So....the Queen is coming to town....

[Bobbity]

I do my best to ignore the Royals, because ninety nine per cent of the time, they don't affect us here in Australia, and they're a kind of cool part of Britain. That said, it's times like this when I really start to wonder why we tolerate the idea of a Royal Family. Our - admittedly awful, but for nonrelated reasons - Prime Minister didn't curtsy, and they're upset? Fuck 'em.

A Monarchy - the idea that one person's rule over others is a divine right, and that they are therefore superior to their 'subjects', and to be shown the utmost level of respect, is utterly ridiculous, completely outdated, and fucking Medieval.

Why is she our head of state? That she was born to the position means that it took no merit to reach such a role, nor that she in any way deserves it. Admittedly, the Prime Minister that we've got is a complete idiot, and seems apparently determined to destroy our country, but, for what it's worth, she was freely elected by the people of our nation.

Why should we show deference to someone whose only real achievement is to have been born into a particular family? Why do we still entertain the concept of Royals?

Wow, that's a load off of my chest. But seriously, fuck the Royals. I'm not going back now; I want them gone.

 

[Miles000]

calm down people its just the media having a slow day, if there is no current scandal/controversy they will invent one.

No. A slow day is the national news reporting 8 dead penguins in SA.

This is just more proof that the world is becoming overpopulated with stupid!

 

[ThisIsSnake]

Now..I'm a monarchist, I believe they and the structures surrounding them play an important role in the UK...

..and yet I really don't see the big deal with this, it's stupid. She showed respect, that's all that matters.

A monarchist?

You actively support inbred halfwits being paid to be overrated diplomats, housed in palaces and occassionally saying something racist or publicly supporting homeopathy?

The PM of Australia is a greater world leader than any monarch, because a PM has to have a democratic mandate to rule rather than a 'divine right'.

 

[Stu35]

Speaking as a British Soldier who (supposedly) swore an oath to the old biddy (and her inbred spawn), I don't necessarily care how the Queen is received abroad, as long as Americans and Japanese keep coming over with their big fat tourist dollars to see the Palace, all will be rosy.

 

[Vault Citizen]

fuck the queen, the lazy ***** "Get a Job"

I don't think the monarchy are actually allowed to get jobs, either that or there is a very limited range professions they are allowed to do.

 

[Stu35]

fuck the queen, the lazy ***** "Get a Job"

I don't think the monarchy are actually allowed to get jobs, either that or there is a very limited range professions they are allowed to do.

They're allowed to get jobs.

Harry and William are in the Army (or at least, Harry is, I think Wills may be RAF now... very hard to tell with royals given that they get to go "I wanna do THAT job today" and it is made so).

 

[Vault Citizen]

fuck the queen, the lazy ***** "Get a Job"

I don't think the monarchy are actually allowed to get jobs, either that or there is a very limited range professions they are allowed to do.

They're allowed to get jobs.

Harry and William are in the Army (or at least, Harry is, I think Wills may be RAF now... very hard to tell with royals given that they get to go "I wanna do THAT job today" and it is made so).

Are they allowed to get non military jobs though?

 

[Miles000]

Admittedly, the Prime Minister that we've got is a complete idiot, and seems apparently determined to destroy our country, but, for what it's worth, she was freely elected by the people of our nation.

And yet, somehow, she is better than the alternative....

How did this nations political state get to this? Seriously....

The PM of Australia is a greater world leader than any monarch, because a PM has to have a democratic mandate to rule rather than a 'divine right'.

A democracy where you are forced to pick between either one party of idiots, or another party of morons, when there are likely hundreds of people who can do the job right in lower positions....

I'm sorry. Democracy is the wrong word...

It's like a multiple choice test, where 'C' is the right answer, yet you can only choose from 'A' or 'B'....

 

[Vault101]

calm down people its just the media having a slow day, if there is no current scandal/controversy they will invent one.

I would imagine ALOT of it comes from everyone hating juliar gillard,

you think thats bad? the media had a feild day with a formal "kiss" between the PM and kevin rudd (the previous PM who was kind of..."kicked out" by Gilard) like wather or not it was sincere or some crap

somtimes the media makes me want to go on a rampage

 

[Vault101]

Admittedly, the Prime Minister that we've got is a complete idiot, and seems apparently determined to destroy our country, but, for what it's worth, she was freely elected by the people of our nation.

