The Monarchist 1.0
Defending the British Crown Commonwealth and the English-Speaking Peoples
[+] HONOURING OUR PATRON, SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, VICTOR OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLES
[+] HONOURING OUR QUEEN, ELIZABETH THE SECOND, ON THE 80TH YEAR OF HER BIRTH (1926 - 2006)
[+] HONOURING OUR KING, SAINT EDWARD THE CONFESSOR, ON THE 1000TH YEAR OF HIS BIRTH (1005 - 2005)
[+] HONOURING OUR HERO, LORD NELSON, ON THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR (1805 - 2005)
[+] HONOURING OUR SONS, THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE 'WAR ON TERROR'
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard, 46, Royal Canadian Regiment, Nov 27, 2006 (Afstan)
Staff Sergeant Sharron Elliott, 34, Intelligence Corps, Nov 12, 2006 (Iraq)
[+] HONOURING OUR VETS ON THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICTORIA CROSS (1856 - 2006)
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Snubbing our Queen
God Save The Queen will apparently not be sung at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, even with Her Majesty in attendance. Needless to say, this is a shocking precedent, and a very ungracious one at that.
I can certainly understand the desire of Australians to hear their national anthem, but here's a thought: Sing both. That's what we do whenever the Governor General receives the Royal Salute, and that's without even our Royal Sovereign being in our presence. It certainly would be the respectful, common sensical thing to do, mates. After all, this is the Commonwealth Games and she is the Head of the Commonwealth. She is the Sovereign of your state. She is your Queen. If you can't even pay the proper respect to yourselves and your own Queen, then kindly do us a favour and pay the proper respect to ours. Sheesh.
POSTSCRIPT: Griffith informs us this is all the mischief of a certain Australian state politician, The Premier of Victoria, Stephen Bracks. You are all highly encouraged to email the offending party at steve.bracks@parliament.vic.gov.au
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 6:13 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
God Save The Queen will apparently not be sung at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, even with Her Majesty in attendance. Needless to say, this is a shocking precedent, and a very ungracious one at that.
I can certainly understand the desire of Australians to hear their national anthem, but here's a thought: Sing both. That's what we do whenever the Governor General receives the Royal Salute, and that's without even our Royal Sovereign being in our presence. It certainly would be the respectful, common sensical thing to do, mates. After all, this is the Commonwealth Games and she is the Head of the Commonwealth. She is the Sovereign of your state. She is your Queen. If you can't even pay the proper respect to yourselves and your own Queen, then kindly do us a favour and pay the proper respect to ours. Sheesh.
POSTSCRIPT: Griffith informs us this is all the mischief of a certain Australian state politician, The Premier of Victoria, Stephen Bracks. You are all highly encouraged to email the offending party at steve.bracks@parliament.vic.gov.au
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 6:13 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Monday, February 27, 2006
Next up: The Commonwealth Games
Can you say, Winter Sports Powerhouse? Canada finished third in the total medal count at the Turin Winter Olympics, just one back of the United States. This without the men so much as bringing back the bronze for hockey. Winning 24 medals just doesn't make up for losing our game though. Lord Stanley would be disappointed.
Australia and Britain should be happy that the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in the next few weeks will not be a winter venue. With a couple of medals between the two of them at this Olympics, they're not exactly a threat to the competition if you know what I mean. Once we get off the slopes here however, I'm sure they will be cleaning our clocks in the pool and on the track in Melbourne. So we're not laughing here, folks. At all. Honest.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:24 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Can you say, Winter Sports Powerhouse? Canada finished third in the total medal count at the Turin Winter Olympics, just one back of the United States. This without the men so much as bringing back the bronze for hockey. Winning 24 medals just doesn't make up for losing our game though. Lord Stanley would be disappointed.
Australia and Britain should be happy that the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in the next few weeks will not be a winter venue. With a couple of medals between the two of them at this Olympics, they're not exactly a threat to the competition if you know what I mean. Once we get off the slopes here however, I'm sure they will be cleaning our clocks in the pool and on the track in Melbourne. So we're not laughing here, folks. At all. Honest.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:24 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Friday, February 24, 2006
High Praise
The Monarchist received a generous tribute the other day from a former director of the Churchill Society and current Deputy Editor of Burke's Peerage and Gentry: World Orders of Knighthood and Merit. In the email he states and I quote:
"Your web page is a refreshing oasis in what is otherwise largely a barren wasteland of ignorant and well-meaning but ultimately embarrassing pseudo-patriotic web sites. It is wonderful to see a passionate defence of traditional High Tory values and unashamed advocacy of the merits of the association of the British Commonweatlh and the English Speaking People. As a former director of the International Churchill Society, Canada (and current committee member of the International Churchill Society, UK) I am also pleased that you have accorded Churchill the position of "Patron"."
Needless to say, winning the approval from such an esteemed member gratefully warms my heart, particularly one that comes from so distinguished an authority on that quarter of our cherished heritage. Churchill is indeed our Blog Patron, and we will endeavor to accord his presence in a more conspicuous place of honour on this site. Congratulations gentlemen (and lady) on the progress we have all made to-date. The work goes on. The passion never dies.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 7:56 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
The Monarchist received a generous tribute the other day from a former director of the Churchill Society and current Deputy Editor of Burke's Peerage and Gentry: World Orders of Knighthood and Merit. In the email he states and I quote:
"Your web page is a refreshing oasis in what is otherwise largely a barren wasteland of ignorant and well-meaning but ultimately embarrassing pseudo-patriotic web sites. It is wonderful to see a passionate defence of traditional High Tory values and unashamed advocacy of the merits of the association of the British Commonweatlh and the English Speaking People. As a former director of the International Churchill Society, Canada (and current committee member of the International Churchill Society, UK) I am also pleased that you have accorded Churchill the position of "Patron"."
