Is it only me: annoyed about such royal patronage; an obscene blight on a modern culture; a belittling of all things meaningful and 'sacred'; an affront to normal life and decency of humankind - I'm serious.
There is something truly obnoxious about this kind of on - going royal ( or otherwise high society) patronage of, what is - let's face it- poor and irrelevant culture.
I long for someone to actually turn down these patronising awards, but then again, they would have to be awarded to people with scruples and insight into the historic and present day nature of such symbolic trash culture.
Agreed, Ian. People do turn them down sometimes but you don't often hear about it because the initial approach from the Civil Service asks whether if you were offered an honour you'd accept it. If you say no they don't offer it. I find it particularly galling when rebel rock musicians accept them and take up fox hunting and fly fishing.
K, your observation is spot on. Actually Ian's heading is wrong as the honour's system is generally about the establishment giving gongs to themselves with an occasional minor offering to a dinner lady or ebola nurse.
All very true. I let my prejudice cloud the facts.
You're right it's not the masses, it's what has become a source to bewitch the masses.
I was just fantasising about turning one down after decades of listening to royal drivel and being subject to watching mind numbing popular culture that is served up by those with power and money to the mass zombie class. I then have to listen to it as the main topic of conversation among many a work colleague and avoid it in papers, magazines and every shop in the kingdom.
Just a rebels dream.
I read an obituary recently- in the guardian of all places- Some Duke of Wellington; Unbelievable entitlement language.
Good old Duke successfully fought off a move by a mayor in Belgium who wanted the dear Duke to stop receiving his 20k a year from the civic office. The Duke successfully (lol) argued how he and his family had served in repelling the hun and how grateful they all should be. Sickening!
-- Edited by ian on Thursday 1st of January 2015 11:32:11 AM