Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II

[Mikey]

She's not even English, she's German. There was a thing on TV a few weeks ago (you guys in the U.S. may or may not have got it), where her Father was throwing Hitler salutes and teaching the young Queen to do it. Only once it was shown. Don't make the BIG fuss over that one do they? Anyone else, they'd still be using it against them now.

Not hearing about that situation or being a Queen apologist the "Hitler salute" was used many times throughout history -- even in the United States pre-Nazi

m

[Boy_Wonder_1978]

Just found this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33578174

[Mikey]

But that's 1933

The Nazis were not technically bad guys yet and royals have to learn various customs from different countries.

I would easily give this one a pass.

[palitoy]

My kids used to think it was Bettie White on our money, I didn't correct them. They may still believe that.

[Gorn Captain]

My kids used to think it was Bettie White on our money, I didn't correct them. They may still believe that.

I'd pick Betty White as our Queen every day of the week.

[Mikey]

Remember the old days of small presidents on US money ?

I forgot exactly how to do it but somehow by folding one bill over another you were able to make a president that resembled Peter Cushing

[huedell]

She is one of the richest people in the world, yet when her castle got damaged in a fire, she had the bill sent to the tax payer.
She is not a philanthropist. She's not into charity.
I don't mind people that were born into wealth (good for them!), but you can easily give enough of it away without any damage to your "lifestyle".

I find it odd that the biggest fans of the Queen do not have to pay for her lifestyle, and do not have her as a monarch.
Belgium has a monarch. The previous one bought a humongous yacht just before stepping down (from tax payers money) because he needed to "maintain his normal lifestyle". Then complained how hard it was to keep the boat running on his "meager pension". He needs four people (servants) to keep his yacht running. That's just the boat, he also has a castle or two. And he's the ex-King!
If a fan of monarchies really likes them so much, you can have ours!

If it's truly what you say, then I suppose I wouldn't want it. But, I'm not sure if your estimation is in synch with what I'd find if I dug deeper.

I'm not one of her "biggest fans" (to use a phrase you used)---I'm just someone who will try to respect others\ countries customs and not knee-jerk so quickly without knowing a good amount of facts.

I, myself, find odd how many of a countries biggest detractors are their own citizens---their gripes so severe that it's not enough to address them intranationally*, but they are also compelled to represent their country to foreigners that way.

You say she's not a philanthropist---but, according to many accounts/sources on the Net, that's simply not true.

I don't mind collecting more information before having a definitive opinion.

I'd be interested to learn more about the unfairness of the royal family's ways to England's citizens. It'll be even more interesting to see what the facts are---and if they are really that detrimental, then, to see why something so disadvantageous has remained for hundreds of years.


*I learned that word from Mikey!

[Gorn Captain]

I actually do my homework. I do not do "estimations". Reason is, I actually live in Europe, and I'm "in the middle of it all", so to speak.
If you "dig a little deeper", and find hard evidence of the Queen's generous nature, please present it, don't assume you'll find you're right (if you thereotically did the homework).

Here in Belgium, we have a monarchy, and feel the effects of it every day.
Our King is so in touch with his subjects, that he can't even speak my language properly. He needs to read his speech in Dutch off a card, because he speaks French. And "my people" make up 60% of the entire population, and bring in over 75% of the national income.
If I had the chance, I would do what you Americans have done in the past: say" no" to the monarchy. Power by the people, for the people. Earn your paycheck, not inherit it.

And now I'll sign off from this debate. Nuff said.

[thunderbolt]

But that's 1933

The Nazis were not technically bad guys yet and royals have to learn various customs from different countries.

I would easily give this one a pass.

In 1933 Dachau opened , public book burnings began and the Gestapo was formed, seems pretty "bad guy" to me. Oh, and the outlawed opposition parties being formed and quit the League of Nations. So, no pass given, especially to people in the upper echelon of the governments at that time. They were in the know of what was going on in Germany.

[huedell]

I actually do my homework. I do not do "estimations". Reason is, I actually live in Europe, and I'm "in the middle of it all", so to speak.
If you "dig a little deeper", and find hard evidence of the Queen's generous nature, please present it, don't assume you'll find you're right (if you thereotically did the homework).

I googled "Queen Elizabeth philanthropy" and found an article with the same kind of info I saw on her wiki page (which is where I based my initial impression on):

http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2012/jun/11/queen-charitable-support

The title of the article is "Queen Elizabeth has done more for charity than any other monarch in history."

Yet, you make a comment like "She's not into charity".

You can understand why that makes me question the underlying origins of your thought-process and public posts.

I've seen you say a lot about what she asks tax-payers to pay for. But that alone says nothing to me except she expects a big paycheck---or something like that. I don't hold that against entertainment figures or any other career-minded person, so it follows that I don't see that as a negative to the monarchy unless I saw something more concrete that swayed my opinion.

If the woman is to be lambasted, it should be for more than her simply having more money or diamond tiaras than others---in my opinion.

Here in Belgium, we have a monarchy, and feel the effects of it every day.
Our King is so in touch with his subjects, that he can't even speak my language properly. He needs to read his speech in Dutch off a card, because he speaks French. And "my people" make up 60% of the entire population, and bring in over 75% of the national income.
If I had the chance, I would do what you Americans have done in the past: say" no" to the monarchy. Power by the people, for the people. Earn your paycheck, not inherit it.

Yet there are many dissatisfied Americans that think our government is demonic. Can't please everybody.

[huedell]

In 1933 Dachau opened , public book burnings began and the Gestapo was formed, seems pretty "bad guy" to me. Oh, and the outlawed opposition parties being formed and quit the League of Nations. So, no pass given, especially to people in the upper echelon of the governments at that time. They were in the know of what was going on in Germany.

Good point. You could make the same accusations about our own upper echelon. She was on the right side when it counted---at least as much as America's higher-ups were. At least England's main news publication never named Hitler "Man OF The Year"

[thunderbolt]

^^^ Time's Man of the Year selection does not always mean that its a good thing. 1938 saw the meeting between Germany, France, Italy and Great Britain that Hitler dominated and received non interference promises from France and Britain. He was the dominant newsmaker that year, so he was named man of the year by the magazine, it doesn't mean that Time supported him or his ideas. Bin Laden was selected in the near past.

[Mikey]

In 1933 Dachau opened , public book burnings began and the Gestapo was formed, seems pretty "bad guy" to me. Oh, and the outlawed opposition parties being formed and quit the League of Nations. So, no pass given, especially to people in the upper echelon of the governments at that time. They were in the know of what was going on in Germany.

Kinda sounds like the Reagan Administration cozying up with Saddam Hussein until the Gulf War

[Mawni]

Relevant.
Queen.jpg

[Mikey]

m