Needless to say, winning the approval from such an esteemed member gratefully warms my heart, particularly one that comes from so distinguished an authority on that quarter of our cherished heritage. Churchill is indeed our Blog Patron, and we will endeavor to accord his presence in a more conspicuous place of honour on this site. Congratulations gentlemen (and lady) on the progress we have all made to-date. The work goes on. The passion never dies.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 7:56 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
It's all a dastardly Republican plot
Bird flu menaces British monarchy - "The Tower of London's famous ravens have been locked up in a bid to isolate them from the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza that is sweeping the world.
Rest assured though, the ravens enjoy an immune boosting diet of blood-soaked biscuits, boiled eggs and cod liver oil.
Legend has it that when none of the birds are left, the kingdom is in peril - at one point during the Blitz all but one died "of fright". Now Yeoman Warder Ravenmaster Derrick Coyle has been forced to quarantine his six royal charges in specially built aviaries within the Norman fortress..."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 9:07 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Bird flu menaces British monarchy - "The Tower of London's famous ravens have been locked up in a bid to isolate them from the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza that is sweeping the world.
Rest assured though, the ravens enjoy an immune boosting diet of blood-soaked biscuits, boiled eggs and cod liver oil.
Legend has it that when none of the birds are left, the kingdom is in peril - at one point during the Blitz all but one died "of fright". Now Yeoman Warder Ravenmaster Derrick Coyle has been forced to quarantine his six royal charges in specially built aviaries within the Norman fortress..."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 9:07 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
In Labour's Dreams
Charles 'risks collapsing monarchy'
From ePolitix.com - In an interview with ePolitix.com, Paul Flynn said that the future head of state's desire to influence policy risked causing the monarchy to "collapse".
The Newport West MP's comments follow revelations from a former senior aide to Prince Charles that he regards himself as a "dissident" who speaks out against the political consensus.
Giving written evidence in a case the prince has brought against the Mail on Sunday over an alleged breach of confidence and copyright, his former deputy private secretary Mark Bolland also detailed the numerous letters the heir to throne fires off to ministers.
And as the latest row generates more negative headlines for the monarchy, Flynn warned the move could prove deeply damaging.
"His actions are suicidal. The only reason why the monarchy and the Queen is successful is that she has kept out of all political decisions and the only way it can continue to survive as an institution is if the monarchy is seen to be above politics,"...read the rest here.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 8:23 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Charles 'risks collapsing monarchy'
From ePolitix.com - In an interview with ePolitix.com, Paul Flynn said that the future head of state's desire to influence policy risked causing the monarchy to "collapse".
The Newport West MP's comments follow revelations from a former senior aide to Prince Charles that he regards himself as a "dissident" who speaks out against the political consensus.
Giving written evidence in a case the prince has brought against the Mail on Sunday over an alleged breach of confidence and copyright, his former deputy private secretary Mark Bolland also detailed the numerous letters the heir to throne fires off to ministers.
And as the latest row generates more negative headlines for the monarchy, Flynn warned the move could prove deeply damaging.
"His actions are suicidal. The only reason why the monarchy and the Queen is successful is that she has kept out of all political decisions and the only way it can continue to survive as an institution is if the monarchy is seen to be above politics,"...read the rest here.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 8:23 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
New Zealand's strange foreign minister
Our Commonwealth brethren Down Under appear to share our sometimes pechant for infantile self-embarrassment. Like the Liberals who would often complain about not being noticed by Washington (remember when Bush forgot to mention Canada in his 9/11 State of the Union), New Zealand’s foreign minister feels the Americans are not paying enough appreciation to his country’s security and stability role in the Pacific. Memo to Foreign Minister Winston Peters: Who cares that the Americans aren’t paying attention. Do what’s right and responsible for your own national self-interests. You should simply assume as a matter of course that we are naturally with you.
As it turns out, this Winston Peters is something of an enigma to British Parliamentary convention. Though a minister of the Crown, he, shock, shock, resides totally outside of cabinet - a pariah to the long-standing notion of cabinet solidarity and government accountability, to say potentially nothing of national integrity on the international stage.
From Wikipedia: “He is a member of the Executive Council, although he is outside cabinet. He may criticise the government in areas not related to his portfolios, which Constitutional experts say is an unprecedented situation”
Postscript: Prime Minister Harper take note: you didn’t have to entice Vancouver Liberal MP David Emerson to go turncoat just to sit in your cabinet. You could have just appointed the Minister of International Trade to sit across the aisle with the Liberals! All that fuss for nothing.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:47 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Our Commonwealth brethren Down Under appear to share our sometimes pechant for infantile self-embarrassment. Like the Liberals who would often complain about not being noticed by Washington (remember when Bush forgot to mention Canada in his 9/11 State of the Union), New Zealand’s foreign minister feels the Americans are not paying enough appreciation to his country’s security and stability role in the Pacific. Memo to Foreign Minister Winston Peters: Who cares that the Americans aren’t paying attention. Do what’s right and responsible for your own national self-interests. You should simply assume as a matter of course that we are naturally with you.As it turns out, this Winston Peters is something of an enigma to British Parliamentary convention. Though a minister of the Crown, he, shock, shock, resides totally outside of cabinet - a pariah to the long-standing notion of cabinet solidarity and government accountability, to say potentially nothing of national integrity on the international stage.
From Wikipedia: “He is a member of the Executive Council, although he is outside cabinet. He may criticise the government in areas not related to his portfolios, which Constitutional experts say is an unprecedented situation”
Postscript: Prime Minister Harper take note: you didn’t have to entice Vancouver Liberal MP David Emerson to go turncoat just to sit in your cabinet. You could have just appointed the Minister of International Trade to sit across the aisle with the Liberals! All that fuss for nothing.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:47 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Monday, February 20, 2006
Freedom is at risk when we meddle with the Monarchy:
"The Monarchy is at the centre of the complex knot of law, tradition, religion and hard-won liberties that make up Britain's constitution. Unravel that knot, or hack through it, and chaos or tyranny can follow, as Oliver Cromwell found.
Much of the Crown's strength and power comes from ideas, habits, customs and taboos, some of them immensely old. Those who bow to the Queen are not showing personal deference to a pleasant, elderly lady. They are acknowledging the ultimate source of authority in the world's longest-surviving law-governed democracy."
