ER
As many of you are surely aware, the United Kingdom and the nations of the British Commonwealth just celebrated the eightieth birthday of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
When I was a young boy I believed that kings and queens were merely to be found in fairy tales. The only royalty I was aware of were King Friday XIII, Prince Tuesday and Lady Elaine Fairchild of Mr. Rogers' 'Land of Makebelieve'. At about age 6 or 7, my family bought a cottage on Lake Erie near Port Colborne, Ontario. This was my first experience with Canadian 'funny money' as my family referred to it; Canada's bright yellow, pink, blue and purple currency notes.
"Who is that?" I asked of my mother, pointing to the elegant young (she wasn't even young back then, but her portrait still was) woman on the 2 note. "That's the Queen," mumsie replied.
"The Queen? There aren't any queens, " I insisted. Those of you who know me will find this amusing on several levels. "She's the Queen of England," my mother explained. "Oh. Well how come she's on Canada's money?"
Mom didn't know the answer to that question and it would be years before I found out why, but I was simply dazzled that, somewhere in the world, there was a queen! A queen! With a crown and a castle and knights! From that moment on I fell in love with the monarchy...and with that woman on the 2 bill.
Queen Elizabeth II was my first inspiration and she remains that devoted, dedicated and appropriately aloof and regal monarch par excellence. One can go on about Diana all one likes, but she doesn't hold a candle to Elizabeth II, and never could.
Happy birthday, Mum. I hope you last a long, long time!
I'll second that. I certainly hope she lives as long as her mother, at any rate.
"Long may we say, god save the queen, because nothing will save the governor general" - Whitlam
Long live Queen Elizabeth the last, may she live to see Australia truly independent.
Kieran
A RL Republican.
Good Morning To You, My Gentle Friends,
When I lived in Singapore in the 1950's and 60', of course, the British Influence was strong, and was felt along with the other cultures of that Country - mainly Chinese, Indian ( from India - not American Indian ), Malay, and American cultures were co-existing quite nicely together.
I atttended a Private School called the Singapore American School, where all different cultures of students were found.
Every morning before classes, the students were assembled in the "Great Hall", as we liked to call it - actually it was an Assembly Room - but, you know, everyone liked to make it more "Formal".
At any rate, we were all assembled in the Great Hall every morning to have the following: The Lord's Prayer, The Pledge of Allegiance, which honoured America, The Singing of "God Save The Queen", to honour Britain, and The Singing of "Majullah Singapura", which is Malay for "Long Live Singapore", Which Honoured The Malaysian Culture.
THEN we could go to class . . .
Hmmm . . .
At any rate, in Singapore, back in those days, the British Culture was very strong.
Now, I understand that it has been totally modernized, where English is spoken everywhere - which it wasn't when I was there.
When I was living in Singapore, there was SOME English, but one was wise to learn at least ONE Dialect of Chinese - which I learned Mandarin from my Governess, and Malay, and Indian. Unfortunately, my Indian skills were terrible, but the Mandarin and Malay skills were strong, and my parents kept them up when we were back in America by having me tell them stories in Mandarin or Malay.
Now, I remember some of the Mandarin and Malay, but without use, it has sadly slipped away. However, I used to keep up conversations with my Mother - whose Mandarin was fluent.
At this point, I can keep up a fairly respectable Chinese conversation when we go to a Chinese restaurant, but, most of my Mandarin is sadly forgotten without regular use.
Have a most splendiferous morning . . . forthwith . . .
Quote:Long live Queen Elizabeth the last, may she live to see Australia truly independent.
If Elizabeth II is 'Queen of Australia,' then how is Australia not independent? You desire independence from your own head of state?
What you want is not independence, then, Sir Aderyn, but a different form of government.
Your Majesty:
It seems sensible to me to say that a country is not fully independent if the succession to it's Throne will be determined by the laws and Parliament of a foreign nation. To be sure, Australia is independent in practice, but I would agree with Sir Kieran that it is not quite so in a technical sense.
Of course, I personally see no problem with that situation, but rather regard it as a harmless bit of history. Unless Australia becomes a republic, it matters very little who holds the Throne.
Sincerely,
Christopher Bergensis
Dr. Livingston:
It would appear to seem thoroughly sensible to the Canadians, who are fully independent and regard themselves as such.
Actually, succession is detemined by the laws of the Canadian Parliament which, for the sake of tradition, common sense and convenience, reflect those of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and those of the other Parliaments of those Commonwealth nations which recognize Elizabeth II as their sovereign, in the case of succession. Nevertheless, the Canadian Parliament is fully capable of determining it's own laws of succession, provided of course, that the parliaments of the provinces unanimously concur, as it is considered a constitutional matter.
So I continue to disagree with Sir Aderyn.
To all of which I ought to have added, "if as much is true for Canada, then so for Australia."
Quote:If Elizabeth II is 'Queen of Australia,' then how is Australia not independent? You desire independence from your own head of state?
In responce, let me just point out this text from the preamble to the Australian constitution:
Quote:Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established:
And whereas it is expedient to provide for the admission into the Commonwealth of other Australasian Colonies and possessions of the Queen:
Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:--
1. This Act may be cited as the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act.
2. The provisions of this Act referring to the Queen shall extend to Her Majesty's heirs and successors in the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.
emphasis added.
Congratulations, Your Majesty, May she live a long and happy Life.
