#British Commonwealth

[oscarisaacasimov]

Hozier sings in English, lucky for me to understand him, lucky for him to make good money, but remember the violence that made our world Anglophone, the Gaelige of his homeland will always sound foreign, a poet cut off from his mother tongue.

A butchered tongue is a tragedy, more poignant when the message comes from such a blessed tongue, a talented singer and lyricist.

What other voices have been lost.

#hozier #butchered tongue #unreal unearth #dantes inferno #seventh circle of hell #gaelige #anglophone #anti colonialism #irish history #irish language #british commonwealth #imperialism #violence #indigenous people #lamguages #wexford rebellion

[vox-anglosphere]

St Paul's Cathedral - Melbourne's Gothic wonder Down Under

#St Paul's Cathedral #Melbourne #Victoria #Anglican #Australia #church architecture #Gothic revival #sacred space #Down Under #stained glass #tradition #British Commonwealth #Christendom

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1949 – The Republic of Ireland withdraws from the British Commonwealth. The British Parliament recognises the declaration but asserts sovereignty over the six northern counties.

The withdrawal of the twenty-six counties from the British Commonwealth is recognised officially by Britain, thereby, becoming the independent Republic of Ireland. The Ireland Act 1949 passed by the House of Commons recognised the withdrawal. Éamon de Valera had introduced his Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) in 1937, the Irish Free State, or Éire as it was renamed, was well-nigh an…

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#Éamon De Valera #Éire #British Commonwealth #Bunreacht na hÉireann #Constitution of Ireland #Dublin #House of Commons #Ireland Act 1949 #Nationalists #Northern Ireland #O&039;Connell Bridge #O&039;Connell Street #Republic of Ireland #Tim Pat Coogan #Ulster #Withdrawal

[blackswaneuroparedux]

We are guardians of a precious flame, and it is our duty not only to keep it burning brightly but to keep it replenished for the decades ahead.

- Queen Elizabeth II, Commonwealth Day Speech

Happy Commonwealth Day

#elizabeth II #queen elizabeth II #quote #commonwealth #monarchy #british empire #british commonwealth #britain #commonwealth day #nations

[prettyboynightwing]

Since the queen is now dead of course I’m gonna be sat on this hellsite all day to be the first to see all the blistering hot takes and memes

#queen elizabeth ii #Queen Elizabeth #breaking news #the queen is dead #england #UK #british royal family #britain #british commonwealth #british colonialism

[georgefairbrother]

On February 3rd, 1960, British (Conservative) Prime Minister Harold Macmillan addressed the South African parliament in Cape Town, using the iconic phrase ‘wind of change’, that was blowing through the African continent as majority black nations moved toward decolonialisation and independence. He described this ‘growth of national consciousness’ as a political fact, whether welcome or not, and talked about the creation of a society which respects the rights of individuals;

"…A society in which individual merit, and individual merit alone, is the criterion for a man’s advancement, whether political or economic…"

Given the regime of Apartheid in South Africa at that time, it’s unsurprising that the speech received a frosty reception, although the South African Prime Minister, Hendrik Verwoerd, at least remained courteous, but argued;

"…We are the people who brought civilisation to Africa. To do justice in Africa means not only being just to the black man of Africa, but also to the white man of Africa…"

The BBC reported;

"…Mr Macmillan’s speech is the first time a senior international figure has given voice to the growing protest against South Africa’s laws of strict racial segregation. The speech was widely anticipated throughout the country, as Mr Macmillan had already said he would take the chance to say what he thought about the situation in South Africa. Even so, the plain-speaking nature of the speech took many in Cape Town by surprise…"

Harold Macmillan’s courageous speech was widely credited in expediting independence across Africa. It was also influential toward encouraging a more vocal opposition to Apartheid internationally, and by 1962, the UN had passed a non-binding resolution calling for an international trade and cultural boycott of South Africa.

The British government's resolve in terms of isolating South Africa proved to be a little fluid - at the inaugural Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in 1971, the Heath government mightily annoyed African member states over proposed arms sales to South Africa in defiance of a voluntary UN embargo.

The sporting boycott was credited as being a major factor driving reform in South Africa, however this was lost on a number of professional cricketers who participated in highly lucrative rebel tours over several years. This is how long time anti Apartheid activist (Lord) Peter Hain described what would be a disastrous tour by a rebel England side, in early 1990, with Apartheid in its very last days;

"…This was on the cusp of a historic change in South Africa. So for Gatting and his ­tourists to go, clodhoppers and all, into this transformative moment was ­grotesque beyond belief. It was not surprising it caused such offence. The rebel tours were a doomed attempt to shore up the ­tottering apartheid system, when it needed to be isolated…"

More on rebel tours by Australia and England;

Literature circulating in South Africa during an earlier Australian rebel tour, stated;

"...The 8 million Rand that will be paid to 15 well nourished but greedy cricketers can buy bread for each and every day of an entire year for 250 000 South Africans – enough to save a quarter million from dying..."

#apartheid #harold macmillan #wind of change #social history #international politics #diplomacy #british commonwealth #british prime ministers #england cricket #sporting boycott

[arthurdrakoni]

Flag of the Commonwealth of California

This is the flag of The Commonwealth of California.  It comes from a world where the Constitution was never ratified, and the Articles of Confederation remained the primary governing document for the United States.  Unfortunately, this meant that the federal government remained weak and ineffectual.  The states soon began to question why they needed to take orders from Washington, and regionalist movements began to spring up.  By the early 19th century the United States had completely collapsed.  Each state became its own nation, with smaller states joining bigger ones either willingly or by force.  Though the United States had failed as a nation, the idea of the United States inspired other colonies to rebel against their mother nations and seek independence.