Read the whole thing at the Daily Mail.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:32 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
"The Monarchy is at the centre of the complex knot of law, tradition, religion and hard-won liberties that make up Britain's constitution. Unravel that knot, or hack through it, and chaos or tyranny can follow, as Oliver Cromwell found.
Much of the Crown's strength and power comes from ideas, habits, customs and taboos, some of them immensely old. Those who bow to the Queen are not showing personal deference to a pleasant, elderly lady. They are acknowledging the ultimate source of authority in the world's longest-surviving law-governed democracy."
Read the whole thing at the Daily Mail.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:32 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Sunday, February 19, 2006
What do Madonna, Johnny Depp and Quentin Tarantino all have in common? According to wikipedia, they are all conspicuous anglophiles. Funny, it wasn't the first thing that popped into my head.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:50 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:50 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Saturday, February 18, 2006
A battle of Wills - As a graduate of the Royal Military College, I can empathize with what Prince William of Wales is going through right now at Sandhurst. Those who think that royals have it easy should think again. Behold, our future King and Commander-in-Chief.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 3:17 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 3:17 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Greetings and Salutations ...
I thank the most Noble Lord Beaverbrook for his generous Introduction, and further pledge my utmost Enthusiasm and Ardour, if not quite sufficient Talents, toward the great project that is this website.
Most Honourable friends, our way of Life is under attack and has been for some time. The Institutions that we hold Dear - those made of Flesh & Bone - the very ones that are Superior in every way to the worship of a mere piece of Cloth (the "Flag Fetish of Republicanism"), require that every Man, Woman & Child do their historic Duty, and rally to the defence of the Crown.
In the words of the Great Bard of The Avon:
"From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
Perhaps we go to the St. Crispin's Day Speech and King Henry V too often, but that does not detract from the appropriateness of the message, and our heartfelt desire to maintain our precious inheritance.
Onward Bound! Soldiers of the Queen !
As the late General Sir Arthur Currie stated on the eve of the great German Offensive of 1918:
"Today the fate of the British Empire hangs in the balance. I place my trust in the Canadian Corps knowing that where Canadians are engaged, there can be no giving way. You will advance or fall where you stand facing the enemy. To those who will fall, I say, you will not die but step into immortality. Your Mothers will not lament your fate but will be proud to have born such Sons. Your names will be revered for ever and ever by your grateful country and God will take you unto Himself. I trust you to fight as you have ever fought with all your strength, with all your determination, with all your tranquil courage. On many a hard fought field of battle you have overcome the enemy. With God's help you shall achieve victory once more."
I remain your most Humble Servant,
etc & etc ...
shaftesbury
POSTED BY: Aeneas the Younger AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
I thank the most Noble Lord Beaverbrook for his generous Introduction, and further pledge my utmost Enthusiasm and Ardour, if not quite sufficient Talents, toward the great project that is this website.
Most Honourable friends, our way of Life is under attack and has been for some time. The Institutions that we hold Dear - those made of Flesh & Bone - the very ones that are Superior in every way to the worship of a mere piece of Cloth (the "Flag Fetish of Republicanism"), require that every Man, Woman & Child do their historic Duty, and rally to the defence of the Crown.
In the words of the Great Bard of The Avon:
"From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
Perhaps we go to the St. Crispin's Day Speech and King Henry V too often, but that does not detract from the appropriateness of the message, and our heartfelt desire to maintain our precious inheritance.
Onward Bound! Soldiers of the Queen !
As the late General Sir Arthur Currie stated on the eve of the great German Offensive of 1918:
"Today the fate of the British Empire hangs in the balance. I place my trust in the Canadian Corps knowing that where Canadians are engaged, there can be no giving way. You will advance or fall where you stand facing the enemy. To those who will fall, I say, you will not die but step into immortality. Your Mothers will not lament your fate but will be proud to have born such Sons. Your names will be revered for ever and ever by your grateful country and God will take you unto Himself. I trust you to fight as you have ever fought with all your strength, with all your determination, with all your tranquil courage. On many a hard fought field of battle you have overcome the enemy. With God's help you shall achieve victory once more."
I remain your most Humble Servant,
etc & etc ...
shaftesbury
POSTED BY: Aeneas the Younger AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Friday, February 17, 2006
Great Officers of State
I freely admit that I may have an overblown affection for authority and hierarchy. For reasons that I won’t go into detail here, I get more inspiration out of the ancient order and structure of our civilization than I do from even the freedoms we derive from it. Call me crazy. I could never be a libertarian.
That’s because while freedom is fundamental and important, it is not interesting. History is interesting. So is politics. So is monarchy. I’m enthralled by the idea of it, by the beauty, the continuity and the sanctity of the throne. There’s the dignity of being represented by a defiantly ordinary person in the body of our Queen, but there’s also the accompanying bag of treasures of the whole apparatus that fascinate. Things like the Court of the Lord Lyon, the Confederation of the Cinque Ports, the Victoria Cross, the Earl Marshall, the royalist regiments, the orders of chivalry or even the orders of precedence. The list goes on.
Orders of precedence. Who knew for example that the current British Prime Minister as First Lord of the Treasury (not to be confused with the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is Second Lord of the Treasury) ranks below one of his own cabinet ministers, that of the Lord High Chancellor, a position that was first created back in 1068. And what of the Lord Privy Seal? What exactly is her Cabinet position if she is neither a Lord, nor a privy, nor a seal? And why does she rank above The Lord High Admiral, a position that is currently vested in Her Majesty? It is fascinating that a thousand years later, these Great Officers of State still exist in observance to ritual, custom and long-standing practice. England would be less an appealing place if it decided to sacrifice these ancient offices to the selfish and tedious interests of an uninspiring modernity.
For further research, click the following (also listed under the right side bar button “Sovereign of State” for future reference):
Great Officers of State by order of precedence
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:56 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
I freely admit that I may have an overblown affection for authority and hierarchy. For reasons that I won’t go into detail here, I get more inspiration out of the ancient order and structure of our civilization than I do from even the freedoms we derive from it. Call me crazy. I could never be a libertarian.
