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Subject:  300th Anniversary of Great Britain |
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Author: G.Singh | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 16:05:14 11/13/04 Sat Hello guys! I thought I would let you lot read this e-mail I received from the Department for Culture Media & Sport after I contacted them with regards to what the Government proposes to do in order to celebrate this great event: ----------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for your email requesting information on what plans the Government has to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Act of Union between England and Scotland. We have consulted with the Scotland Office and they have asked us to say that the Government is aware of the importance of 2007, but it is too soon to make any decisions about how best to commemorate this important event. Kind regards Tracy Dalby Information Centre Department for Culture, Media and Sport' ------------------------------------------------------- I think we should e-mail the Scotland Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to give them some ideas if they are unsure how to celebrate this event! enquiries@culture.gov.uk scottish.secretary@scotland.gov.uk But it would be great to hear your ideas here first! Personally, I think it should be on the scale of HM Golden Jubilee. But instead of London, I think Edinburgh should also be in the spotlight. A three day festival would be brilliant. And to leave a lasting symbol of the celebrations, a huge statue of Britannia should be erected in both cities! On top of that, London should be covered in a sea of the flag of St Andrew, and Edinburgh with St. George! How about you guys? [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: Hmmm | |
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Author: Dave (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:12:35 11/13/04 Sat Good thinking G Singh. I have always had a sneaky suspicion that the Government have no plans for the tercentenary, given their pattern of behaviour towards our history. Unfortunately, their response only confirms my suspicions. I also believe that the SNP have been getting their oar in, as the event will coincide with the Scottish Parliament elections and they feel it would undermine their campaign. Typical! [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: 300th Anniversary of Great Britain | |
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Author: Ben.M(UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:14:09 11/13/04 Sat If (and it is likely) Labour wins the next election, then I see bugger all happening. If the Tories win then who knows. Whatever happens I know I'll be legless. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: They'd better celebrate it | |
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Author: Roberdin [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:49:37 11/13/04 Sat Can you imagine what will happen in the US in 2075 or 2081, whichever year they prefer to celebrate their 300th aniversary? Why can't we do that sort of celebration here? I don't think that we should distribute St Georges' to Edinborough or St Andrews' to London; instead, we should fly the Union Jack off every lamppost; most people in England won't have a problem with St Andrews', but many in Scotland might have a problem being flooded with St George' - it may exacerbate our differences. Having been to Paris, where the tricolor really does fly everywhere, I feel that the Union Jack's strict usage rules should be relaxed (at least, on land), even if just for that occasion; it is after all, no longer a royal flag, but OUR flag. What I propose is making that day a bank holiday; everyone gets the day off. We should have a series of (free) concerts around the country - the Queen will visit each one, perhaps finally staying at the one in Edinborough - each concert ending completely in time with 'Rule, Britanania!'. During each of these concerts, we should have a blend of old and new music, from many cultures outside Britain to reflect our 'informal union' with many of these other countries, but obviously with a lot of both Scottish, English, and Welsh music appropriate to the occasion. Donations could be collected at each concert and given to a selection of charities, not necessarily related to the UK. I feel that Wales should be included within this celebration as a separate entity to England; a Union between all three. In the past, its status may have been disregarded, but that is no longer the case. Wales is to Scotland as Scotland is to England. We should also do our best to bring Northern Ireland and our remaining overseas dependencies into the celebration - they are, after all, a part of the Union, in some respects. Perhaps some smaller concerts should be held around there. The Queen, Prime Minister, and assembly leaders should all give a speech during the concerts - they will obviously all pause while this is said or televised to their repsective location. All major television operators should be given the chance to take part in the broadcast. Each National Assembly/Parliament should fly the Union Jack in addition to their respective country flag - if they don't already. WE MUST NOT LET THIS OCCASION GO TO WASTE. By 2107, the Union may - God protect us - no longer exist (hopefully because we are part of the FCS); and in case, we will all probably be dead or too old to celebrate anyway. People in the UK ARE patriotic, they are just a little nervous about showing it; the Last Night of the Proms shows this - although the present conductor dislikes this focus on patriostim. Every penny of public money thrown at this will be well spent. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Conductors | |
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Author: Ed Harris (London) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:22:52 11/13/04 Sat Well, the present conductor is American. I suppose that he imagines that we should replace God Save the Queen with the Star Spangled Banner, and only wave Old Glory and not the Jack. Mind you, better than singing Ode To Joy and waving the EU flag. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Patriotism | |
