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That's _Sir_ Bill

Andrew Cory

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That's _Sir_ Bill
Congratulations to this year’s winners!

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Chris Lansdown (mail) (www):

Actually, the article mentions that only british subjects can add the "sir" in front of their names. He's still 'Bill'.

3.2.2005 2:53pm

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Scott Harris (mail) (www):

I realize that being "Knighted" has become merely a way the British offer recognition to people. And when Elton John and Paul McCartney are entitled to be called "Sir John" an "Sir Elton," Knighthood itself has become essentially meaningless. But...

My ancestors fought the War of Independence from Britain, and shed blood in the War of 1812 fighting them. The idea of Knighhood still conveys, to me, the notion of fealty to one's Majestrate, and the concept of being subject to a Monarchy. Seeing an American accept even an honorary Knighthood inevitably brings forth a first emotional response of anger. It seems like a betrayal of all that is America, and a betrayal of the concept of freedom itself. Perhaps that is because I find the practice of Monarchy and Peerage in today's modern political world to be repugnant in its own right.

To a lesser degree, I find the Nobel Prizes to be somewhat less than desirable. Given European history, and the fact that most or our ancestors fled that hellhole, seeking the approval of European elites seems to be distasteful, at the least.

I realize that most would not agree with me, and might even find my reaction to be silly. But isn't there some other way than a Knighthood for the British to offer honor for achievement to non-British subjects.

3.2.2005 4:16pm

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Andrew Cory (mail) (www):

Mr. Lansdown:
Sheesh! Like I should read the articles I link to? What are you, some kind of communist?

Mr. Harris:
I tend to think you correct about Knighthood-- had it any real meaning anymore. Since it is, as you say an honorary symbolic honorific, I find myself non-pulsed by the idea..

As for the Nobel Prize, eh. Someone was going to give out the top prize in those events, it might as well be the Europeans. If they can’t find anything better to do with their time/money than figure out which Americans are best (and an awful lot of the Science winners are Americans), I won’t stop them...

3.2.2005 9:52pm

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Steven Malcolm Anderson (www):

As a "Throne and Altar" Conservative, I support the ancient estates of Monarchy and Nobility as well as Priesthood. However, I also recognize that these institutions, in their European forms, are out of place on the soil of America due to our own unique history. We must have them in more sublimated forms such as the aristocratic institutions of the Senate and the Supreme Court, our aristocracy of wealth, the noble knights of our military, and the thundering preaching in our churches.

3.3.2005 12:42pm

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Arnold Harris (mail):

SMA, where is the literate but red-blooded American who has not dreamed, albeit idly, of standing armed in chain-mail and swinging a battle-axe beside King Richard the Lion-Hearted as he single-handedly fought the ponderous sir Reginald Front de Bouf on the battlements of evil Torquilstone to free Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, his betrothed lady, and the beauteous Rebecca from the hands of the rebellious and lawless norman barons?

Or stood with King Harry among the precious few who fought off the overwhelming numbers of the French chivalry at Againcourt, while gentlemen abed in England would count themselves accursed who were not that day to fight beside their king on that battlefield of northern France?

Or worked the decks of the Royal Navy squadron at Trafalgar under Lord Nelson when they destroyed the fleet that would have conveyed Napoleon's invasion army across the channel?

Or piloted a Supermarine Spitfire or Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft -- each mounting eight machine guns -- with the the Royal Air Force Number 10 Group of Fighter Command in the late summer skies over southeast England, under Air Chief Marshal Hugh C T Dowding and Air Vice Marshal Keith Park, when the survival of free England was counted in the daily tally of destroyed Heinkel III bombers and Messerschmidt bF109E fighters compared with the number of British pilots who survived each such daily battle to fly and fight again?

The nobility and aristocracy of the British nation resounds with the names of the great men who served their island kingdom for a thousand years and more, who built and defended the fundaments of the freedoms and liberties of the English speaking world, along with the mother of parliaments that steers liberty between the rocks of despotism and anarchy, and who shall forever have a place in the enduring memories of all who speak our language and share our common culture.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

3.3.2005 6:12pm

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Steven Malcolm Anderson (www):

Arnold Harris:

All I can say is: Outstanding. Your style!

3.3.2005 6:17pm

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Arnold Harris (mail):

SMA, I've got one more quote on the above topic.

I read somewhere that Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord High Admiral of England at the time of their defeat of the Spanish Armada that saved their country from yet another invasion in 1588, said of the defending English force, when he was brought news of the sunken Spanish vessels and the victorious English ships,

"God grant that such a Company shall assemble again, when Need shall be."

I would suppose he must have been thinking ahead about Napoleon's fleet, Hermann Goering's Luftwaffe, and any other threats to his island nation.

But Lord Howard could easily have been thinking of the English-speaking coalition that has carried the fight for liberty across this planet and even into the deserts of Arabia, where Need truly is.

I swell with pride at the thought of being a modern inheritor of such a crown jewel among the civilizations of history. A civilization that may always be remembered as one that took up the sword, the naval ship, or even the fleet of aerial bombers, for the defense of the right side. May that always be America's story.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

3.3.2005 7:31pm

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Dean Esmay (www):

I suppose as a practical matter, Steven, you must therefore consider lawyers to be our true noble class.

Provocative thought, eh?

3.4.2005 12:13am

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Steven Malcolm Anderson (www):

No, I consider our soldiers to be true noble class.

3.5.2005 5:52am