That’s because while freedom is fundamental and important, it is not interesting. History is interesting. So is politics. So is monarchy. I’m enthralled by the idea of it, by the beauty, the continuity and the sanctity of the throne. There’s the dignity of being represented by a defiantly ordinary person in the body of our Queen, but there’s also the accompanying bag of treasures of the whole apparatus that fascinate. Things like the Court of the Lord Lyon, the Confederation of the Cinque Ports, the Victoria Cross, the Earl Marshall, the royalist regiments, the orders of chivalry or even the orders of precedence. The list goes on.
Orders of precedence. Who knew for example that the current British Prime Minister as First Lord of the Treasury (not to be confused with the Chancellor of the Exchequer who is Second Lord of the Treasury) ranks below one of his own cabinet ministers, that of the Lord High Chancellor, a position that was first created back in 1068. And what of the Lord Privy Seal? What exactly is her Cabinet position if she is neither a Lord, nor a privy, nor a seal? And why does she rank above The Lord High Admiral, a position that is currently vested in Her Majesty? It is fascinating that a thousand years later, these Great Officers of State still exist in observance to ritual, custom and long-standing practice. England would be less an appealing place if it decided to sacrifice these ancient offices to the selfish and tedious interests of an uninspiring modernity.
For further research, click the following (also listed under the right side bar button “Sovereign of State” for future reference):
Great Officers of State by order of precedence
- Lord High Steward (1154)
- Lord High Chancellor (1068) (*)
- Lord High Treasurer (1126) (*)
- Lord President of the Council (1530) (*)
- Lord Privy Seal (1307) (*)
- Lord Great Chamberlain (1133)
- Lord High Constable (1139)
- Earl Marshall (1135) (*)
- Lord High Admiral (1413)
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:56 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Please welcome our newest gentleman author, Lord Ashley, the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury and great Victorian philanthropist to our (mostly dormant) family of Commonwealth scribblers.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:11 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:11 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Crossing the Floor
Aeneas the Younger at Red Tory Glory has a good post on MPs who cross the floor. Although several have done this in the past couple of years (mostly shake-your-head Tories crossing over to sit with the Liberals), there's been quite a kerfuffle in Canada over the latest MP to do this. Namely British Columbia MP David Emerson, who won his Vancouver riding as a Liberal minister, and who now sits in Prime Minister Harper's Conservative Cabinet. Astonishing given his recent election victory speech declaring that the Tories would represent a society where "the weak die". Apparently the weak will have a chance now, now that said self-proclaimed voice of moderation has a seat at the table of Conservative neanderthals.
In any event, ATY quoting from Edmund Burke has some good points as to why we shouldn't be clamouring to change our Westminister system, the system that allowed - let us never forget - Churchill to cross the floor in his day:
"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion."
"Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests, which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; Parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest - that of the whole - where not local purposes, not local prejudices, ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole. You choose a member, indeed; but when you have chosen him, he is not Member of Bristol, but he is a Member of Parliament."
Very good, Burke. Very good. It's interesting that for all Harper's desire to reform our Parliamentary democracy, he is on the record of not wanting to allow this particularly practice to be legally forbidden. Who knows, perhaps he instinctively agrees with Burke.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 2:33 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Aeneas the Younger at Red Tory Glory has a good post on MPs who cross the floor. Although several have done this in the past couple of years (mostly shake-your-head Tories crossing over to sit with the Liberals), there's been quite a kerfuffle in Canada over the latest MP to do this. Namely British Columbia MP David Emerson, who won his Vancouver riding as a Liberal minister, and who now sits in Prime Minister Harper's Conservative Cabinet. Astonishing given his recent election victory speech declaring that the Tories would represent a society where "the weak die". Apparently the weak will have a chance now, now that said self-proclaimed voice of moderation has a seat at the table of Conservative neanderthals.
In any event, ATY quoting from Edmund Burke has some good points as to why we shouldn't be clamouring to change our Westminister system, the system that allowed - let us never forget - Churchill to cross the floor in his day:
"Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion."
"Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests, which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; Parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest - that of the whole - where not local purposes, not local prejudices, ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole. You choose a member, indeed; but when you have chosen him, he is not Member of Bristol, but he is a Member of Parliament."
Very good, Burke. Very good. It's interesting that for all Harper's desire to reform our Parliamentary democracy, he is on the record of not wanting to allow this particularly practice to be legally forbidden. Who knows, perhaps he instinctively agrees with Burke.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 2:33 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
This is good to see. The Queen honours London's heroes. These semi-annual honours rituals just wouldn't be the same without Her Majesty. If this were the only reason to keep the monarchy, it would by itself be enough. Every nation needs a fountain of honour. And who better to serve this important function than our Royal Sovereign.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:29 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:29 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous
It is times like this that have me reaching for Voltaire, the great thinker and enlightened monarchist (he "would rather obey one lion, than 200 rats of his own species".) of his time. The continued relentless attack on free speech as it relates to those silly harmless cartoons is certainly affirming Voltaire's one prayer in life: "I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it."
Time to get back to the basics. A quote used to illustrate Voltaire's views on freedom of speech, which was written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall in her 1906 biography on Voltaire, goes: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it", pretty much sums up what I believe on the matter. Some others do the trick too:
"In a free state, tongues too should be free." Erasmus, The Education of a Christian Prince (1516).
"If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." - George Orwell
"The principle of free thought is not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought we hate." US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in United States v. Schwimmer (1929).
"Goebbels was in favor of free speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you're in favor of free speech, then you're in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise. Otherwise, you're not in favor of free speech." Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (1992).
"...if any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. To deny this is to assume our own infallibility." John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1859).
"The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish." Robert H. Jackson
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 1:38 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
It is times like this that have me reaching for Voltaire, the great thinker and enlightened monarchist (he "would rather obey one lion, than 200 rats of his own species".) of his time. The continued relentless attack on free speech as it relates to those silly harmless cartoons is certainly affirming Voltaire's one prayer in life: "I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And God granted it." Time to get back to the basics. A quote used to illustrate Voltaire's views on freedom of speech, which was written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall in her 1906 biography on Voltaire, goes: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it", pretty much sums up what I believe on the matter. Some others do the trick too:
"In a free state, tongues too should be free." Erasmus, The Education of a Christian Prince (1516).
