Re-Monarchy, ?, YES. Republic ?, NO !

by Desmond Kelly ‘the Star of eLanka’

With everything that is going on, at the moment, President Trump, the “leaders” of Syria and Nicaragua being the ONLY ones NOT to notice that icebergs are slowly melting away & the Great Barrier Reef in Australia is mostly bleached beyond recognition (just two examples), NOT because of FAKE, FAKE, FAKE ! media-messages, Mr.President, but because America, Syria & Nicaragua ARE belching out far too much poisonous gases into the atmosphere & because, quite simply, the GREAT DANGER OF “CLIMATE-CHANGE” is very real and, in the not too distant future, will certainly mean that our Planet ( which is hell enough to live in, right at this moment ), WILL BE almost impossible for our great grand-children onwards, to exist-in, comfortably anyway. IT WILL BE TOO BLOODY HOT & even now, I can barely afford to have my airconditioner on for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time. EVERY OTHER COUNTRY around the World realizes this, Sirs, so pull up your socks and sign the bloody “treaty” if you get a second chance. Without going into details that “Social-Media” is full of (among other things), four simple English words, “eLanka” tells us that:- CLIMATE-CHANGE IS IMMINENT. Ignore this fact at your peril. Not everyone can afford to go to MARS, and we don’t know what the hell it is like, up THERE !.

Des, stop digressing & get on with it.! What has the “Monarchy” or “Republic” got to do with Climate-Change ?. Well, nothing, really, excepting for the fact that Australia COULD clamour to be a Republic IF we were being “ruled” by Atilla the Hun, Pol-Pot, or some other “Nut-Case” . In time, I feel, that Oz will be a Republic anyway, so let us now concentrate on President Trump, the other “Sun-of-a-gun” in North Korea who is still trying to find a “gun” that will shoot “missiles” half-way to Washington before they will be exploded and “shot-down” half-way to their target. (I must learn to stop repeating myself). We, in Australia, should consider ourselves lucky to be IN a Monarchy run by a Queen who has now been the longest-reigning Monarch in the World and has not “put a foot wrong” as the saying goes & given nearly her whole life in the service of millions of people around this Planet of ours. I was a very young man when SHE took up her duties (with HER young man, Prince Phillip). I am an old man, now, so is her “consort”, but Queen Elizabeth the 2nd still “Rules-on”, doing a most difficult job with integrity. “LONG LIVE THE QUEEN”. Who came before her ? , well, please allow me to inform my readers of “e’Lanka” & “The Lanka Times”, especially for Lankans everywhere, WHO preceded Queen Elizabeth ll & WHAT should be remembered about them. Cannot go RIGHT BACK, as I don’t wish to be writing all day so lets start from the 1700s.

Queen Anne, 1707-1714, known for the unification of the Kingdoms of England & Scotland as a “Single State” called “Great Britain.The rise of “two-party” system, in which Torries & Whigs competed for power. She is also remembered as being the last Monarch of the House of Stuart.

Source: you tube

King George l , 1714-1727, known for transition from Monarchy towards the modern system of Cabinet-Government, led by a Prime Minister. Also remembered for being the first Hanoverian King of Great Britain.

Source: Wikipedia

King George ll, 1727-1760, known for being the last British Monarch to lead an army in battle when he participated at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743. He is also remembered for his concentration on his mistresses (how many is too many for a King ?, half his luck!), his LONG wig & SHORT temper (reminds me of someone ,but I won’t say WHO).As our Sri Lankans say, “knowing people only know we are who are”.

Source: Wikipedia

King George lll, 1760-1820, known for Great Britain’s victory over France in the seven-year War that made it a dominant European power in North America and India. Also known for the defeat of Napoleon in the battle of Waterloo in 1815 (exactly hundred years before MY dear mother was born in Ceylon in 1915). God rest her soul.

Source: Wikipedia

King George lV, 1820-1830, known for his extravagant lifestyle, built the Royal Pavillion in Brighton & remodeled Buckingham Palace, he was also known for his “strained relationship”with both his father & his wife (wonder why?), & also being unpopular among the people for wasteful spending in times of war.I suppose it was he, who first coined the well-known English phrase, “We are here for a good time, not a long one”

Source: Wikipedia

King William lV, 1830-1837, known for the “update of the poor” law, restrictions on child-labor & abolishment of slavery. He is also remembered for the 1832 “reform-act”, which refashioned the British Electoral System.There’s the difference between George lV & William lV.

Source: Wikipedia

Queen Victoria, 1837-1901, known for a reign longer than any of her predecessors, known as the “Victorian Era” (for obvious reason), which was a period of Industrial, cultural, political, scientific & military change within the United Kingdom. She was also known for the vast Expansion of the British Empire & was the last British Monarch of the House of Hanover. In Ceylon, we also remember her as the “Empress of India”. She was also very well-known as a “Lover”, a “Lover of life” & Lover of Prince Albert, the Love of HER life.

Source: Wikipedia

King Edward Vll, 1901-1910 (the year my dad was born), R.I.P., known for the modernization of the British Home Fleet and the reorganization of the British Army after the second Boer war. He was also remembered for fostering good relations with France and even given the name “Peacemaker”. During his reign there was progress in technology & “Society”, which included “Steam-turbine propulsion” & the rise of Socialism.

Source: Wikipedia

King George V, 1910-1936 (the year I was born), known for the rise of socialism, communism, Fascism , Irish republicanism, and apart from all the “isms”, the Indian independence movement as well. The 1911 Parliment Act established supremacy of the elected House of Commons over the un-elected House of Lords.What an ERA that was. I was happy to be born SOON AFTER that ended.

Source: Wikipedia

King Edward Vlll, 1936-1936 (I was born then, too, but nearly died of pnuemonia, when he, King Edward Vlll abdicated his throne after his plans to marry Wallis Simpson, an American woman who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second, ran into trouble (which I will do now, run,before I run into trouble too), He is also remembered as being the shortest-reigning Monarch in British History. Not much more can be said on this right now.

Source: Wikipedia

King George Vl, 1936-1952 known for the break-up of the British Empire and it’s transition into the Commonwealth of Nations, removal of the direct mention of “Monarchy” by the Irish Parliment from the constitution, the Second World War and defeat of Germany & Japan, the rise of America (even without Trump), & the Soviet Union (even without Putin), the decline of the British Empire, Independence of India & Pakistan & later, Ceylon (even without Rajapakse or Sirisena) He was a good King, rather frail, did not want the job, actually but it was forced on him, was ably assisted by the Queen “Mum” Elizabeth l, “stammered” a bit, but was tutored-in-speech by an Australian Gentleman & died of cancer after chain-smoking for most of his adult life.

Source: Wikipedia

Queen Elizabeth ll, 1952-date, known for the devolution of the United Kingdom, Canadian patriation and the decolonization of Africa. Her Majesty ( a well-deserved title), is the longest-reigning British Monarch & certainly, the longest-reigning Female Head of State in World History having celebrated the Silver, Golden, Diamond & Sapphire Jubilee of this unique feat. We, in Australia should be VERY PROUD to serve a Queen who has been PROUD to serve us, her people. When she DOES pass-on, things being the way they are, Another “Rex” King Charles will then succeed her, wear the “Crown” & also being a firm believer of CLIMATE-CHANGE (I understand), will go out into the Palace garden & TALK to the trees, not cut them down. CLEAN-ENERGY is what we want, good on you Prince Charles. Please come to Australia again Sir, and let’s discuss this “Republic” thing.