Abolish the monarchy!

All right. I can get behind that.

It serves a people plenty to have a distinct national identity. How much more do I need to say that before you give yourself leave to understand?

I do not think it is healthy for government to give hand-outs regularly to the 'needy' among its citizens. The christian paternalistic ethic isn't really a valid political or economic system.

Goodwill IS a marketable commodity. The state can very well invest in private corporations whose total assets and owner's equity include goodwill.

The monarchy is the last thing me, and I think I can safely say, the youth, associate themselves with.

Many things actually mean something to my national identity... UK hip hop and drum n bass... british films... the Queen deserves nothing. shes done nothing for her fame. the monarchy could have been abolished before it became a tabloid festival, and it could have retained some respect.

All the more reason to support the institution. You can't claim nationality without appreciating the national paternity from which it derives. Nationality is a basic HUMAN RIGHT in whatever sense you wish to view it.

You are a profoundly confused individual if you equate hip hop with a national identity.

Unfortunately for you, few people share your sentiments.

All the more reason to support the institution? The words of a true conservative... times change.

Haha you miss my point. I don't associate hip hop with my national identity, but I like it more, admire it more, think it serves more purpose and has more value that the Queen.

Whether or not I agree nationality is a basic human right, I still like to have a nationality, but I don't see the queen as the key to my nationality.

I'm not saying the dynamics of human society doesn't.

Nor am I disputing that. That's obvious enough.

Humanity does not need your leave to declare and uphold the universal declaration of human rights - nor do your countrymen.

Your nationality is a PATRIMONY. Like all patrimony, there is nothing you can do to change it.

Well... uh... there is something we could do to change it. We could... and this is a bit of stretch for you I'm sure, just abolish the thing.

I'm sure the country would carry on with very little bother. Maybe the tabloids would have to report a decent story, the old people would have another thing to whine and reminiss about, we would have to reallocate a couple of £million, open up the palaces etc. and watch the tourist industry boom.

Do you even understand the word patrimony?

And you say you can change it, eh?

Unbelievable!

It occurs to me that the two of you are barely speaking the same language here.

I understand the term patrimony, and it just doesn't apply to the monarchy anymore. How about I tell you that the US never officially broke away from England because England once ruled it? Its absurdity. Its called a (without sounding like a 14 year old wearing a che guevara emblazened tshirt) revolution in the modern sense of the word to change something about or around you.

And did the us break away from its european PATRIMONY as well? Or latin america from its spanish PATRIMONY? Or vietnam from its french PATRIMONY? Or shanghai from its PORTUGESE patrimony?

Is it even possible to erase one's cultural heritage and identity by a political action?

Hmmmm?

I like to think it does something along those lines. Your heritage means what you want it to mean, your identity is what you make it.

Human culture is not some disjointed thing that exist in isolation from its historical origins. The sooner you understand this, the better.

Well I'm sorry but this is just a funamental disagreement we seem to have.