angloceltophilia

28 June, 2006


Was America Abused in Infancy?

The Onion delves into America's love-hate relationship with her Mother Country.

27 June, 2006


And St. George's Cross was a-waving . . .



England players celebrate David Beckham's (2nd L) goal against Ecuador during their second round World Cup 2006 soccer match in Stuttgart June 25, 2006.

26 June, 2006


English People Have Every Right to Celebrate the Ancient Symbols of England

The hub-bub over this ad really annoys me:



Does multiculturalism require us to forget that English civilization developed out of Christianity? The Magna Carta's first section insists on the freedom of the Christian Church in England. John Locke found the rationale for the Glorious Revolution (establishing the supremacy of Parliament) in his Christian faith. Ultimately it was England's Christian conscience that led to the abolition of slavery in parts of the globe where it had always existed. This also led to Britain granting independence with democracy, property rights, and free markets to peoples all over the world.

Also, the English seemed happy to proclaim their generic Britishness for centuries, but all the other peoples on the islands want to assert their distinct nationalities. When I visited Scotland in 2004, I saw the Cross of St. Andrew everywhere, with an occasional Union Jack hoisted over government buildings. Scots are allowed their Scottishness, the Irish their Irishness, and the Welsh their Welshness - all in abundance. England is a real place with a real people, and a historical flag they usually are cowed into ignoring. Soccer and rugby seem to be the only areas of life where English folks are permitted to be proud of their sheer Englishness. Sheesh, let 'em celebrate it!

19 June, 2006


An Englishman's Home is his Castle

Over the recent years the 'New' Labour government of Tony Blair has continued to undermine an Englishman's liberty. So much so that even the very papers that supported him a few years ago are now attacking him: How an Enlishman's Home Ceased to be His Castle.

The fact that, "an Englishman's home is his castle" is a key tenent of English Common Law it is a shame to see this, along with or areas of common law, being eroded away with no murmur of dissent from any quarter with influence.

This is a phrase that we English love to throw into conversations when discussing anything from, what someone has done with their garden, to what they may or may not get upto behind closed doors.

16 June, 2006


Monarchy -- A Quaint Anachronism?

Viewing the very well-done series "Queen and Country" on BBCAmerica, broadcast to coincide with Elizabeth II's 80th birthday celebrations, solidified my affinity for constitutional monarchy and also for the particular qualities of the present occupant of the throne of the United Kingdom.

Here are some interesting quotes from the Constitutional Monarchy Association in the UK, the first from MP Ann Widdecombe (a Roman Catholic, incidentally) being interesting in light of the recent movie V for Vendetta and its premise of totalitarianism in the UK but no reference to what happened to the monarchy:

Britain’s constitutional monarchy is one of its greatest strengths as well as one of its greatest attractions. The monarch is detached from party politics in a way no president could be. For years, the existence of a monarchy was the guarantee that no would-be dictator could stage a coup by deploying troops, as the monarch controls the armed services. No latter-day Cromwell could win power by force. We have had no civil war since Cromwell’s and much of that is due to having had a constitutional monarchy as a focus of loyalty.Ann Widdecombe MP, BBC History Magazine, September 2000.

If constitutional monarchy were to come to an end in Britain, parliamentary democracy would probably not survive it. It is, after all, through the monarchy that parliamentary control over the armed forces is mediated and maintained.Conor Cruise O’Brien, The Independent, 25th June 1993.

The Queen’s only power, in short, is to deny power to anyone else. Any attempt to tamper with the royal prerogative must be firmly resisted.
D G O Hughes, letter to The Daily Telegraph, 1st September 1998.

Above the ebb and flow of party strife, the rise and fall of ministries, and individuals, the changes of public opinion or public fortune, the British Monarchy presides, ancient, calm and supreme within its function, over all the treasures that have been saved from the past and all the glories we write in the annals of our country.Sir Winston Churchill.

If the Allies at the peace table at Versailles had allowed a Hohenzollern, a Wittelsbach and a Habsburg to return to their thrones, there would have been no Hitler. A democratic basis of society might have been preserved by a crowned Weimar in contact with the victorious Allies.” Winston Churchill, 26th April 1946.

Those who imagine that a politician would make a better figurehead than a hereditary monarch might perhaps make the acquaintance of more politicians.Baroness Thatcher, November 1995.

The Queen’s appearances abroad do more in a day to gain goodwill for Britain than all the politicians and diplomats lumped together could achieve in years.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home (Prime Minister 1963-64).

I have always been vaguely comforted by the sense that the Crown, and therefore the nation, endures like weathered granite through whatever turpitude and buffoonery may pass in Parliament. There is also something re-assuring in the knowledge that every Prime Minister, every week, has a confidential and not necessarily comfortable conversation with a monarch: that is to say with someone who is not their dependant, not their sycophant, who has no political affiliation beyond patriotism and who has seen governments rise and fall over decades. This sense of continuity, of a nation mature enough to be able to make electoral mistakes and later recant without risk of losing its identity, is profoundly useful.Libby Purves, The Times, 8th September 1998.