"If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." - George Orwell
"The principle of free thought is not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought we hate." US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes in United States v. Schwimmer (1929).
"Goebbels was in favor of free speech for views he liked. So was Stalin. If you're in favor of free speech, then you're in favor of freedom of speech precisely for views you despise. Otherwise, you're not in favor of free speech." Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media (1992).
"...if any opinion is compelled to silence, that opinion may, for aught we can certainly know, be true. To deny this is to assume our own infallibility." John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1859).
"The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish." Robert H. Jackson
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 1:38 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Those tax evading monarchists - Probable anti-monarchist and Australian Labor politician, Lindsay Tanner, is accusing the benign Constitution Education Fund (whose patron-in-chief is no less than the Governor-General), which educates Australians on their consitutional system of government and has federal tax deductible donor status, of tax evasion: "This is nothing less than a fraud on Australian taxpayers. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax which would otherwise be payable by ACM donors has been evaded by use of this elaborate sham."
An elaborate sham. Educating Australians on the monarchy. Apparently he's serious.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:16 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
An elaborate sham. Educating Australians on the monarchy. Apparently he's serious.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:16 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
The murder of Richard II
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
February 14, 1400
First go here for the official backgrounder on the reign of Richard II
Of comfort no man speak:
Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;
Make dust our paper, and with rainy eyes
Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth;
Let's choose executors and talk of wills:
And yet not so — for what can we bequeath
Save our deposed bodies to the ground?
Our lands, our live, and all are Bolingbroke's,
And nothing can we call our own but death,
And that small model of the barren earth
Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.
For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings:
How some have been depos'd, some slain in war,
Some haunted by the ghosts they have depos'd,
Some poison'd by their wives, some sleeping kill'd;
All murder'd."
—from Shakespeare's play, King Richard III
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:56 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
February 14, 1400
First go here for the official backgrounder on the reign of Richard II
Of comfort no man speak: Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs;
Make dust our paper, and with rainy eyes
Write sorrow on the bosom of the earth;
Let's choose executors and talk of wills:
And yet not so — for what can we bequeath
Save our deposed bodies to the ground?
Our lands, our live, and all are Bolingbroke's,
And nothing can we call our own but death,
And that small model of the barren earth
Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.
For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings:
How some have been depos'd, some slain in war,
Some haunted by the ghosts they have depos'd,
Some poison'd by their wives, some sleeping kill'd;
All murder'd."
—from Shakespeare's play, King Richard III
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:56 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Monday, February 13, 2006
Britannia's genius: Vesting power in the powerless
Mark Steyn writes in Macleans Magazine that "there is simply nothing comparable in scale or endurance to the Britannic inheritance":
"Today, three-sevenths of the G7 major economies are nations of British descent. Of the 20 economies with the highest GDP per capita, no fewer than 11 are current or former realms of Her Britannic Majesty. And if you protest that most of those are pinprick colonial tax havens -- Bermuda, the Caymans -- well, okay, eliminate all territories with populations lower than 20 million and the Top Four is an Anglosphere sweep: the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. The key regional players in almost every corner of the globe are British-derived -- South Africa, India -- and, even among the lesser players, as a general rule you're better off for having been exposed to British rule than not: try doing business in Indonesia rather than Malaysia, or Haiti rather than St. Lucia.
And of course the dominant power of the age derives its political character from 18th-century British subjects who took English ideas a little further than the mother country was willing to go. As for the allegedly inevitable hyper-power of the coming century, if China ever does achieve that status, it will be because the People's Republic learned more from British Hong Kong than Hong Kong ever did from the Little Red Book."...
"Simone Weil, the Parisian author and sometime Jew/Marxist/anarchist pondered why, alone among the European powers, it was England that had maintained "a centuries-old tradition of liberty guaranteed by the authorities." She was struck "by the fact that in the British Constitution the chief power is vested in one who is all but powerless, the monarch."
I hadn't thought of it quite like that before. But it's true that most of the alternatives to the Westminster system are predicated on the visible agglomeration of active demonstrable power: Communism, Fascism, the Iranian mullahs, the French presidency. . . .There is something peculiarly British in the vesting of sovereignty and supreme authority in a person who cannot wield it in any practical sense...
Endowing the sovereignty of the nation in an absentee monarch -- as Canada, Barbados, Belize, Tuvalu et al. do -- is an even more exquisite variation on the Weil theory: vesting power in its literal rather than merely political absence. But the Westminster system depends on a Westminster disposition"...read the whole thing here.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:23 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Mark Steyn writes in Macleans Magazine that "there is simply nothing comparable in scale or endurance to the Britannic inheritance":
"Today, three-sevenths of the G7 major economies are nations of British descent. Of the 20 economies with the highest GDP per capita, no fewer than 11 are current or former realms of Her Britannic Majesty. And if you protest that most of those are pinprick colonial tax havens -- Bermuda, the Caymans -- well, okay, eliminate all territories with populations lower than 20 million and the Top Four is an Anglosphere sweep: the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. The key regional players in almost every corner of the globe are British-derived -- South Africa, India -- and, even among the lesser players, as a general rule you're better off for having been exposed to British rule than not: try doing business in Indonesia rather than Malaysia, or Haiti rather than St. Lucia.
And of course the dominant power of the age derives its political character from 18th-century British subjects who took English ideas a little further than the mother country was willing to go. As for the allegedly inevitable hyper-power of the coming century, if China ever does achieve that status, it will be because the People's Republic learned more from British Hong Kong than Hong Kong ever did from the Little Red Book."...
"Simone Weil, the Parisian author and sometime Jew/Marxist/anarchist pondered why, alone among the European powers, it was England that had maintained "a centuries-old tradition of liberty guaranteed by the authorities." She was struck "by the fact that in the British Constitution the chief power is vested in one who is all but powerless, the monarch."
