- Monarchy Debate

[Lynn49]

You don't want to hear my opinion of the "royals"...what's this costing our country, anyway?
Dave, ITA with you.

[Natalka]

I'm not mad, just not going to bother anymore.

[Andit]

First, I'm not a Royalist (only one I was really fond of was the Queen Mother ).

To give you an example of how attitudes can change, there was a great deal of animosity between the Hungarians and the Turks for a very long time (150 yrs of Ottoman oppression, complete with mass slaughter and an attempt at ethnic cleansing). Despite the dislike, there is a mausoleum, high on a hill in a tony part of Budapest where one of the Turkish governors was buried - always kept in immaculate shape, since one should show respect to the departed (besides, Gul Baba was more interested in developing new species of roses than governing).

On an unrelated note, some ancient ancestor of mine was granted a title as a result of fending off the Turks and aiding in the ousting of the oppressors - the family crest has an eagle clutching the severed head of the enemy in its talons.

That background hasn`t stopped the bustling tourism between Turkey and Hungary (lots of tours, several flights per day). When my parents went to Istanbul, they were met with greetings of `Hello, my lost sister and brother`. No animosity there, time does seem to heal a lot of wounds.

So far, there is still animosity between the Soviets and Hungarians, but that`s because too many folks are still around who lived through the atrocities. In another generation or so, there will be a more open feeling towards them (once folks like ex-KGBer Putin are no longer around).


Sorry, don`t mean to ramble, just wanted to put out a different perspective.

[DaveP]

History is history, and I don't hold any animosity against any living English person for the crimes of the past. They didn't do it. But it is offensive to have the queen on my money today, just as offensive as it would be to Jewish people if Hitler's granddaughter was on our money. There is no difference. Genocide is genocide. And the English monarchy committed genocide on my ancestors.

[Patty Smyth]

History is history, and I don't hold any animosity against any living English person for the crimes of the past. They didn't do it. But it is offensive to have the queen on my money today, just as offensive as it would be to Jewish people if Hitler's granddaughter was on our money. There is no difference. Genocide is genocide. And the English monarchy committed genocide on my ancestors.

Interesting that my son was doing this in history this past week and my dad was telling him how our family had to leave to come here because of this. Came over with the clothes on their backs.

Not much love for the royals in this household either.

[Andit]

History is history, and I don't hold any animosity against any living English person for the crimes of the past. They didn't do it. But it is offensive to have the queen on my money today, just as offensive as it would be to Jewish people if Hitler's granddaughter was on our money. There is no difference. Genocide is genocide. And the English monarchy committed genocide on my ancestors.

I understand and respect your opinion, I was just trying to show an alternate reaction to a similar situation.

Interestingly, a lot of Turkish words entered the Hungarian vocabulary as a result of the occupation. So, every time someone in Budapest eats corn, they are reminded. Some how this doesn't seem to be that much of an issue.