Politicians debating the future of our monarchy resemble a poachers’ convention deliberating on the future role of the gamekeeper.Malcolm Winram, The Times, 9th March 1996.

Being a nation of hypocrites, we have for years looked to the Royal Family to embody the values we’re not prepared to embody ourselves.Serena Mackesy, The Independent, 10th December 1996.

Monarchy can easily be debunked, but watch the faces, mark well the debunkers. These are the men whose taproot in Eden has been cut: whom no rumour of the polyphony, the dance, can reach - men to whom pebbles laid in a row are more beautiful than an arch. Yet even if they desire mere equality they cannot reach it. Where men are forbidden to honour a king they honour millionaires, athletes or film stars instead: even famous prostitutes or gangsters. For spiritual nature, like bodily nature, will be served; deny it food and it will gobble poison.C S Lewis.

15 June, 2006


To All Free Men of the Kingdom

Thanks to Wikipedia for reminding me that today is the 791st anniversary of the day King John put his seal on the Magna Carta. The National Archives has the story of the document's place in history as a charter of freedoms and its influence on the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. A 1297 version, re-issued by Edward I, will be on display in the Archives here in DC beginning in September.

07 June, 2006


Victoria Reigns Again

Thanks to Jason for pointing me towards the Dictionary of Victorian London. It has scores of articles describing daily life and historic events in the city between 1837 and 1901. You'll find descriptions of everything from the enthusiasm for hot eels and pea soup to the 1861 Tooley Street Fire to tales of Victorian women in prison. A must-browse for the 19th cenutry London-o-phile.


Cheapside Flower-girl 1892

06 June, 2006


Britain's Oldest Man - 110 years old

Britain's oldest man, WWI vet claims his longevity is owed to "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women."


First Time Meeting After Hundreds of Years of Strife



In an unprecedented move, the leaders of three "Orange" lodges in Northern Ireland - these are the Protestant, Unionist marchers - have met with Ireland's head Catholic Bishop.


"Ascendancy of Rome in the Republic is Now Vanquished"

From Rev. David Frazer, residing in the Irish Republic, posted June 5th on an Ulster-Scots Yahoo! Group:

Ulster Protestants were justified in seeking protection against the aggressive, domineering tendencies of the Roman Catholic Church in early 20th century Ireland.

Partition was a mistake, however, as it allowed a virtually unchallenged Roman Catholic ascendancy to dominate in the Free State.

The unionist state of Northern Ireland with its 'Protestant Parliament for a Protestant People' was an unfortunate response to the real fears that many Protestants had about Rome's role in politics and society in an independent Irish state.

Unfortunately, Rome was able to form an informal ascendancy in the 26 counties because Protestant Ulster hid away in the corner and established a modified Protestant ascendancy.
Thankfully, the ascendancy of Rome in the 26 counties that was allowed to stand in the way of a democratic, pluralist Irish Republic has been vanquished and brought low.

There is no longer, therefore, a legitimate reason for Ulster Protestants to stand apart from the rest of Ireland and refuse to take their rightful place in the ranks of the Irish nation.

Already, there exists a 26-county state that guarantees civil and religious liberty to all its citizens and in which no Protestant is disadvantaged or refused full civil rights.

By contrast, the United Kingdom that claims jurisdiction over Northern Ireland discriminates against many of the Protestants of Ulster in its constitution.

No Presbyterian or Free Presbyterian can aspire to be British monarch, as the position is reserved for Episcopalians in communion with the see of Canterbury.

Church of England bishops sit in the House of Lords as of right but no non-conformists have been afforded that dignity.

Rev. David Frazer
Inse Bay, Laytown
County Meath

02 June, 2006


Nothing Says Gloucestershire Fun Like a Good, Swift Kick to the Shin

Yet another classic folk tradition (and sporting competition) is upon us this week - rural Gloucestershire was the place, and shin-kicking was event. The BBC gives us the lowdown:

Although not as aggressive as earlier versions, where players were said to have hardened their shins using hammers in over-zealous preparation for the main event, the competition remains the highlight of the Cotswold "Olimpick" games.

Players, wearing the traditional white smocks of shepherds, grasp each other by the shoulders and attempt to land well-timed blows to their opponent's shins.

Only then - in mid-kick - can a player attempt to bring his opposite number to the ground.

A stickler, the ancient name for a judge or umpire, is on hand to make sure a shin is hit before a fall can be scored.

Competitors must kick their way through early qualifying rounds, and swing their legs in a three-stage final to be crowned the shin kicking champion.

"It's part of the original games," said organiser Robert Wilson, referring to the rural competition established by Robert Dover in 1612.

"It was vicious in those days, there was a lot of inter-village rivalry and lads used to harden their shins with hammers and were allowed to wear iron-capped boots.

"We won't permit that. People stuff their trousers with straw and must wear soft shoes.

"We never have broken bones but there are some bruises."

And, yes, shin-kicking is the topic of one of the chapters from the twice previously-mentioned book True Brits by J.R. Daeschner. J.R. fans are strongly encouraged to follow him across the Channel to the Continent, where he found the material for his newest book, Eurotripping.