Diamond Jubilee River Pageant

[JohnWillimas]

Ah...good old naval names

Conjures up visions of boarding enemy ship waving arms screaming battle cries with your tenacity held firmly in your hand

Mind you with the defence cuts now it would called "Eightacity"...

[Garry Russell]

No doubt

[speedbird591]

It's a bit of a long shot but does anybody else subscribe to The Times iPad edition?

They have a brilliant 3 minute time-lapse video of the whole thing from the first lone police launch zooming about to the last lone police launch as all the crowds have left. It's taken from a static camera overlooking the Millennium footbridge with St. Paul's in the background and accompanied by what I think could be Handel's water music. It's superbly entertaining and a bit tongue-in-cheek.

I have to say, though, that I do think the whole thing was done incredibly well and I do feel a bit proud to be British. I'm not sure if that's allowed nowadays.

Ian

[DaveB]

It IS allowed these days Ian.. you're not allowed to say it thats all

ATB
DaveB

[speedbird591]

It IS allowed these days Ian.. you're not allowed to say it thats all

Well, praise be to Allah for that, at least!

[Garry Russell]

It's difficult to be proud of a nation that doesn't let you be pround of the nation.

A nation that discourages you from showing national pride in case it might upset others.

How can you have pride in a nation that doesn't seem to have pride in itself.

So go fly your flag...just don't let anyone see it...just in case.

[TSR2]

I have to say it does make me very proud to be British, just a shame theres not much left we can be proud of...

[Garry Russell]

I agree Ben

But then you get a situation like a guy on Key Pub who put flags out and was told by the council to take them down in case it offended ...who?

Does anyone actually complain they were offended, I don't think so, not any more that those who will complain about anything for the sake of it.

Many are proud but in some way prevented, or even afraid to show it.

That is sad.

If I went to a foreign country and they were celebrating a national event such as a national day I would not be offended.

Even if it was a celebration of something I disagreed on, it would put that aside and just enjoy the show while I'm there.

Maybe I wouldn't join in but I'd certainly admire the efforts and colourful display.

Colour and pageantry though is something the British stand out in.

There is nothing quite like it anywhere, some of it stemming from hundreds of years back.

I sometimes fear that later generations will be brought up not knowing much about it as to teach them in schools might offend others...well tough. Let the others wgho want to live in the UK be British or shut up.

[speedbird591]

The Home Secretary is considering reforming section 5 of the public order act. There is a chance that free speech may be restored!

http://reformsection5.org.uk/

Ian

[Vancouver]

Considering this is a Commonwealth country, and our govmnt spent $7.5 million (or was it billion?) on celebrations, there was skant evidence of it here, and coverage on the TV minimal. Not that I really care other than how my tax dollars were spent.