Another rambling post I’m afraid, very soon London will be over run for the sum by both the pageantry for the queens jubilee and then shortly after the Olympics. During this period I intend to avoid central London as much as possible, other people it seems plan to go into London not so much to enjoy the festivities (such as we’re told they’ll be) as to protest them. Yet again I wonder about the motives and intelligence of the people planning protests that I’ve read of so far, though at the same time I hope that they’ll be no arrests for pre-crime and that the right to peaceful protest will be upheld. Though that said, dear protesters in the highly unlikely event that you read this any chance we could have meaningful protests that can make your point without spoiling things for the general public who’re trying to enjoy themselves (though of course if you’re protesting about people enjoying themselves have you considered just staying home?).
Anyway back to my vaguely rambling topic in hand, and in reverse order as it’s more fun that way the Olympics are coming. We should have probably protested these way back before we got awarded them but back then it wasn’t clear how bad things would be, it seemed unlikely we’d get them and we weren’t asked anyway. So we’re stuck with them and the huge cost (and various wastes of money) associated with them. For some people they’re something to look forward to, for businesses large, small and dubious they may yet be a chance to make a bit of extra profit despite the disruption which is surely something to be hoped for. For most people living and working in London I suspect it’s just going to be a huge inconvenience and pain in the wallet. TFL are asking people to work from home as transport for the masses will suck, so a massive pain to normal people trying to just get on with things. In the middle of this we have the likes of Len McCluskey calling for civil disobedience, and another bunch of Cockpuppetfuckwits (thanks for that phrase Pedestrianising the Olympic Zil Lanes?* As erstwhile protesters are keen to observe the eyes of the world will be on us, so protest but do it in away which doesn’t excuse state oppression and actually makes your point.
Before the Olympics though there is the small matter of the queens diamond jubilee, now I will confess right away that I’m a bit of a monarchist. I don’t plan to get involved with the celebrations, but I quite like there being a monarchy in this country for all sorts of reasons (many of which I’d even claim are rational). Some other people don’t and good for them, and I’m glad they’re unlikely to be done for treason. Treason is of course an interesting point when it comes to this Jubilee, and that is a position I have a lot of sympathy with. To borrow a phrase from “1066 and all that” (which if you haven’t read you should) I don’t think that Liz the twain has been a “good queen”, but on the other hand I don’t thing she’s been a “bad queen” either. The problem is that monarchs and governments these days are very much like fairies they need people to believe in them. If the populace believe the queen has supreme power she has the strength to act as such and block treasonous actions of parliament as she’s supposed to. If on the other hand people believe that she’s just a left over powerless figure head then she can’t oppose government directly (what she may do in private is another matter) and so is forced into a treasonous position by her advisor’s and the believe that she can’t go against government. Oddly my position is that she the supreme power in the land (albeit limited by Magna Carta et al) but because the view perceived by her advisor’s is that the people think otherwise, we end up in the worst of both worlds. To this end I think people entering into lawful rebellion even if they do nothing more than send the letters will actually serve to strengthen the monarchy. As by pointing out their treason we demanding they act and we can only do so if we hold that they have the power to act. So as part of the jubilee celebrations why not show your loyalty to the crown by pointing out their treason and writing three little letters. Either we end up with a monarch who acts to uphold the oaths to defend us or we end up with the whole country in rebellion and then maybe it’ll be time to look at a new settlement, but dear god don’t let it be decided by the grasping non-entities we’ve currently chosen to rule us.
Anyone fancy a lawful rebellion party, we can cross witness each others affidavits? Maybe n a pub near Runnymede? If this has already been done, sorry for re-inventing someone else’s wheel, but lets do it again.
*Seriously I’m up for this if anyone else is game
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