Hello Macky,
I have tried many starts but I have to stop myself writing an essay
The part of your sig that says “You are born free, you should live free and die free” is not a problem for me. The part that says “_______ all political elites” does not worry me although most sigs are intended to be funny, baffling or uncontroversial.
You believe I am deceiving myself over the monarchy I feel you are deceiving yourself over it not being connected to your nationality. The wounds (many of them recent) of what you rightly call our “troubled” history and I would add “complex” history run deep – the Irish republic is perhaps the only country where a visit from the Queen is seen as controversial. For the Irish being a republic is as fundamental to its identity as being a monarchy is to me as English (I will not presume to speak for other nationalities within the UK). It is difficult to imagine an Italian or a German feeling so strongly about the British Head of State. I believe that even if unintentional the attack is an attack on the English.
It is clear that my perception of the monarchy is totally different from yours though just as deeply felt,
Rightly or wrongly people in the UK do not feel less free than those in republics such as Germany or Italy. As for equality one of my proudest boasts is that I would be pleased to see again anyone I worked with whatever their position in “line management” and I believe they would be pleased to see me. In my experience the least equal country is republican Austria. Suffice to say I can reconcile my belief in freedom and equality with being a monarchist though I am aware this would not convince a committed republican.
There are many people for whom the monarchy is a fundamental part of their identity. I am an atheist but for me to have a sig which said ******* Jesus would be to attack people on a forum that was primarily about football and not about atheism. A gay person would be hurt by a homophobic sig although certain Christians might believe the comment was correct. In the same way a sig against Mohammed would be out of place in a forum which bring s together Leicester fans.
How would you feel if someone had a sig that expressed a hatred of the Irish. Although you may find it difficult to understand an attack on the monarchy is an attack on part of my identity.