Queen Elizabeth is attending the Scottish Parliament today, so the crowds mass to cheer her as she passes.
More bearskins than loyal subjects.
Although, I note one Butcher's Apron hanging from a window.
The weirdest thing about today's visit by Queen Elizabeth to the Scottish Parliament was the brass band dressed like a pipe band.
I've never seen such a thing before.
Sorry about the poor image quality, it is a screenshot from a video.
Last thing about the royals (for the time being).
"How do war veterans feel when they see the toy soldiers of the royal family, their uniforms dripping with medals?"
Kevin McKenna
@fitheach Harry did two tours of Afghan, including as a forward air controller, and founded the Invictus Games.
William's service was shorter and less exciting, but did involve a secondment to counter-narcotics patrols.
I think view on royalty is divided, but these two as individuals-with-privilege are generally well regarded.
@kline
I'm pretty certain Prince Charles has never fought in *any* conflict. Where did he get these medals?
@fitheach I guess the thing I'm kind of disappointed in are that
1) aspersions are being thrown about "how do the vets feel", when the simple answer is to just ask the vets. Don't set up a question just to not answer it and take advantage of the doubt.
2) No one ever actually looked to see what these medals represent. Each one of them all appear earned, and it was easy to identify what they all are and that none were given trivially in a preferential way.
I expect a higher standard of discussion from my peers on this and I'm saddened that such low tactics are being used that I expect from the other side.
@kline
Sure, but people usually assume medals are for acts of bravery during armed conflict. The presentation of the royals with fancy uniforms, chests full of medals and high ranking military titles is about maintaining an aura. It is the same technique used by tin-pot dictators across the globe.
@fitheach that very much seems like other peoples problems, and not those of veterans. The fact that the author has brought such willful ignorance to this article is the issue. They're using vets and medals as unwitting vehicles to make a point I'm not convinced is well founded, and given how easy it is to answer the questions, I'm not even sure if it's honest.
@kline
OK, I understand that you have a problem with the "veterans" part of the article, but that is far from the major thrust of Kevin's argument.
My grandfather was a veteran. He served in France & Belgium during WWI. He hated the glorification of war and the appropriation by the monarchy. He wouldn't have been unique then or now.
@fitheach it's not really about the veterans or the medals, it's that the questions presented are so easily answerable that to ask them and leave them open means either
1) his writing is so lazy as to be worthless
2) he did so deliberately because the questions are more inflammatory unanswered
sadly, I can't read the most of the article as it is only available to people who agree enough with them to pay.
Alas, I could, though not for paying a subscription.
Perhaps the worst thing about the article is it being carried in the news section, though clearly an opinion column. I suppose a periodical which would do that can expect the epithet 'fake news', for that certainly is what the article deserves.
As with anything online - if you feel angry and emotional after reading something, you need to stop and remember *that was the intent.* To manipulate you, not to inform.
@wsaewyc @fitheach I'm not mad, just sad, that the people I generally hold in high regard are posting it on.