Forum Topic

Didn't we do well?

If these Diamond Jubilee celebrations didn't make you feel proud to be British - then nothing ever will. Given the awful time we're having it's good to see just how lucky we are to have someone at the head of the country who is so highly regarded. There'll be plenty of countries aorund the world who envy us our Queen and way of life in these testing times. Nobody does it better.

Vanessa Smith ● 5082d22 Comments

Precisely translated.But unlike my egghead children I didn't actually study Latin at school.  I'm just pretending to be clever.

Phil Andrews ● 5080d

Roughly translated as bread and circuses??

Vanessa Smith ● 5080d

Don't forget also that George VI died on 6th February 1952.  Her coronation took place on 2nd June 1953.  Thus there was absolutely no reason/justification for the jubilee celebrations to take place last weekend - if we were supposed to be marking 60 years of her reign than we should have done so in February, or if we were supposed to be marking 60 years since her coronation we should have done so in June 2013.All conveniently forgotten apart from by the 'killjoys' like myself ;-)

Adam Beamish ● 5081d

Panem et circenses.

Phil Andrews ● 5081d

Crisis? What crisis?

Keith Iddon ● 5081d

Not wanting to be a killjoy or anything but is it my imagination or is the Diamond Jubilee being plugged far more heavily than was the Golden Jubilee ten years ago?Which is odd as 50, the half century, is surely the more significant milestone?A cynic might think the powers that be were eager to distract attention from the parlous state of the economy and all the associated problems that have beset us all in its wake.The worrying thing is that with the Olympics and Euro 2012 just around the corner they might just get away with it.

Phil Andrews ● 5081d

I believe it was Tony Benn who said words to effect that the British working class will be the last colony of empire.

Keith Iddon ● 5081d

And on benefits in many cases.

Keith Iddon ● 5081d

True.

Vanessa Smith ● 5081d

There is one very important difference.  Today's slave labour is home grown.

Phil Andrews ● 5081d

"We must find new lands from which we can easily obtain raw materials and at the same time exploit the cheap slave labor that is available from the natives of the colonies. The colonies would also provide a dumping ground for the surplus goods produced in our factories." How about that then? Dodgy Dave and co. would just love old Cecil if he was around today, except that we barely produce sod all these days.

Vanessa Smith ● 5081d

Or just about plagiary.

Keith Iddon ● 5081d

Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life. Cecil Rhodes Paraphrased perhaps?

Vanessa Smith ● 5081d

I think Parsons has nicked that quote from Cecil Rhodes.

Keith Iddon ● 5081d

Paul, some of Chris' Brentford roadwork crew are working hard around the corner to the Legion - wonder if they have taken shelter for a refreshing tomato juice or cold rybena, at lunchtime?  (actually today it is probably a hot tea and tomato soup!)

Sarah Felstead ● 5081d

Superb, Vanessa.  :-)

Sarah Felstead ● 5081d

I find your post quite sad - this country does not blow its own trumpet often enough as far as I can see, so when we get the opportunity I think we should grab it with both hands. No-one is disputing all the things in the world that aren't right, but not celebrating our Queen's 60 years wouldn't have made a scrap of difference.Tony Parsons in the Mirror pretty much sums it up "to be born British is to win the Lottery of life". "These are uncertain times for Britain but this was an affirmation of all we can be proud of: Our history, our traditions, our people and an 86 year old woman who has seen 12 Prime Ministers come and go". We will no doubt see the creepy and unscrupulous colonels and various military types creeping out from under their stones in countries like Greece and Egypt where there is such instability, all they will do is make their poor people suffer yet again. Our armed forces owe their allegiance to our Sovereign not any politician or jumped up bigwig who wants to run the show. So as far as I am concerned you can keep your republics, I for one am more than happy to be a subject of the Queen. That has to be worthy of a big celebration and pride.

Vanessa Smith ● 5081d

Hmm, not sentiments I share.  Was only thinking how absurd it was on Saturday evening when I was passing through the small town on Horncastle in Lincolnshire and instead of Union Jack bunting the shops were also decorated with the flags of countries from the Commonwealth.  It made a nice change from just union jack bunting everywhere but immediately got me thinking of how some poor sod in Africa who has to trek 3kms for water really has more pressing matters to deal with than celebrating the jubilee of some figurehead.Remember we were the ones paying for all the security costs associated with the weekend's 'celebrations'.But Vanessa is right, I'm not proud to be British.  I'm not embarrassed to be British either, but it doesn't mean anything to me - I don't think the country of my birth is any 'superior' or 'inferior' to anywhere else.

Adam Beamish ● 5081d

We spent Sunday at the Isleworth British Legion and it was an excellent afternoon and evening and well done to all concerned in organising the eventGood to see two of our local councillors there as well and also Cllr Cadbury who I understand was trying to get to as many of the events in the Borough as possible and fair play to her for doing so

Paul Fisher ● 5081d

More than anything else I really feel that these events are celebrations of community.  They bring people together in a way that nothing else can and inspire neighbours to communicate and interact with one another in an age when it is just so easy to live next door to somebody for years and never even find the time to talk to them.I spent some time at the Chestnut Grove street party and the organisation that had clearly gone into it, from residents of one tiny street, just beggared belief.  It was a timely reminder that "ordinary" people really can be trusted to do things for themselves.  Let's have more of it I say.

Phil Andrews ● 5082d

Truly amazing weekend and something that our Nation does so wellGreat to see so many waving the Union Jack so proudly and lets hope that continues rather then some being ashamed to do so

Paul Fisher ● 5082d

I was so happy with all the celebrations, defiantly made me proud to be British

Debbie Pearson ● 5082d