better!My view is not to change it unless someone has a very clear plan of what comes next and how it would work. I do not want another Brexit scenario where people get all excited about change but have no idea what that change really is or how to manage it. 🤦♀️ Being brought up in the UK, for me the Royal family and its history was just part of the furniture as I grew up. My personal memories intertwine with Royal events. I remember watching Princess Anne's wedding in a hospital as my brother was sick. I fled to the hills in Wales to avoid Charles and Diana's wedding. I was alone after the death of a friend when I heard that Diana had died. And so on. I have Scottish and Irish ancestry and lived in Wales through my teen years so this is not a solely English view. I am also an ex-Catholic, now atheist, in a country with where the Protestant church is the official religion. People in each of the countries and from all backgrounds in the UK have different views on the monarchy. Some are for it, some against and some don't care very much either way.
(DIR) Post #ANdE8Piqn4yDgTwiki by mittimithai@neenster.org
2022-09-16T19:33:13.170577Z
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Canada loves them too
(DIR) Post #ANdF4ZoXQa8rmMLBFw by FeralDandelion@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:42:34.629025Z
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@mittimithai @macha Wasn’t Canada “owned” by the British monarchy at one point though? I don’t think “royal crazy fever” exists quite as intense as actual UK area. I’m relatively close to Canada and know people there-nobody I know gaf. Any one I’ve encountered in the US who pays attention to royal happenings only does so because it’s like Hollywood gossip. They’re the same people that watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians
(DIR) Post #ANdF4aKRVxf9NJGezA by mittimithai@neenster.org
2022-09-16T19:43:43.173954Z
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The queen (now the king) is the head of state. Most of us didn't really known this until Rick Mercer told us, despite having a picture of the queen in every classroom, on all our coins (all notes?) etc.
(DIR) Post #ANdHa6YJxNs6CVutGK by FeralDandelion@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:47:02.804450Z
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@mittimithai @macha By contrast, I do know people who care very much about what is going on in Canadian and UK politics (which is different than watching an expensive ceremony). Just seems hypocritical for the people who bash on rich people like Elon Musk or capitalism and uber wealth to then turn around and love on the UK royals. I totally admit I don’t know how UK govt works, so I’m legit interested in hearing why my current understanding might be wrong.
(DIR) Post #ANdHa6zGLDQFY4WPFw by FeartnTired@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:55:52.362062Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
@FeralDandelion @mittimithai @macha Look up the Commonwealth, basically former colonies if British Empire who kept ties with the Queen. That should explain some of it.Why anyone worships the royals is beyond me. Liking, bit easier to see. But the whole concept is anathema to me, and that's not just bein Scots. Lots up here are big on the royals. The queue in Edinburgh for the coffin viewing was 33,000.
(DIR) Post #ANdHsP4np9emrdpqKW by AnneBevan@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:53:03.004046Z
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@mittimithai @FeralDandelion @macha Did you really have a picture of the queen in all your classrooms? Don’t remember that.
(DIR) Post #ANdHsT2775sn8Sbkh6 by mittimithai@neenster.org
2022-09-16T20:15:08.111827Z
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I remember in some certainly...it was a long ago era.
(DIR) Post #ANdIZPfrTfOJAbg5E8 by FeralDandelion@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:35:13.519948Z
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@macha This is not a question about the people being good/bad, and from what I know, comparing US President to UK Royalty is kinda apples to oranges. Also, I’m well aware US politics is fucked up.As far as the monarchy goes- is it a system that works? Do royals serve a function in your system beyond ceremonial? And don’t the (very rich) royals (queen and the rest of the extended family) get income from your taxes and get to skip out on paying into taxes? Seems like for such a rough time when many UK families are struggling with money, your inability to stop funding this rich family isn’t serving most people well.
(DIR) Post #ANdIZQ7VorVcYMcAKG by macha@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T20:01:23.063469Z
2 likes, 0 repeats
@FeralDandelion The UK is a constitutional monarchy so their role is mainly ceremonial and to be a representation of nationality but they also are embedded into our national moments, history, culture and government in a way that is hard to explain.I think the Royals do serve a purpose in public life but it is nuanced. They can be both good and bad. The tax situation is also complicated and yes it is unfair. It definitely needs reform.I have more of a problem with the many lousy and corrupt politicians in our parliament that the Royal family.Anyway it is getting late so I am going to stop talking about the Royal family which is really not a major concern for me. Instead I am off to have a glass of wine and cuddle a kitten.
(DIR) Post #ANdIqGDdsujslhVnpA by You_cat_to_be_kitten_me@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:06:28.163815Z
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@macha You are entitled to your opinions, but have you heard David Beckham’s voice? Shudder.
(DIR) Post #ANdIqGlJrhg4S9GhJg by macha@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:13:37.936353Z
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@You_cat_to_be_kitten_me LOL! Saying someone is entitled to their opinions is pretty much the same as saying you have no respect for those views. So in the spirit of fairness, you are also entitled to your views but I may not agree with you. 😉 I have heard Beckham speak many times and once in person. Like millions of other people I think he was a great footballer and I think he is also a decent person.
(DIR) Post #ANdK9cLrv6NMrs9avg by DollyCat@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T20:30:56.982017Z
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@AnneBevan @mittimithai @FeralDandelion @macha I was in school in 70s/80s I don't ever remember seeing a pic of the queen in classroom or anywhere else in the schools. Could of been I suppose. I not exactly the most observant of people.
(DIR) Post #ANdK9cyVbRHgniES9o by mittimithai@neenster.org
2022-09-16T20:40:39.078351Z
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Canada 80s 90s for me.
(DIR) Post #ANdKjSKceTeWDSeyTg by FeralDandelion@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T19:50:14.762548Z
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@mittimithai @macha Exactly.. that’s what I’m getting at.. I’ve seen Canadian money with her face on it many times, but she’s not really an integral part of govt as far as I can tell (which might lend to the love people have-it’s much easier to have a people love you when you explicitly have to stay neutral).
(DIR) Post #ANdKjSp6p82Tk0vJzs by mittimithai@neenster.org
2022-09-16T20:47:07.878576Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
I used to think the pictures of the queen on all the money, the governor general or parks named after didn't really matter. It does. Try getting rid of it in Canada.
(DIR) Post #ANdNv3vPWLPRrF5qBU by FeralDandelion@spinster.xyz
2022-09-16T20:56:05.415023Z
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@mittimithai @macha Could you elaborate?
(DIR) Post #ANdNv4N3rXWlF01vHc by mittimithai@neenster.org
2022-09-16T21:22:50.755851Z
1 likes, 0 repeats
It takes a lot of work to have the influence the monarchy of Britain has. There is also a lot of blood. There is no such thing as an innocuous projection of power.
(DIR) Post #ANg6FE4UI5hhPvgSHI by mittimithai@neenster.org
2022-09-18T04:48:56.753435Z
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Just to make sure I wasn't losing my mind, you can see other people have made similar testimony:"When I was growing up in Cobourg, Ont., an identical photograph of the Queen hung under the clock in every classroom of my small-town public school."https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/i-pledge-allegiance-to-that-face-on-my-classrooms-wall/article550551/