I would just like to say, that the monarchy is a very important aspect of British society. If we were to remove the monarchy, Britain would be thrown into turmoil.

Why?

Because during times of distress, the monarchy act as a symbol of hope. And if I can remind you Britain once was a republic and look how that turned out IN UTTER TURMOIL!

Britain has never been a republic. England was once a commonwealth without a monarchy.

Are we so much more difficult to govern than other countries? Have we no sense of what is or is not in the spirit of the constitution? Have we not advanced since the 17th century?

Your view is a gross insult to my people. My people are not an ungovernable rabble, keep your reactionary views to yourself.

Martin Willett

http://mwillett.org

Dear Martin Willet,

If you wish to be treated as a lightweight or a juvenile for debating purposes please state that before you enter the ring.

-- Martin Willett

http://mwillett.org

Dear Martin Willet,

I just received your again I will state, do not treat me like child. I unlike others will not take persecution lightly. England was once a republic for eleven years, a country without a monarchy is a republic.
Do not think that I a foreigner do not under stand the principles you British live by.
I will be waiting to receive you next challenge.
Yours Sincerely

Alex Bloch

Make your mind up, do you want me to treat you as if you are a child of 13 or not? I only debate with adults, if you want me to treat you softly because you are 13 I'll say goodbye now sonny.

As for treating you as a foreigner I had no idea that you were until this last message.

Get it clear which country you are discussing. Britain has never been a republic. England was a Commonwealth. This was a very long time ago and a lot has changed in that time, the England of that era cannot be considered to be the same country. We are no longer dominated by a church. Religion is no longer central to daily life. Our population is much larger. Our standard of living is much higher. We are used to democracy. We are not surrounded by countries we can invade or fear invasion from. Our entire culture has changed completely. You cannot make any sensible extrapolations from that very foreign country to the England, still less the Britain, of today.

Dear Martin Willett,

If you wish treat me as an adult then I agree no need to take me for a 13 year old push over. If you wish to call the eleven year period without a king a commonwealth so be it. I will let you know, that I am an American and may I say that you do not need to explain British History in a way that I will understand. I know perfectly well, that Charles I was defeated by parliamentarians (or Roundheads) the country for eleven years was run by Oliver Cromwell.

Now tell me Mr. Willet why do you despise the monarchy so? They are a symbol of peace, enlighten and during times of stress, they are there for their people. Yes the Queen's children and grandchildren are an embarrassment, but every family has their own little problems. It doesn't help that every thing they do is put in the lime light.

Yours Sincerely Alex Bloch.

If you want to be treated like an adult it's really quite easy, don't tell people you are only 13, how will anybody know if you don't tell them? If it isn't relevant why tell? You can't have it both ways, you can't ask to be treated like a grown up one moment and then ask to be treated gently because you're only a kid the next. Make a choice and stick to it.

The eleven year period of the Commonwealth of England was the Commonwealth of England, calling it anything else is futile. It was a period of republican government. Of England. Not Britain. Britain at that time was just a geographical and historical term, Scotland was an independent country, a separate kingdom.

I despise monarchy, not The monarchy. Not The Royal Family. Get that clear. I despise institutionalized inequality and class privilege of all types. Have you heard of the concept of loving the sinner and hating the sin? Monarchy is simply wrong. The family themselves are just people, I don't hate them, I just want them out of my face, off my currency and out of my constitution.

The monarch is not a symbol of peace, that's just bollocks. I assume you meant to write “enlightenment”, in what way is that family of over-privileged educational under-achievers a symbol of enlightenment? They are hardly renaissance people with multiple degrees from the world's finest academic institutions. The queen herself has no academic qualifications at all, she has trained as an ambulance driver. They all went to “the best schools that money could buy” and none of them has got a degree as good as mine.

The Queen's children and grandchildren are the monarchy. It's a family business. The system relies on them being paragons of virtue and if they are not lies will be told to cover up the truth. We must not be allowed to be told if they are homosexual or two-timing philanderers, even if they are and the whole of the world's media knows it. That is despicable.

It doesn't have to be that way. Nobody needs to to be lied to because the monarchy are doing a job that does not need to be done. It's as simple as that. Britain does not need lies, cover-ups and damage limitation exercises. We don't need formal institutionalized class distinctions. We don't need a monarch. Modern western democracies do not fall into chaos and anarchy for the lack of some git in an admiral's uniform stood on a balcony waving. France, Italy, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and Germany are no worse off than Norway, Spain, Holland and Denmark. Monarchies do not predict or protect civilizations.

Countries cope pretty much either way.

Just because Canada is more civilized and a better place to live than America it doesn't follow that you can extrapolate a general trend.

-- Martin Willett

http://mwillett.org

Treat me like an adult. I should let you know that I do agree that although they have brilliant education, they are no Eaton scholars. But then again neither am I, although I am a music scholar but still that doesn't matter. You say they have shits for brains that is your opinion.
Prince Harry small and puny thought he is training to be a soldier. Prince William is a very intelligent young guy in my opinion. The things you state in the final parts of your email sound as if you are saying "Screw the monarchy! Let's be a communist country," communism doesn't work. As for the Spanish monarchy you have right to judge them. While you are reading this you may be thinking that I have no right to either. But my mother lives in Spain and although I go to boarding school in England I HAVE LIVED IN Spain for 13 years and I know my pennies worth about the Spanish monarchy. You make it sound as if all monarchies are bad. Well not all monarchies don't do their job, think about that Mr. Willett. Now I must leave, but think about what I have said.

Surely the point is that despite going to Eton (I suppose it is the local comprehensive for Windsor) they haven't set the academic world alight. They have had the finest possible educational opportunities and mediocred. (I just made that word up, in contrast to "excelled". I suggest we should all invent a new word at least once a week, keep the rest of the English speaking community on its toes.)

We don't need a monarchy, they don't seem particularly good at the job, they cost a lot of money and they are a symbol of everything Britain should no longer be standing for: class privilege and the hereditary principle.

What has being a republic got to do with communism? Is the USA a communist country? Is Switzerland? The communist bogeyman died a long time ago, let him rot. Many republics are quite right wing, many monarchies have welfare states and large amounts of state control of industry. The form of constitution does not predict the policies of the administration, that is the point I was making before.

“France, Italy, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and Germany are no worse off than Norway, Spain, Holland and Denmark.” France, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland, Austria and Germany are modern European democracies and republics, Norway, Spain, Holland and Denmark are modern European democracies with a monarchy. In what way is that dissing Spain or showing ignorance? According to many sources the Spanish monarchy has done great things for a country that has recently emerged from fascism. I don't know enough about Spain to comment. But I do know that sort of job isn't required any longer in Britain. We've grown up now. We're adults. We don't need Auntie Lilibet to kiss us goodnight and keep the bogeyman away any more.

--
Martin Willett

http://mwillett.org