I am of the opinion that the title should be bestowed only on the military caste as it was originally intended in order to show the solder as an example. By giving it to people outside of the primary intent of the award (recognition for experience valor and fealty to a leader) you cheapen the decoration, I feel that a separate order should have been created for those fulfilling social functions on society. This is similar to the US civil war when familys with money were able to purchase officer ranks primarily Col. or Cpt. this then actually created a corps of (civilian) soldiers that were able to affect policy creating a bueaurocracy and inefficiency.
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"when a person is prepared to die for a cause, and indeed to glory in such a death, it impossible to supress him or the cause it represents." Jawaharlal Nehru
"Only the suppressed word is dangerous." Ludwig Borne
"All of our freedoms are a single bundle, all must be secure if any is to be preserved." Dwight David Eisenhower
"All men's souls are immortal, but the souls of the righteous are both immortal and divine." Socrates
I am of the opinion that the title should be bestowed only on the military caste as it was originally intended in order to show the solder as an example.
While originally true of knighthood in the middle ages, honorary knighthoods in the modern (post-1500) era have been handed out like 'ludes at a Grateful Dead concert. The Order of the British Empire was created in 1917 to reward civilians. See this website for further information on the order.
I guess it should really only be awarded to ham radio operators as we are about the only real "solders" left!
And for the record, no, I don't think that Gates deserves a knighthood, any more than any of the earlier robber-barons did. Of course, some of them got awards as well.
Just my tuppence.
Andy
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Just my tuppence.
Andy
Never drink to excess; you might shoot at a tax collector and miss. - Robert A. Heinlein
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes.
TANSTAAFL
If a person doesn't believe in something, he'll soon believe in anything. - G. K. Chesterton
Bill Gates deserves nothing that he doesn't pay hard cold cash for. He's had a monopoly going for years and it hasn't stopped.
As for The Knighthood, why should an American accept a "Honorary Degree" from an country that he's not from? Is his family English, Scottish or Irish? If so and the Queen wants to give it to him then it's her call. If she gives it to him I can assure you he'll call himself "Sir" whether he has permission or no. It would suit his ego. Now as far as the America's evidence goes to ask Tony Blair to commit the British forces to help in Iraq that comment is not necessary to post in here and should be kept in the political Forum where it is welcome.
But I do believe This war is not just America's war so don't pin it on America. We are not the rest of the world's escape goat. I'm proud of the close ties America and The British World have stood proudly together to battle many wars side by side. So if you'd like a discussion about the Iraq war keep it to the Political Forum please.
Bill Gates deserves nothing that he doesn't pay hard cold cash for. He's had a monopoly going for years and it hasn't stopped.
As for The Knighthood, why should an American accept a "Honorary Degree" from an country that he's not from? Is his family English, Scottish or Irish? If so and the Queen wants to give it to him then it's her call. If she gives it to him I can assure you he'll call himself "Sir" whether he has permission or no. It would suit his ego. Now as far as the America's evidence goes to ask Tony Blair to commit the British forces to help in Iraq that comment is not necessary to post in here and should be kept in the political Forum where it is welcome.
But I do believe This war is not just America's war so don't pin it on America. We are not the rest of the world's escape goat. I'm proud of the close ties America and The British World have stood proudly together to battle many wars side by side. So if you'd like a discussion about the Iraq war keep it to the Political Forum please.
Annabelle
Annabelle, you just stated your entire opinion on something completely off topic and then told everyone else not to.
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Caw
"I am a Canadian by birth, but I am a Highlander by blood and feel under an obligation to do all I can for the sake of the Highlanders and their literature.... I have never yet spoken a word of English to any of my children. They can speak as much English as they like to others, but when they talk to me they have to talk in Gaelic."
-Alexander Maclean Sinclair of Goshen (protector of Gaelic Culture)
Now as far as the America's evidence goes to ask Tony Blair to commit the British forces to help in Iraq that comment is not necessary to post in here and should be kept in the political Forum where it is welcome.
In life you will often be called upon to back-up your statements with facts. At times, it is necessary to provide examples to validate your opinion. I do not consider Cat?s comments off-topic. I may not agree with them, but they are certainly not off topic because the are used in support of her on-topic comments. In fact, I think this board is very liberal in dealing with off-topic subjects. Sometimes I get off-topic myself, but I like to think that it is more important to have discussion than to worry about staying strictly on topic. Let?s try not to point out off-topic items when you do not agree with someone, instead, base it on substance. If you think something is off-topic and does not belong in that topic, contact one of the mods or myself. Thanks!
Bill Gates should be strung up by his toes. Being the richest man in the world he's also one of teh greediest. You don't get the spot of richest in the world without being greedy.
I see nothing wrong with being greedy. I am greedy myself!
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May all your up's and down's be under the sheets!
Religion is for those who are afraid of going to Hell. Spirituality is for those who have already been there. - Anonymous
I still say we should petition the UK Government to reverse this dicision. I mean their honoring greed.
They're not only honoring greed, but also vicious contempt towards everyone else, cold-hearted calculating deliberate and continuous dishonesty, arrogance, pride, conceit, hypocrisy, ----need I go on??
They should be deeply ashamed for even considering such an Honor to someone like him. Anyone with this Title should feel deeply mortified to see it dragged down to this extreme. I certainly would.
Dreamer1
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Look with the eyes of a child.
'Hope guides me. It is what gets me through the day, and especially the night.' -- A Knight's Tale "I talk to you as I talk to my own soul...and, Sassenach,” he whispered, “your face is my heart.” -- Jamie Fraser, "Dragonfly In Amber" by Diana Gabaldon @Dremnghrt on Twitter, Dreamnghrt on tumblr - come say Hi!
Bill Gates will be granted an HONORARY Knighthood. This means as a foreigner, he cannot call himself 'Sir' William......
The Govt recommends names to HM The Queen to grant awards, including Knighthoods, for various reasons: service to charity etc. (In effect, this 'recommendation' is always put into effect)... The Labour Party has made some strange bedfellows, look at Sean Connery... - as well as, for instance, the way your President has managed to persuade my country (via Tony BLIAR) to go to war on very flimsy evidence.... Why shouldn't they recommend Bill Gates? After all, in my opinion, it's about par for the course for a corrupt political party
Catriona,
I'm sorry that you don't agree with your government's decision to go to war. I know that there are people on both sides of the "Pond" who agree with you. You're entitled to that opinion, but I don't feel that this is the right forum for this comment, either. Also, I can't imagine that anyone in your government would take too kindly to the notion that the U.S. Government had managed to pull the wool over their eyes and trick them into something (anything).
I'm sorry. Please, let's go back to bashing the whole idea of Bill getting awarded Knighthood, and not look for opportunities to bash each other. That's not why we're here.
If you read above Paul has already approved of Cat's political comments in this thread stating
QUOTE (Macfive Posted on Jan 29 2004 @ 12:44 PM)
In life you will often be called upon to back-up your statements with facts. At times, it is necessary to provide examples to validate your opinion. I do not consider Cat?s comments off-topic. I may not agree with them, but they are certainly not off topic because the are used in support of her on-topic comments. In fact, I think this board is very liberal in dealing with off-topic subjects. Sometimes I get off-topic myself, but I like to think that it is more important to have discussion than to worry about staying strictly on topic. Let?s try not to point out off-topic items when you do not agree with someone, instead, base it on substance. If you think something is off-topic and does not belong in that topic, contact one of the mods or myself. Thanks!