I hadn't thought of it quite like that before. But it's true that most of the alternatives to the Westminster system are predicated on the visible agglomeration of active demonstrable power: Communism, Fascism, the Iranian mullahs, the French presidency. . . .There is something peculiarly British in the vesting of sovereignty and supreme authority in a person who cannot wield it in any practical sense...
Endowing the sovereignty of the nation in an absentee monarch -- as Canada, Barbados, Belize, Tuvalu et al. do -- is an even more exquisite variation on the Weil theory: vesting power in its literal rather than merely political absence. But the Westminster system depends on a Westminster disposition"...read the whole thing here.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:23 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Sunday, February 12, 2006
A Matter of National Integrity
Reinventing the Governor-General in Jamaica:
"A reinvented Office of the Head of State should [be undertaken] according to the country's own heritage as a matter of national integrity. Other countries have done so. Australia, for example, began the practice in 1929 by which the Prime Minister recommended a national to be Governor- General rather than accepting a British nominee of the King or Queen. In some other countries the traditional British uniform (Canada) and flags (Fiji) of the Governor General have been changed to reflect national customs and symbols. Jamaica decided in the 1970's to discontinue the practice of accepting knighthoods from the British Monarch and created the title 'Most Honourable' for the Governor General (although that practice never materialised). The Governor Generals of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are selected by parliamentary vote.
Our new Governor General would be in his right to infuse his office with nationalistic symbols and break out of the traditional mould to create both the psychological and political basis for abolishing the office altogether."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 11:16 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Reinventing the Governor-General in Jamaica:
"A reinvented Office of the Head of State should [be undertaken] according to the country's own heritage as a matter of national integrity. Other countries have done so. Australia, for example, began the practice in 1929 by which the Prime Minister recommended a national to be Governor- General rather than accepting a British nominee of the King or Queen. In some other countries the traditional British uniform (Canada) and flags (Fiji) of the Governor General have been changed to reflect national customs and symbols. Jamaica decided in the 1970's to discontinue the practice of accepting knighthoods from the British Monarch and created the title 'Most Honourable' for the Governor General (although that practice never materialised). The Governor Generals of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are selected by parliamentary vote.
Our new Governor General would be in his right to infuse his office with nationalistic symbols and break out of the traditional mould to create both the psychological and political basis for abolishing the office altogether."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 11:16 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Europe leads while the Anglosphere quivers
EUROPE LEADS:
- Norway: "We will not apologize because in a country like Norway, which guarantees freedom of expression, we cannot apologize for what the newspapers print," commented Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
- Germany: "Why should the German government apologize [for German papers publishing the cartoons]? This is an expression of press freedom," said Interior Minister Wolfgang Schauble.
- France: "Political cartoons are by nature excessive. And I prefer an excess of caricature to an excess of censorship," commented Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy.
THE ANGLOSPHERE QUIVERS:
- United Kingdom: "The republication of these cartoons has been unnecessary, it has been insensitive, it has been disrespectful and it has been wrong," said Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
- Canada: “This sensitive issue highlights the need for a better understanding of Islam and of Muslim communities. Respect for cultural diversity and freedom of religion is a fundamental principle in Canada. The Government of Canada will continue to promote a better understanding of Islam internationally, in partnership with Muslim communities,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay.
- New Zealand: "Gratuitously offensive," Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton called the cartoons.
- United States: "Inciting religious or ethnic hatred in this manner is not acceptable," said State Department press officer Janelle Hironimus.
Daniel Pipes gives us the full scoop at the Jerusalem Post with "We Are All Danes Now". Well everyone, except the Anglosphere apparently, who collectively sound every bit the coalition of the unwilling on this issue. Time to get a backbone, boys - time to stand firm. This is a test for the West. And so far we're failing.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
EUROPE LEADS:
- Norway: "We will not apologize because in a country like Norway, which guarantees freedom of expression, we cannot apologize for what the newspapers print," commented Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
- Germany: "Why should the German government apologize [for German papers publishing the cartoons]? This is an expression of press freedom," said Interior Minister Wolfgang Schauble.
- France: "Political cartoons are by nature excessive. And I prefer an excess of caricature to an excess of censorship," commented Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy.
THE ANGLOSPHERE QUIVERS:
- United Kingdom: "The republication of these cartoons has been unnecessary, it has been insensitive, it has been disrespectful and it has been wrong," said Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
- Canada: “This sensitive issue highlights the need for a better understanding of Islam and of Muslim communities. Respect for cultural diversity and freedom of religion is a fundamental principle in Canada. The Government of Canada will continue to promote a better understanding of Islam internationally, in partnership with Muslim communities,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay.
- New Zealand: "Gratuitously offensive," Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton called the cartoons.
- United States: "Inciting religious or ethnic hatred in this manner is not acceptable," said State Department press officer Janelle Hironimus.
Daniel Pipes gives us the full scoop at the Jerusalem Post with "We Are All Danes Now". Well everyone, except the Anglosphere apparently, who collectively sound every bit the coalition of the unwilling on this issue. Time to get a backbone, boys - time to stand firm. This is a test for the West. And so far we're failing.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Australia-NZ push for single market. All I can say is that it's about time for two countries that share a single monarch. What in the Sam Hill is taking them? Sovereignty? If Howard and Helen can't come to an agreement, perhaps Her Majesty could have a conversation with herself to sort out the remaining irreconcilable differences.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 1:49 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 1:49 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
The Babington Beheading
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
February 8, 1587
Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in the Great Hall of Fotheringhay, after having been found guilty of treason by a court of about 40 noblemen, for being involved in the so-called Babington plot, and after giving the go-ahead to assassinate Elizabeth. At her execution she chose to wear red, thereby declaring herself a Catholic martyr.
"The execution was badly carried out. It is said to have taken two (or, according to some accounts, three) blows to hack off her head. Various improbable stories about the execution were later circulated. One which is thought to be true is that, when the executioner picked up the severed head to show it to those present, it was discovered that Mary was wearing a wig. The headsman was left holding the wig, while the late queen's head rolled on the floor."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:11 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
February 8, 1587
Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded in the Great Hall of Fotheringhay, after having been found guilty of treason by a court of about 40 noblemen, for being involved in the so-called Babington plot, and after giving the go-ahead to assassinate Elizabeth. At her execution she chose to wear red, thereby declaring herself a Catholic martyr.
