The fuss over the royal family?

**hkjrb623** · 4th July 12, 05:03 PM

Call it "passed down opinions", ignorance, or just plain being American, but I really don't get what all the fuss is about concerning the royal family on this site. Sure, I get that they wear kilts on occasion. But some of the same members I see go on and on about what it is to be a Scot, go on and on about the Queen. Last I checked they are of the Hanoverian line, which is German. I'll admit that I come from a family of "lower class" and soldiers, so that could constitute some of my feelings being passed on through family accounts. The rest comes from education and study of history. I'm not trying to start any kind of political debate. I just don't understand why the large backing from people who have been historically repressed by them. Just seems really odd to me.

If you respond please be as kind and neutral in your wording as possible. I don't want this to be one of the threads in the cooling off corner.

**robthehiker** · 4th July 12, 05:19 PM

I'm going to guess that those who feel repressed by the royal family are not the ones making the fuss about them.

**MacMillans son** · 4th July 12, 05:27 PM

hkjrb623, some things we don't need to understand nor value, we just need to understand that other people vallue them. I would imagine that most British subjects do not feel that they have been repressed by the Royal family at all. It is my understanding that they are quite popular and well supported among their people, and the rest of the world for that matter.

**Hachiman** · 4th July 12, 05:38 PM

If I may offer my $0.02 worth...

I'm Australian by birth, which along with Canada and several other nations, belongs to the British Commonwealth. As such, Queen Elizabeth II is our head of state. However, just like Britain - which is a democratic monarchy - the Queen ratifies laws but does not make the laws. In Australia, there is some segments that feel that we (Australia) should part from the Commonwealth to become a separate independent country in our own right.... much like the USA did, except without the nasty business of bloodshed.

However, I do feel that Australia should maintain it's ties with Britain, and it's those feelings of tradition, heritage, and loyalty that I feel are pertinent to this thread. As our head of state, we may at times criticize the Royal family - it's our right as their subjects to have certain expectations of the Crown - however, at the end of the day we remain loyal to the Monarchy and to what they embody. That is, they are the living representation of a long and rich tapestry of history.

I think it's kind of like this: Whether you're an American Democrat or Republican, you might criticize actions taken by whoever the current President may be at the time.... but if an outsider criticizes the President, I suspect you might leap to their defense - as criticism of the Head of State is viewed as criticism of the State itself.

The Royal family's ancestors have not been perfect, I acknowledge that. They have been at times French, or German, but at the end of the day, the current Royal family are living emblems of the British Commonwealth. As a member of that Commonwealth, I am loyal to the Crown, and that loyalty may present itself (to some) as somewhat ..... effusive, shall we say?

How's that? Did I waffle too much, or stray too much from the OP, or did I shed some light on my point of view?

Regards
Hachiman

**gary meakin** · 4th July 12, 05:40 PM

I can't answer your question, being American and all.
But I would like to say to those from the UK who will be reading this thread. "Please do not lump me in with hkjrb623's version of being an American.
I for one understand one's "fussing" over their leaders.
To me this is one of those questions put out there just to start something.
I love the dichotomy of posing the question and then warning to be neutral so as not to go to the cool off corner.
And I think the Duke of Rothesay is the epitome of proper kilt wearing.

**KenB** · 4th July 12, 05:48 PM

I am a Canadian. I will keep my feelings and views of the Royal Family to myself. However, if anyone would like a chance to discuss this issue over a pint or dram, then the next time you are in the Toronto area, give me a call.

**ThistleDown** · 4th July 12, 05:58 PM

Keep this post within polite boundaries, folks, and it will stay alive for a little longer.

Just as a point of interest, there are 2 billion people in the British Commonwealth of 54 nations. Not all of them have the Queen as their head of state, but all of them value the long-standing traditions that tie them together in mutual respect. The key words are "respect" and "traditions".

**CDNSushi** · 4th July 12, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by gary meakin

To me this is one of those questions put out there just to start something.
I love the dichotomy of posing the question and then warning to be neutral so as not to go to the cool off corner.

Gary,

Thank you for expressing publicly what this moderator has been thinking. At this point in time I cannot say whether the original question was disingenuous in its intent, but I CAN say that the moderators are monitoring this thread very carefully because the original post (in my personal opinion) comes very close to being contrary to Rule #5, which disallows political discussions, and this could easily be taken quite politically...

Ladies & gentlemen of the rabble, this is the moderators' warning shot across the bow. I would strongly discourage our members from straying into territory that puts us at odds regarding our personal feelings about the Royal family or its legitimacy.

**Baldybrown** · 4th July 12, 06:04 PM

I find the Royal Family to be one of the uniquely endearing qualities of the UK. As an American, I would never bow or curtsy to Royalty, but I would ALWAYS give them the respect they are due, and I would ALWAYS respect the people of the British Commonwealth for acknowledging their heads of state in the appropriate manner. I will also always be thankful for King George being too stubborn to compromise with us Rebels across the pond.

**Downunder Kilt** · 4th July 12, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Hachiman

If I may offer my $0.02 worth...

I'm Australian by birth, which along with Canada and several other nations, belongs to the British Commonwealth. As such, Queen Elizabeth II is our head of state. However, just like Britain - which is a democratic monarchy - the Queen ratifies laws but does not make the laws. In Australia, there is some segments that feel that we (Australia) should part from the Commonwealth to become a separate independent country in our own right.... much like the USA did, except without the nasty business of bloodshed.

However, I do feel that Australia should maintain it's ties with Britain, and it's those feelings of tradition, heritage, and loyalty that I feel are pertinent to this thread. As our head of state, we may at times criticize the Royal family - it's our right as their subjects to have certain expectations of the Crown - however, at the end of the day we remain loyal to the Monarchy and to what they embody. That is, they are the living representation of a long and rich tapestry of history.

I think it's kind of like this: Whether you're an American Democrat or Republican, you might criticize actions taken by whoever the current President may be at the time.... but if an outsider criticizes the President, I suspect you might leap to their defense - as criticism of the Head of State is viewed as criticism of the State itself.

The Royal family's ancestors have not been perfect, I acknowledge that. They have been at times French, or German, but at the end of the day, the current Royal family are living emblems of the British Commonwealth. As a member of that Commonwealth, I am loyal to the Crown, and that loyalty may present itself (to some) as somewhat ..... effusive, shall we say?

How's that? Did I waffle too much, or stray too much from the OP, or did I shed some light on my point of view?

Regards
Hachiman

God save the Queen

Long may she reign