> This isn't just a new development. In 1977, to coincide with the Queen's Silver Jubilee, the Sex Pistols released the song "God Save The Queen". To give you a taste of the lyrics, they went "God Save the Queen / the fascist regime / they made you a moron / potential H-Bomb". As you can see, they weren't that happy about the monarchy either. This song would have got to number one in the charts the same week as the Jubilee, but the powers-that-be fiddled around with the charts to such an extent that they only got to number two in the charts, citing that if it had got to number one it would have been a "complete disaster".
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> Unsurprisingly, "God Save The Queen" is going to be re-released this year -- and the powers-that-be, apparently, aren't going to do a single thing about it. Whether this is ignorance, apathy or cowardice I have no idea, but it seems that the Queen is going to have to like it or lump it.
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The song "God Save The Queen" may be offensive, but in a way I don't really mind it. Punk music (to me, at least) seems to be simply ranting against the establishment because it's a fun thing to do, not for any deep-seated political reason. I've thought before that this particular song was only released because it would provoke explosive comment and annoy people. Although this is what it will definitely do, it doesn't really annoy me because the whole idea of it is so juvenile, it would be ridiculous to take it seriously. On the other hand, the Queen may well find it offensive, but she's had to put up with such a lot, it might not really mean very much. Anyway, I reckon the "powers-that-be" are thinking along much the same lines as me - that while there may be problems and unrest if the song is released, it will be as nothing compared to the certain living hell that they will go through if they try to stop it.
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> Personally, I don't care one way or the other whether we have a monarchy or not. I expect that I'm in the majority. However, it would be such a shame to see a family so embroiled in history and majesty to fall by the wayside without so much as a "Nice to know you, ta-ta for now" -- which is what looks like happening.
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Same here, really. The Queen does do a good job as the most important ambassador for Britain around, but it really wouldn't be too much of a tragedy to lose her. I doubt that they would really disappear like that, though - in fact, my personal prediction is that the "oh, she's a nice old dear, let her be" idea will hold steady until Charles takes over. Then he'll probably do something daft like trying to stop a law passing, and the whole monarchy will come crashing down. Well, maybe.

> I know how much the rest of the world likes the monarchy (excepting some of the commonwealth states, of course) -- and how they are seen as kitsch, quirky, eccentric and even downright mad. That's OK with me, because they are kitsch, quirky, eccentric and downright mad. And that's the way we like them.
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Yep, me too.

> Chris("That was a party political broadcast on behalf of the Flawed Argument Party")topher

Phil-"And that was a broadcast on behalf of the Very-Tired-Really-Shouldn't-Post-This-Late Party"-bee