"The execution was badly carried out. It is said to have taken two (or, according to some accounts, three) blows to hack off her head. Various improbable stories about the execution were later circulated. One which is thought to be true is that, when the executioner picked up the severed head to show it to those present, it was discovered that Mary was wearing a wig. The headsman was left holding the wig, while the late queen's head rolled on the floor."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:11 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Mr. Cameron, a Whig in Tory Clothes
"We inherited a feudal state," a New Labour apparatchik declared in the heady days after May 1, 1997, "and we're going to create a Napoleonic one."
"So they have, in part, not least through the introduction of European human rights law inspired by the Napoleonic Code. Yet Labour has been keen to retain one particular feudal function - indeed, the capstone of the British state.
Under the Royal Prerogative the Prime Minister can make war and peace, send ambassadors and sign treaties, appoint ministers and dissolve Parliament. The combination of these powers with the fact that he always leads the largest party in the Commons makes him the freest national leader in the free world...
So David Cameron is suggesting a reduction in the Royal Prerogative. His main proposal - that the power to make war should be vested in Parliament, not the Queen - seems to me misdirected.
Not only is it a blatant sop to the anti-war brigade, which may have forgotten that Parliament did have a vote on the Iraq war, and (thanks to the Tories) supported it. Mr Cameron has picked on an area where the Prerogative should remain."
Read the whole article here. Also worth reading: Can the Tories amend our broken constitution?
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:14 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
"We inherited a feudal state," a New Labour apparatchik declared in the heady days after May 1, 1997, "and we're going to create a Napoleonic one."
"So they have, in part, not least through the introduction of European human rights law inspired by the Napoleonic Code. Yet Labour has been keen to retain one particular feudal function - indeed, the capstone of the British state.
Under the Royal Prerogative the Prime Minister can make war and peace, send ambassadors and sign treaties, appoint ministers and dissolve Parliament. The combination of these powers with the fact that he always leads the largest party in the Commons makes him the freest national leader in the free world...
So David Cameron is suggesting a reduction in the Royal Prerogative. His main proposal - that the power to make war should be vested in Parliament, not the Queen - seems to me misdirected.
Not only is it a blatant sop to the anti-war brigade, which may have forgotten that Parliament did have a vote on the Iraq war, and (thanks to the Tories) supported it. Mr Cameron has picked on an area where the Prerogative should remain."
Read the whole article here. Also worth reading: Can the Tories amend our broken constitution?
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:14 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Monday, February 06, 2006
A Right Honourable Day
In a dignified ceremony befitting a monarchy, Her Majesty swore in the Right Honourable Stephen Harper as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada. And so ends 13 years of uninterrupted Liberal rule. And so continues an unbroken British tradition stretching all the way back to Sir Robert Walpole.
More on that Harper guy at Andrew Coyne.com: Should we call him Captain Bloodless, Prime Minister of the Chess Club, or the iceman moniker, Stone Cold Steve?
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:37 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
In a dignified ceremony befitting a monarchy, Her Majesty swore in the Right Honourable Stephen Harper as the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada. And so ends 13 years of uninterrupted Liberal rule. And so continues an unbroken British tradition stretching all the way back to Sir Robert Walpole.
More on that Harper guy at Andrew Coyne.com: Should we call him Captain Bloodless, Prime Minister of the Chess Club, or the iceman moniker, Stone Cold Steve?
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 5:37 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Defiantly Ordinary
MONARCHIST QUOTE OF THE WEEK
...And that's the fundamental argument to be made for royalty. They represent. They are defiantly ordinary people...They are not movie stars, they are not extra-smart, they are not "special." After learning from the blow-outs of the 1980's and 90's, they show up every day and, without fuss, do the work. They represent the values of ordinary middle-class families all over the world, who are restrained, sensible, kind, practical, steadfast, penny-pinching, punctual, dutiful, charitable, trustworthy and good. These are the values we must celebrate and promote, because these are the values, and no others, that make our lives possible; not the awful cor'uptions of Hollywood or the "I'm so clever I must run your life" egomania of Ottawa. That's why we must keep the Windsors in perpetuity. And that's why I'll curtsy if I ever meet The Queen."
-- Elizabeth Nickson, National Post columnist, June 7, 2002
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
MONARCHIST QUOTE OF THE WEEK
...And that's the fundamental argument to be made for royalty. They represent. They are defiantly ordinary people...They are not movie stars, they are not extra-smart, they are not "special." After learning from the blow-outs of the 1980's and 90's, they show up every day and, without fuss, do the work. They represent the values of ordinary middle-class families all over the world, who are restrained, sensible, kind, practical, steadfast, penny-pinching, punctual, dutiful, charitable, trustworthy and good. These are the values we must celebrate and promote, because these are the values, and no others, that make our lives possible; not the awful cor'uptions of Hollywood or the "I'm so clever I must run your life" egomania of Ottawa. That's why we must keep the Windsors in perpetuity. And that's why I'll curtsy if I ever meet The Queen."
-- Elizabeth Nickson, National Post columnist, June 7, 2002
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Support Denmark, Defend Freedom
Gentlemen, ladies, Denmark is monarchist and Christian, yes, but this has nothing to do with standing up for our religious culture. The question here is simple: Why should an entire country have to apologize to an entire race and religion of people, just because a cartoonist or two had the ungodly bad sense to make fun of the prophet Muhammad. This is utterly insane.
From SupportDenmark.com:
"On the 30th of September 2005 the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed. Mohammedans raised a storm of protest and two artists went into hiding after receiving death threats. Islamic organisations demanded an apology from the Danish government and the incident turned into a world-wide diplomatic issue. The OIC (the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), the Council of Europe and the UN all criticised the government of Denmark for not taking measures against the newspaper Jyllands-Posten. The Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen defended the freedom of the press and free speech and stated that any measures, if appropriate, could not be taken by the government but only by a court of law. Meanwhile in Islamic countries Danish flags are burned and Danish products are taken off the shelves. Several countries have withdrawn their ambassadors from Denmark and armed men attacked the office of the EU in the Gaza strip."