And yet, somehow, she is better than the alternative....

How did this nations political state get to this? Seriously....

The PM of Australia is a greater world leader than any monarch, because a PM has to have a democratic mandate to rule rather than a 'divine right'.

A democracy where you are forced to pick between either one party of idiots, or another party of morons, when there are likely hundreds of people who can do the job right in lower positions....

I'm sorry. Democracy is the wrong word...

It's like a multiple choice test, where 'C' is the right answer, yet you can only choose from 'A' or 'B'....

I dont know.....everyone seems to have their own Idea of what C is...but it never seems to work out

anywya no systm is perfect, but its better than other systms (especially medievil monarchy)

 

[Airsoftslayer93]

Tell them to calm down, nobody in britain has noticed, and we're the people that you should be embarrased to, it's ok, we know you're all fellons anyway, we don't expect manners

 

[Superior Mind]

Katy Gallagher said it best, there is more than one way to show respect. Lowering your head and waiting for the monarch to extend her hand is one of these and it is what both Gillard and Gallagher did. To be honest I think curtseys would be ill-fitting of any leader of Government. Except maybe if Tony Abbott was PM.

I doubt Queen Liz cares much any more. She's married to Prince Philip, she is used to dealing with poor etiquette.

As for the Queen visiting... well I suppose it's always nice for our head of state to pay us a visit, even if it is only once every 20 years or whatever. I imagine while she's in the antipodes she won't be coming across the ditch to pay us a visit huh. Never mind.

 

[StBishop]

Reminds me of a bit Lewis Black did. People were ragging on Obama for removing his coat while in the oval office and saying that Bush never did that. Black responded with "Yeah, because it is something you do when you are working."

It is stupid to expect one nations leader to bow to another. Hell, why did the queen not bow to her? She was in her country after all.
It is now disrespectful to treat people as equals? As Malcolm Reynolds said "Were all just folk now."

Edit: Just remembered a line about the recent royal wedding that I loved.
"We're having a wedding. You're paying. You're not invited. Now run along and organise a street party in our honour. There's a good peasant."

I agree with the removal of the coat (although I assume you mean jacket) in the oval office.

It's not stupid to expect a civilian of any type to bow to their monarch. Ever.

It's even less stupid to expect someone to bow to their boss. Because that's exactly what the Queen is.

If she says so, Julia loses her job. No questions asked.

So yeah, being polite is important.

Although to be honest it's just sensationalism. If I'd been her, I'd have curtsied, however as OP said, it's not mandatory, and I'm a big supporter or the monarchy and I'd go down on my knees if I saw one of the royals so I'm a massive exception.

fuck the queen, the lazy ***** "Get a Job"

I don't think the monarchy are actually allowed to get jobs, either that or there is a very limited range professions they are allowed to do.

They're allowed to get jobs.

Harry and William are in the Army (or at least, Harry is, I think Wills may be RAF now... very hard to tell with royals given that they get to go "I wanna do THAT job today" and it is made so).

Are they allowed to get non military jobs though?

Yes, Prince Charles is a Chartered Accountant as well as a Veteran.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Admittedly, the Prime Minister that we've got is a complete idiot, and seems apparently determined to destroy our country, but, for what it's worth, she was freely elected by the people of our nation.

And yet, somehow, she is better than the alternative....

How did this nations political state get to this? Seriously....

Eh...as much as I disagree with Abbott and Gillard et al about things, they seem to be ahead of the curve. They might disagree over where to process refugees, but not things like about whether or not the economy should be unfucked up. They squabble, but there's very little viciousness to them.

Economy is going strong, unemployment hasn't massively jumped up, nobody faces massive student fees they can't pay back, health care system is fairly good.

We shouldn't stop wanting more from our politicians, but I think we should keep things in perspective.

Not curtsying for the queen is, IMHO, a mark in Gillard's favor.

