4 ms·

Monarchy is absurd but as Brit it's just not something most of us take seriously. As a recent American I am slightly horrified that school children are expected

Monarchy is absurd but as Brit it's just not something most of us take seriously. As a recent American I am slightly horrified that school children are expected to swear allegiance to the flag at the start of every school day and local sports games start with the national anthem. Hard to imagine the US equivalent to the British football stadium crowds chanting "stick the coronation up my arse": https://twitter.com/herecelts/status/1652687767942443009 https://twitter.com/herecelts/status/1652687767942443009

atchoo 3y ago
"up your arse" I wouldn't use Celtic is an example of "British Football" or British attitudes. They would likely be offended by that! They are the republican side of the Irish sectarian divide in Glasgow and will sing pro-IRA songs and such. There is plenty of anti/disinterest in Britain about the Monarchy but probably not enough vitriol to get that chant elsewhere. There would probably need to be a specific catalyst e.g. if Prince Andrew turned up at a game then chants calling him a Paedo would be guaranteed. For most Brits, if you don't like the Monarchy, it's very easy to just ignore it. Celtic is on a different level.
- smcl 3y ago
  They're a very well-supported club where anti-monarchist songs, chants or signs are completely commonplace and don't ruffle too many feathers generally. Celtic may not like being called "British" and their feelings on the monarchy probably aren't the same as the majority of football supporters in the UK (I'd argue that they are representative of your average Scot) but that wasn't the point. That said the point was that it's unimaginable that supporters at a US sporting event chanting about how they hate their head of state. I disagree with that - someone is forgetting about the origin of "Let's go Brandon"
  - hnfong 3y ago
    This is unfounded speculation but perhaps the difference is that a lot of people in the US voluntarily migrated there, while we know how the English crown got to rule over Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland..... > I disagree with that - someone is forgetting about the origin of "Let's go Brandon" The US system is "fine" with 49% of the population hating the elected president. The president is not the monarch, nor representing the supreme political ideal. AFAICT the equivalent of anti-monarchy in the US is denouncing the US constitution.
    - smcl 3y ago
      > we know how the English crown got to rule over Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland That's true for Wales and Northern Ireland, but the original union of the crowns had the Scottish king becoming the king of both England and Scotland. But yeah the US equivalent might be insulting the constitution or even the flag.
nprateem 3y ago
I take very seriously the hypocrisy, that on the one hand they're only ceremonial but on the other can privately lobby the government, are exempt from multiple laws and taxes, are reportedly billionaires yet still expect taxpayer funding. The equivalent you might be looking for is the clowns expect us to swear allegiance to them and their offspring on Saturday. I'll happily swear at them but it won't be my allegiance. Time to end this scam.
- benj111 3y ago
  They get tax payer funding only because they voluntarily give most of the income to the government. If you wanted to frame it as a tax rate it'd be high than a normal citizen's. I'm not ideologically royalist, but I'd rather have the current system than an elected president.
  - nprateem 3y ago
    > voluntarily give most of the income to the government Got a source? According to The Guardian they use no end of smoke and mirrors so the plebs can't find out how much they're worth. Not to mention them not being subject to inheritance tax.
    - benj111 3y ago
      https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 So their tax rate is 75% - 85%.
      - nprateem 3y ago
        I'm no expert. You may want to read this: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/20/revealed-king-charless-private-fortune-estimated-at-almost-2bn https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/...
- Jiro 3y ago
  Doesn't the monarchy have to pay a lot of money for maintenance on the properties that they "own", which the government would have to pay instead if it was confiscated?
pookha 3y ago
Not sure what you mean by the British Royalty not being taken seriously. The UK were throwing anti-royalist protestors into jail this past year... https://www.npr.org/2022/09/12/1122379162/uk-anti-royal-arrests https://www.npr.org/2022/09/12/1122379162/uk-anti-royal-arre... And John Lydon getting knifed and nearly lynched by a mob for writing God Save the Queen is still somewhat fresh in the British psyche.

atchoo 3y ago

"up your arse" I wouldn't use Celtic is an example of "British Football" or British attitudes. They would likely be offended by that! They are the republican side of the Irish sectarian divide in Glasgow and will sing pro-IRA songs and such. There is plenty of anti/disinterest in Britain about the Monarchy but probably not enough vitriol to get that chant elsewhere. There would probably need to be a specific catalyst e.g. if Prince Andrew turned up at a game then chants calling him a Paedo would be guaranteed. For most Brits, if you don't like the Monarchy, it's very easy to just ignore it. Celtic is on a different level.

smcl 3y ago
They're a very well-supported club where anti-monarchist songs, chants or signs are completely commonplace and don't ruffle too many feathers generally. Celtic may not like being called "British" and their feelings on the monarchy probably aren't the same as the majority of football supporters in the UK (I'd argue that they are representative of your average Scot) but that wasn't the point. That said the point was that it's unimaginable that supporters at a US sporting event chanting about how they hate their head of state. I disagree with that - someone is forgetting about the origin of "Let's go Brandon"
- hnfong 3y ago
  This is unfounded speculation but perhaps the difference is that a lot of people in the US voluntarily migrated there, while we know how the English crown got to rule over Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland..... > I disagree with that - someone is forgetting about the origin of "Let's go Brandon" The US system is "fine" with 49% of the population hating the elected president. The president is not the monarch, nor representing the supreme political ideal. AFAICT the equivalent of anti-monarchy in the US is denouncing the US constitution.
  - smcl 3y ago
    > we know how the English crown got to rule over Wales, Scotland and N. Ireland That's true for Wales and Northern Ireland, but the original union of the crowns had the Scottish king becoming the king of both England and Scotland. But yeah the US equivalent might be insulting the constitution or even the flag.

nprateem 3y ago

I take very seriously the hypocrisy, that on the one hand they're only ceremonial but on the other can privately lobby the government, are exempt from multiple laws and taxes, are reportedly billionaires yet still expect taxpayer funding. The equivalent you might be looking for is the clowns expect us to swear allegiance to them and their offspring on Saturday. I'll happily swear at them but it won't be my allegiance. Time to end this scam.

benj111 3y ago
They get tax payer funding only because they voluntarily give most of the income to the government. If you wanted to frame it as a tax rate it'd be high than a normal citizen's. I'm not ideologically royalist, but I'd rather have the current system than an elected president.
- nprateem 3y ago
  > voluntarily give most of the income to the government Got a source? According to The Guardian they use no end of smoke and mirrors so the plebs can't find out how much they're worth. Not to mention them not being subject to inheritance tax.
  - benj111 3y ago
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-57559653 So their tax rate is 75% - 85%.
    - nprateem 3y ago
      I'm no expert. You may want to read this: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/20/revealed-king-charless-private-fortune-estimated-at-almost-2bn https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2023/apr/...
Jiro 3y ago
Doesn't the monarchy have to pay a lot of money for maintenance on the properties that they "own", which the government would have to pay instead if it was confiscated?

pookha 3y ago

Not sure what you mean by the British Royalty not being taken seriously. The UK were throwing anti-royalist protestors into jail this past year... https://www.npr.org/2022/09/12/1122379162/uk-anti-royal-arrests https://www.npr.org/2022/09/12/1122379162/uk-anti-royal-arre... And John Lydon getting knifed and nearly lynched by a mob for writing God Save the Queen is still somewhat fresh in the British psyche.