More from The Crusader and The Dissident Frogman on holding the line. And hold the line we must. No veil, no gag, no knife on our cherished freedoms. No burka on free speech.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Gentlemen, ladies, Denmark is monarchist and Christian, yes, but this has nothing to do with standing up for our religious culture. The question here is simple: Why should an entire country have to apologize to an entire race and religion of people, just because a cartoonist or two had the ungodly bad sense to make fun of the prophet Muhammad. This is utterly insane. From SupportDenmark.com:
"On the 30th of September 2005 the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed. Mohammedans raised a storm of protest and two artists went into hiding after receiving death threats. Islamic organisations demanded an apology from the Danish government and the incident turned into a world-wide diplomatic issue. The OIC (the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), the Council of Europe and the UN all criticised the government of Denmark for not taking measures against the newspaper Jyllands-Posten. The Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen defended the freedom of the press and free speech and stated that any measures, if appropriate, could not be taken by the government but only by a court of law. Meanwhile in Islamic countries Danish flags are burned and Danish products are taken off the shelves. Several countries have withdrawn their ambassadors from Denmark and armed men attacked the office of the EU in the Gaza strip."
More from The Crusader and The Dissident Frogman on holding the line. And hold the line we must. No veil, no gag, no knife on our cherished freedoms. No burka on free speech.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:01 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Royal Navy launches HMS Daring
HMS Daring, the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers, was officially launched yesterday by the Countess of Wessex in Glasgow...
"HMS Daring is the most powerful destroyer the UK has ever built."
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West said:
“The launch of DARING is a wonderful day for the nation and the Royal Navy. She will be the Royal Navy’s most capable destroyer ever, and will enter service later this decade as the best air defence ship in the world. She represents the best of British high technology innovation and engineering. DARING and her class will ensure the Royal Navy remains the best in the world able to protect the UK’s interests worldwide in the 21st century.”
POSTSCRIPT: With ships like VICTORY, INTREPID, INDOMITABLE, FORMIDABLE,...and now DARING, is it any wonder why Great Britain is able to hold onto its fighting spirit. In the modern Peaceable Kingdom of Canada, our politicians would never let us name our ships this way. And we wonder why we have lost so much of our military capability.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 7:14 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
HMS Daring, the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 destroyers, was officially launched yesterday by the Countess of Wessex in Glasgow...
"HMS Daring is the most powerful destroyer the UK has ever built."
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West said:
“The launch of DARING is a wonderful day for the nation and the Royal Navy. She will be the Royal Navy’s most capable destroyer ever, and will enter service later this decade as the best air defence ship in the world. She represents the best of British high technology innovation and engineering. DARING and her class will ensure the Royal Navy remains the best in the world able to protect the UK’s interests worldwide in the 21st century.”
POSTSCRIPT: With ships like VICTORY, INTREPID, INDOMITABLE, FORMIDABLE,...and now DARING, is it any wonder why Great Britain is able to hold onto its fighting spirit. In the modern Peaceable Kingdom of Canada, our politicians would never let us name our ships this way. And we wonder why we have lost so much of our military capability.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 7:14 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
John Aimers deserves the benefit of our doubt
Obviously, this is not what we need. But the Dominion Chairman immediately does the right thing here:
"The cause of the Monarchy and the work of the Monarchist League of Canada is far more important than any one person. In the current circumstances, I will not be speaking on the League's behalf until this matter is resolved; and I have consulted with its Officers to arrange for its day-to-day functioning. I am sorry that this distracts from the devoted efforts of the League's members and friends across Canada."
UPDATE: Wikipedia volunteers have already updated the biography on John Aimers.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 3:06 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Obviously, this is not what we need. But the Dominion Chairman immediately does the right thing here:
"The cause of the Monarchy and the work of the Monarchist League of Canada is far more important than any one person. In the current circumstances, I will not be speaking on the League's behalf until this matter is resolved; and I have consulted with its Officers to arrange for its day-to-day functioning. I am sorry that this distracts from the devoted efforts of the League's members and friends across Canada."
UPDATE: Wikipedia volunteers have already updated the biography on John Aimers.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 3:06 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Friday, February 03, 2006
For a certain Commonwealth Realm, it is the last weekend for its current First Minister. Click here again on Monday, and the Queen will have a new one. Skill testing question: how many prime ministers has Her Majesty had since her accession to the throne? Hint: Her very first was Sir Winston Churchill in Britain, Sir Robert Menzies in Australia...
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:08 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 4:08 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
On this day in history, February 3, 1954, Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia as part of her extended tour of the Commonwealth, in the process becoming the first ever reigning monarch to step foot in the country.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:11 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 12:11 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Her Majesty's first engagement of 2006
Our Majesty's first engagement of 2006. And what a sad, sad one it is, bidding farewell to RAF Marham, the regiment of which she is Honourary Air Commodore:
"Of course, the Queen would never publicly speak out against Government policy but on this latest visit to meet her soldiers she did, nevertheless, offer words of comfort to those who will see their regiment disbanded, as Group Captain Greg Bagwell confirmed: "She has commented several times as she has gone round about how sad it is to see the aircraft and squadron disbanding."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 1:31 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Our Majesty's first engagement of 2006. And what a sad, sad one it is, bidding farewell to RAF Marham, the regiment of which she is Honourary Air Commodore:
"Of course, the Queen would never publicly speak out against Government policy but on this latest visit to meet her soldiers she did, nevertheless, offer words of comfort to those who will see their regiment disbanded, as Group Captain Greg Bagwell confirmed: "She has commented several times as she has gone round about how sad it is to see the aircraft and squadron disbanding."
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 1:31 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
We must have known that it was only a matter of time. Gentlemen, behold: The Loyalist.
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 11:14 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 11:14 a.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Commonwealth Flags
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 11:06 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
POSTED BY: The Monarchist AT 11:06 p.m. | Author | Works | Permalink | COMMENTS () | LINKS |
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