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Author: Roberdin [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:08:51 11/13/04 Sat As I said before, people here are patriotic. One only had to watch the Remembrance Festival this evening to see not only the respect to those in the war, but the show of thanks to them for saving our present United Kingdom and Her Majesty. 'For your tommorow we gave our today' [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: we shouldnt have missed out on 2001 | |
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Author: Owain (UK) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 16:53:55 11/13/04 Sat Its a shame we already misse dout on celebrating properly in 2001 to celerbrate Ireland coming into the fold. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: The trouble is, three quarters of them left! | |
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Author: Roberdin [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 17:20:12 11/13/04 Sat [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> Subject: Indeed... | |
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Author: Ed Harris (London) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:24:37 11/13/04 Sat And it could be argued that, with devolution etc., the Union of Parliaments is no longer an extant part of the constitution, and so we would be celebrating somehting which no longer applies. Rather like celebrating Empire Day. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> Subject: Great Britian | |
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Author: Roberdin [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:52:56 11/13/04 Sat It does exist in the new form of the UK, and its a more appropriate date to celebrate than the 1801 or 1823 anniversaries. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> Subject: 1823? | |
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Author: Ed Harris (London) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 18:59:40 11/13/04 Sat [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: ooops | |
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Author: Roberdin [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 19:41:33 11/13/04 Sat I meant 1923, which was, unless I'm in error, the date when the present Union was formed; ie, when Ireland was split in two. Needless to say, this is not a day for particular celebration. The 1707 date is thus the best and most fitting. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Hear hear | |
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Author: Ed Harris (London) [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 23:46:41 11/13/04 Sat [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> Subject: Sorry to ressurect this | |
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Author: Roberdin [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 17:29:13 11/22/04 Mon I sent them an email myself: Sent: 13 November 2004 17:21 To: Enquiries Subject: 300th Anniversary of Great Britain Dear Sir/madam, I wondered what plans you have to celebrate the important occasion of the tercentenary of the formation Great Britain, an occasion perhaps of more importance to the British people than that of HM Queen's golden jubilee. 2007 is not that far away in terms of planning such a significant and vast celebration - like this one should be - even if some of the minor details are to be left for later. I certainly hope that it will not be brushed under the carpet and politely ignored - and shall be bitterly disappointed if it is - like some of our historic institutions have been under Labour. It is clear that the British people are proud of our country from the large outcome and support at the aforesaid Golden Jubilee and from the success of the patriotic Last Night of the Proms every year; it would a great loss to our country and its people if this occasion were to be overlooked - I'm sure you share this sentiment. Obviously, the event will need to be shown in a relevant spot light for the times; I hope to see Wales, Northern Ireland, our overseas dependencies, as well as external cultures that are of relevance to today's United Kingdom included in some way in the event. Perhaps, for example, we could build upon the success of the Jubilee with a series of free concerts held around the country, attended by prominent politicians and our gracious Sovereign, with music from Scotland, England, Wales, and other parts of the world - ending, of course, with a heartfelt rendition of 'Rule, Britannia!'. Alternatively, the day itself could be made a bank holiday (for that year, at least). Naturally, this occasion will require an expense of public money, but it will be worth it if a great celebration can come from it. One only has to look to France or the United States to see their levels of pride at what their countries have established in their histories and what they are today; why should we be any different? I look forward, with some enthusiasm, to your reply and to the day itself. ----- After a few weeks, I recieved a slightly modified copy of the email that was sent to G Singh: Dear Robert Thank you for your email about the 300th Anniversary of the Act of the Union. Colleagues in the Department have checked with colleagues at the Scottish Office.They have confirmed that the Government is aware of the importance of 2007, but it is too soon to make any decisions about how best to commemorate this important event. Kind regards Tracy Dalby Information Centre Department for Culture, Media and Sport 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5DH Telephone: 020 7211 6200 Fax: 020 7211 6032 Email: enquiries@culture.gov.uk Website: www.culture.gov.uk The Department for Culture, Media and Sport aims to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries. ----- Utter crap. Labour just lost what remaining support I had for them. [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |