Vice-Regal Saint: Bono Becomes Knight of the British Empire
BONO BECAME A KNIGHT OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE yesterday and was named a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire at the home of the British Ambassador to Ireland. 
Not being a citizen of the United Kingdom or a British Commonwealth country, he won't have 'Sir' before his name. Nevertheless, he acknowledged that such an official accolade would "really help me get through a few doors I wouldn't get through. And that's the truth."
In the case of Bono, by accepting such an honour does it throw into question his legitimacy as a critic and outsider examining issues others haven't the voice or opportunity to do whilst offering him another 'gimmick'? It is no doubt welcome in that it shows how the relationship between Britain and Ireland is evolving; events such as Bloody Sunday and the hunger strikes would have made Bono an object of scorn back home. But it does compromise him and puts into perspective his defence of Blair in having lives lost through the war in Iraq as "anyone can make a mistake' and declaring that, despite all evidence, Bush has "done an incredible job."
Posts
1915.jpg){kind=small}
.gif)
.gif)
15 comments:
Another great reason to get rid of the Monarchy. They can keep Bono too.
Not being a citizen of the United Kingdom or a British Commonwealth country, he won't be have 'Sir' before his name.
Are you sure it isn't the case that most Irish citizens who accept knighthoods these days merely do not call themselves 'Sir' by convention? After all, according to the Ireland Act 1949 (the act of the UK parliament recognizing Ireland's 1948 declaration of a republic), citizens of the Republic of Ireland are to have the same rights and privileges as British subjects (despite not being an official part of the Commonwealth). I believe the act even goes so far as to explicitly say that the Republic of Ireland is "not a foreign country", but I may be wrong.
There may also be additional legislation of which I am unaware.
So someone who is not a citizen of the Commonwealth can accept an honour, yet we in one of Her Majesty's realms cannot, because of the Nickel Resolution? This makes no sense...
To add:
And what doors could he not get into before? He spends more time in the halls of power of nations than he does in the recording studio...
A part of me wonders what the whole point of this post was, other than to rip on Bono, that is.
Still, the whole things brings up an interesting legal/constitutional question, as Andrew has put it (and I do agree that the Nickel Resolution was just plain silly).
I can't bear that man.
If it helps him achieve some good in this world, there shouldn't be an issue. The knighthood has already been debased by Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and Elton bloody John receiving it: Bono is infinitely preferrable to all three, though ideally none should have got it.
The 1919 Nickle Resolution is of no force or effect. It is legally a dead letter. See wikipedia for an in-depth understanding of why that is.
And yet the courts say otherwise, as we saw with Mister Black.
Actually, the court didn't say the Nickle Resolution had effect, they said the Prime Minister was within his rights to advise the Sovereign not to issue honours that come with pre-nominal titles.
Younghusband, let's give the pretentious ego remarks a rest. Anyone who accepts a knighthood runs the risk of being labelled a pompous ass, of being interested in maintaining and promoting social hierarchy...a stink of an attitude that has only achieved one thing: the destruction of any concept of honour in society.
As much as the aristorockracy is probably undeserving of such traditional honours, they at least are doing the noble thing and accepting them, as opposed to the snobbery of not accepting them. That's the irony of it all - the snobs today are the ones who think they are too good for it.
My own feeling is that Mick Jaegar was rather too much of a Satanic figure to ever deserve "Sir", but we can at least point to the rock stars and say see: if it's politically okay for them, how is it politically incorrect for us? I'm a believer that knighthoods are here to stay, and that the governments of the Crown Commonwealth will one day drop their snobbish ways.
I agree with you about the 'pretentious ego' remarks and will edit accordingly but I was referring to someone who portrays himself as a social critic and glamorous rock star and not to describe people in general who accept such honours provided they are to honour and not to provide a 'gimick'.
As for the relevance of the post, what can I say? I woke up, saw the article (the fact it was the lead for many news agencies shows the influence of the knighthood today) and quickly posted it before hastening to work. As one of many sharig this forum, I'll provide myself more time for sober reflection next time.
I thought the post was fine as it was. It's not wrong to provoke disagreement and debate; being anodyne is more grievous.
I was much more thankful for the post than disappointed by it. But let us always feel free to criticize.
Bono...another Paddy selling out to the British oppressor. And another shill for the Satan-inspired New World Order.
He should be ashamed. But I bet he won't.
God forgive him, and give me grace to forgive him too.
Post a Comment