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Tim Berners-Lee Attains Knighthood
sandalwood writes "Tim Berners-Lee has been promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for coming up with that 'intarweb' thing we all use. Characteristically modest, he said that he was an ordinary person who created something that 'just happened to work out.' He will join luminaries like Isaac Newton, Francis Drake, and... Mick Jagger."
Yes, no one is questioning how good is accomplishments are.
Let's put it this way... if I declared him "High Angel of Intellectual Perfection" or some other title (hey I'm being creative) do you think he would care about such an honor from me-- a nobody? Do you think he would take that honor from the chinese, or perhaps Sadam Hussein?
The Queen should not have any authority. She doesn't deserve it.
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Never criticize religion on Slashdot. You will be modded down for "Troll" no matter how factual it is.
A UK mate of mine says that once knighted, the press are required to respect and use the title.
This is a boring sig
I think the French and Russians had the right idea about what to do with Monarchs.
Avoid Missing Ball for High Score
Well, since your flamebait is modded insightfull I think I'll flame back and see if the moderaters get it right this time.
Politically, the British monarchy doesn't do much of anything. It is mostly a cultural thing. The monarchy is a cherished institution of Great Britain.
The United Kingdom is a Constitutional Monarchy. It is very much a political thing. Despite the Crown's very limited role in politics they are by defination involved as the Head of State (not Head of Government).
It represents the history and culture of a great country. It has endured for hundreds of years as one of the most stable governments in the West.
The "most stable" is a matter of opinion but I'll let that stand.
The British monarchy has one of the oldest democratic traditions in the world, and Britain gave birth to the philosophers from which our founding fathers derived their inspiration.
Have you ever heard of the Roman Republic? England wasn't a member of that. They were occupied later during the Empire. And yes, Locke and Hobbes provided many ideas for the American Government. But so did Plato, Aristotle and numerous philosophers in France during the Enlightenment. England does not have a monopoly on those ideas and at the time, did not practice them.
Getting rid of the British monarchy would be like getting rid of the monuments of Greece, because they take up space that could be put to better use.
If I recall correctly you still have a good deal of the Parthenon in the British Museum and the Greek have been asking for those pieces back for years.
If you're going to be on a high horse, make sure the horse is on solid ground. And this is flamebait but I feel better saying it.
I don't know if any americans have realised this yet, but a Knighthood in England is basically a "Presidential Medal of Freedom", UK style.
.au and we wanted to become a republic once. It failed miserably because people didn't like the model the Government came up with.
AFAIC, TBL deserves it more than anyone. And if he accepts it, it's his choice.
As for the monarchy, I'm from
The only defference between the Queen and the President is she was born into it, whereas he had to BUY his way into it (not without some help from daddy).