Ironically I find some of your attitudes to be colonial. On some subjects you act like a European missionary setting out to educate the uncivilised. When it comes to religion or monarchy you can be quite insistent with your views and unable to respect that others do things differently.
Prince Philip and conservation
- Thread starter Onychorhynchus coronatus
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Ironically I find some of your attitudes to be colonial. On some subjects you act like a European missionary setting out to educate the uncivilised. When it comes to religion or monarchy you can be quite insistent with your views and unable to respect that others do things differently.
I can understand why some people are upset about Prince Phillip dying, but I wonder why the BBC decided to have several hours talking about him on all radio stations. I don't remember that happening with the death of any other person, including Princess Dianna.
Prince Phillip did a lot to help conservation, such as being involved with the World Wildlife Fund, but he could be contradictory. I had a chat with someone last night and I mentioned Prince Phillip killing tigers. I also realise that many Royals enjoy shooting wild animals, even though some also decry poor people killing wild animals to help pay to feed their families. When I visited Madagascar, a guide showed me an area of cleared rainforest. He said the warden had been paid more by foresters to cut down trees than he got to preserve them. Conservation is complicated and charities need to encourage local people to preserve habitats and wildlife by ensuring that they will be better off than by allowing more destruction. I doubt if it looks good when far richer nations, such as the UK, are destroying natural habitats and are killing animals for fun, while telling poor people to make more sacrifices.
As regards Ornithorhynchus coronatus and others making negative comments about Prince Phillip so soon after his death, does anyone remember comments made about Margaret Thatcher after she died?
Prince Phillip did a lot to help conservation, such as being involved with the World Wildlife Fund, but he could be contradictory. I had a chat with someone last night and I mentioned Prince Phillip killing tigers. I also realise that many Royals enjoy shooting wild animals, even though some also decry poor people killing wild animals to help pay to feed their families. When I visited Madagascar, a guide showed me an area of cleared rainforest. He said the warden had been paid more by foresters to cut down trees than he got to preserve them. Conservation is complicated and charities need to encourage local people to preserve habitats and wildlife by ensuring that they will be better off than by allowing more destruction. I doubt if it looks good when far richer nations, such as the UK, are destroying natural habitats and are killing animals for fun, while telling poor people to make more sacrifices.
As regards Ornithorhynchus coronatus and others making negative comments about Prince Phillip so soon after his death, does anyone remember comments made about Margaret Thatcher after she died?
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry you feel that way @Ned
I don't think I've disrespected anyone particularly but evidently triggered a few people but apart from a bit of tongue in cheek humour I'm not exactly sure why.
Lol , I quite liked the comment about the "European missionary", made me chuckle so thanks for that as its always good to start the day with a laugh
I can be quite passionate about conservation of biodiversity, yes, and I am definitely passionate about secularism because the survival of humanity depends on those two things as far as I can see.
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Indeed, it's insane. I get, as "the national broadcaster", they have to do some kind of documentary/tribute and there are others who may want to watch and listen to such things but I'm appalled by the blanket nature of the coverage (all BBC radio stations* and the exact same broadcast on BBC1 & BBC2 simultaneously). To my mind the BBC's remit is to serve all licence payers and that should include providing an alternative for, what I assume would be, a significant portion of the population who want an alternative to hours of fawning blanket coverage. I'm happy for them to block out one channel but last night was ludicrous. I hope I'm abroad when the queen dies.
In the interest of balance I'd also say that Ornithorhynchus coronatus should tread carefully given his hero, the late Gerald Durrell, wasn't exactly a boy scout, especially in his early years as an animal collector. I have no specific interest in the British royal family, outside of thinking the institute is archaic and shouldn't be public funded, but like anyone they should be judged in the round -who hasn't done stupid and/or contradictory things at some point in their lives? Probably only very boring people. Let those without sin cast the first stone ("put that rock down mother"
). *except Radio 1 which was broadcasting only instrumental music without introductions (presumably for fear of a lyric or song title being judged inappropriate by some over-sensitive individuals).
While I am not a royalist, I respect the Queen and her husband, for multiple reasons. Firstly, she has carried the burden of the crown for almost 70 years now, a feat unrivalled by any other leader. She has, like it or not, led my country through a fairly tumultuous period not only as a figurehead as you suggest but also actively involving herself in various issues when she needed to. You may be skeptical of her involvement all you want, but she has been an immense stabilising force for the country when we needed it the most.
And inevitably, Prince Philip is essential in this. Through our more progressional lens, it seems like nothing, but at the time playing second fiddle and essentially being a servant of your wife was not easy in a deeply patriarchal society, but also because he was largely flung into the position from the beginning, only being married to his wife for 4 years before she was made queen.
While I understand that you come from a different country and continent, I think it is still essential that you understand that your slating of this particular figure demonstrates a lack of respect not only for what he did for this country but also for what he did for conservation as well, which doesn't seem to have been mentioned yet.
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Or perhaps this is the emotion some call "empathy"
I'm autistic and understand that, and I am fairly sure you understand it too and are merely enjoying the chance to make a dig at someone younger than yourself!For the record, I have little regard for the royal family whatsoever, and even agree with your opinions with regards to the inequality between the common people and those in power when it comes to healthcare, lives of luxury etc..... so bear this in mind when I say the following:
Cut it out.
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