 

[Mookowicz]

Many heads of state don't have to do very much to hold their largely ceremonial positions, but Elizabeth Windsor is a remarkable example. Born into the Great Depression, thrown into the spotlight of WWII in her teens when her radio messages did much to bolster the morale of a Britain facing imminent extinction, and crowned during the Cold War in her mid twenties, she's experienced first-hand more history than most of us ever read about. She's seen the UK through the Cold War, the collapse of its empire, numerous recessions and economic restructures, integration into the European Union and has been selflessly devoted to the development of the UK and its Commonwealth in all that time.

She has said explicitly that she expects and accepts that Australia will one day want to become a republic (and asked several Prime Ministers why it isn't yet). It's easy (and not unfair) to say that she's not terribly relevant to Australia's politics, but I believe that she's immensely relevant to Australia's history and statehood -- she's been our monarch for more than half our nation's history and may have contributed -- even if only symbolically -- to our long-term national stability.

My suggestion: curtsy or not, but warm courtesies are definitely in order.

 

[Shadowfacet]

Media pandering to unwitting click-bait victims once again.

But in all seriousness I completely agree with the sentiment. I mean the ridiculousness of the media is really getting on my nerves recently, and how Alan Jones still has his own show after al the mininformation he spreads is ridiculous.

Something that was said a few days ago which aplies perfectly, is how that, because there are no advantages or disadvantages to becoming a republic or staying under the current system, most Australians have done the Australian thing and decided that it's a lot easier to just not do anything.

 

[MaximumCrux]

Many heads of state don't have to do very much to hold their largely ceremonial positions, but Elizabeth Windsor is a remarkable example. Born into the Great Depression, thrown into the spotlight of WWII in her teens when her radio messages did much to bolster the morale of a Britain facing imminent extinction, and crowned during the Cold War in her mid twenties, she's experienced first-hand more history than most of us ever read about. She's seen the UK through the Cold War, the collapse of its empire, numerous recessions and economic restructures, integration into the European Union and has been selflessly devoted to the development of the UK and its Commonwealth in all that time.

She has said explicitly that she expects and accepts that Australia will one day want to become a republic (and asked several Prime Ministers why it isn't yet). It's easy (and not unfair) to say that she's not terribly relevant to Australia's politics, but I believe that she's immensely relevant to Australia's history and statehood -- she's been our monarch for more than half our nation's history and may have contributed -- even if only symbolically -- to our long-term national stability.

My suggestion: curtsy or not, but warm courtesies are definitely in order.

Here, here! Well said old chap.

I've never been able to understand the level of hatred some people seem to feel towards the royal family. Some of the comments in this thread are quite disgusting.

Off for a spot of tea.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Admittedly, the Prime Minister that we've got is a complete idiot, and seems apparently determined to destroy our country, but, for what it's worth, she was freely elected by the people of our nation.

And yet, somehow, she is better than the alternative....

How did this nations political state get to this? Seriously....

For the same reason every country's political system is shit to some degree - because people who want power are the last people that should be trusted with it.

Fact also is the so-called major parties and even the minor parties are lurching around with no fucking idea. No one gets involved with them to make a difference or work toward a better future for the country, they just want in on the gravy train that is public office. Look at how many of our 'representatives' are nothing more than party hacks who've never done anything except work for the party.

 

[Lizardon]

I'm glad she didn't curtsey, I think it's not a very dignified gesture. What she did was respectful and in no way insulting.

It's even less stupid to expect someone to bow to their boss. Because that's exactly what the Queen is.

If she says so, Julia loses her job. No questions asked.

So yeah, being polite is important.

Just a technicality but no the Queen can't fire Julia, that power is only held by the Governor General, who is approved by the Queen, who as far as I know has always said yes to whoever we've proposed. That is the extent of her involvement in Australia.

And I do think it's a bit silly to bow to ones boss. Bowing seems excessive, and it is an outdated practice.

 

[Miles000]

Not curtsying for the queen is, IMHO, a mark in Gillard's favor.

That I can agree with. At least it shows some backbone.
Anyone who bows to the queen, simply because she is the queen..... [extracted] (I'm not saying that here)

people who want power are the last people that should be trusted with it.

That's funny. I swear that is almost exactly what I keep telling everyone.