The ideal of Manifest Destiny never really became a thing, but there was a general westward movement among the peoples of North America.  However, how they got westward was considerably different than in our world.  That brings us to California.  It was primarily settled by British colonist from the Oregon Territory.  This had multiple effects on California's development.  For example, California is governed by a parliament, led by a prime minister, and the Queen's Birthday is a national holiday.  California is also a proud member of the Commonwealth of Nations.  Just as in our world, California has a significant Mexican minority, and most Californians are bilingual. 

California is one of the most prosperous nations in North America. It has a booming tech sector, and it's farms help feed people across North America. In the past, California had a history in intervening in wars, but it has backed off from that in more recent times.  The big focus now is space exploration.  California has launched multiple missions to the Moon and now there's talk of a possible Mars mission.

California's British heritage is very much reflected on its flag with the blue background and St. George's canton.  The seal hearkens back to the early days of British settlement, all under the watchful eye of Britannia herself. The tree in the canton is a California Redwood. 

Link to the original flag on my blog: https://drakoniandgriffalco.blogspot.com/2017/04/flag-of-commonwealth-of-california.html?m=1

#alternate history #flag #flags #alternate history flag #alternate history flags #vexillology #California #Commonwealth of California #Britain #great britain #united kingdom #united states #united states of america #Balkanization #Flag of the Commonwealth of California #Articles of Confederation #Balkanized America #Commonwealth #Commonwealth of Nations #british commonwealth

[thecrownnet]

The Coronation Dress

Royal Collection Trust Find out more about Her Majesty The Queen's Coronation Dress.

Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee at Windsor Castle this summer and visit our special exhibition Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation from 2 July - 26 September 2022: https://www.rct.uk/collection/themes/...

#the crown netflix #the crown #queen elizabeth ii #platinum jubilee #coronation dress #norman hartnell #platinum jubilee the queen's coronation #coronation #windsor castle #exhibition #british monarchy #brf #british royal family #coronation 1953 #british commonwealth #royal collection trust #thecrownnet

[countesspetofi]

Today's hot take:

All of us former British colonies who aren't in the Commonwealth should form our own association.

Not for political or economic purposes, but just so that the Commonwealth and whatever we call our group can get together and have friendly competitions. Volleyball, tug-o-war, pie-eating contests... I guess spelling bees are out, since we can't agree on things like "color" and "tyre." But we could have pub trivia and the old egg-and-spoon race!

#british empire #british commonwealth #post-colonialism #anglosphere #the special relationship #let's have some fun #field day

[justapotatoeater]

Queen Elizabeth ll (April 21st, 1926 - September 8th, 2022) R.I.P. 🇬🇧🕯🙏

#queen elizabeth ii #in memoriam #royal family #united kingdom #british commonwealth #wwii

[heroofshield]

Quick

Everyone declare Independence while they’re busy planning the funeral.

By the time they notice it’ll be too late.

#queen elizabeth ll #british royal family #british commonwealth

[vox-anglosphere]

Commonwealth cathedrals celebrating Christmas in the same style..

Though thousands of miles apart, the observance remains the same.

#Christ Church Cathedral #Victoria BC #Salisbury Cathedral #Wiltshire #Christmas tree #choir processional #Anglican #UK #candlelight #Christendom #Canada #British Commonwealth

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1886 – Home Rule Bill introduced in English Parliament by William Gladstone.

The Acts of Union 1800, united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland (previously in personal union) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. At various intervals during this time, attempts were made to destabilise Anglo-Irish relations. Rebellions were launched in 1803, 1848, 1867, and 1916 to try to end British rule over Ireland. Daniel O’Connell in the…

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#Anglo-Irish Treaty #Arthur Griffith #British Commonwealth #Charles Stewart Parnell #Edward Carson #England #History #History of Ireland #Home Rule #Ireland #Irish History #Isaac Butt #Prime Minister William Gladstone #Terence MacSwiney #Ulster

[queenhelenblackthorn]

This is a silly little way of learning that whoever happens to be king or queen is named the plaintiff in court cases all around the british commonwealth. Like how sometimes in the US, depending on who is prosecuting the case, the state is named the plaintiff.

#I've learned much today #british monarchy #queen elizabeth #queen elizabeth ll #uk politics #british commonwealth

[anakinsafterlife]

I find myself peculiarly devastated by the death of the queen. I haven't been any kind of "royal watcher" in many years, but this is the end of an era. I anticipate a lot of calls for governmental reform across the Commonwealth, which remains deeply anchored to the British Crown in ways both symbolic and practical. I can also see chaos on the horizon in Britain itself, as Charles is set to become king and is not terribly popular either at home or abroad.

#queen elizabeth ii #british commonwealth

[msclaritea]

I also heard Michael brought the crowd to tears, except the #BAFTA crowd are not criers. It was really sweet of Fox to try and help out his country with some feel good press, though. Canadian, remember?

#David Beckham #Thoroughly British #Michael J Fox #British Commonwealth #Canada #Now I get the whole Back To The Future thing #Science Fiction