To think this is chilling?

[Gorgeouslilgirl]

Students in an Oxford college did what students do - questioned the status quo and decided to replace a picture that is political, ie a head of state. A measured and inclusive message accompanied this.

And the education secretary has waded in to criticise a student body for actions within their own space? And DM is publishing the student’s photo and family home and much his dad earns! Wtf?!

It reminds me of the Middle East or North Korea or perhaps Thailand where people have a photo of their beloved unelected leader as a sign of patriotism or else they are viewed unfavourably.

I mean, really?!!!

And it is a national issue if this sort of nonsense is invading our universities. Many people feel 'unsafe' about that

^This, with bells on

What kind of ‘nonsense’?

Taking pictures down that other people put up?

The stupidity on this thread would blow your mind.

I'm actually slightly baffled by why Oxford students (students!) decided to put a picture of the Queen up in the first place.

Me too

I'm actually slightly baffled by why Oxford students (students!) decided to put a picture of the Queen up in the first place.

Fuck knows but maybe it was one of those meetings when most of the usual people are away and a group of right wing students decide to push something through to own the libs. Either that or they were being ironic - more likely with the JCR, but you never know. The chances that large numbers of grad students were massive royalists in 2013 is remote, I'd have thought.

Oh come on, it's not "chilling" or a sign of despotism. It's just the usual reactive crap from the Daily Hate. Getting our knickers in a twist about it only legitimises their BS.

@TheKeatingFive

I'm actually slightly baffled by why Oxford students (students!) decided to put a picture of the Queen up in the first place.

Me too

It’s an MCR, so graduate students, not undergraduates — when I was a member of another college’s GCR, there were quite a few people (British and from overseas, especially Americans, and especially those who hadn’t got an undergraduate place and were now Doing Their Oxford Thing) who were living out their tweedy Brideshead fantasies and were all for being terribly, terribly traditional. Formal hall every night, wearing gowns far more than necessary, croquet, punting with a gramophone etc etc. It’s perfectly possible the portrait was originally bought and hung under some such impulse.

Good point about the Brideshead cosplayers Frog, had forgotten about them - and you're right, they're normally Americans.

who were living out their tweedy Brideshead fantasies and were all for being terribly, terribly traditional.

Makes sense 😆

I'm actually slightly baffled by why Oxford students (students!) decided to put a picture of the Queen up in the first place.

If it was in 2013, I'd assume it was because it was "fashionable"

If my memory serves, in 2012 we had London Olympics and Jubilee 2012.

Home and interior designer collections became covered in all things British.
We had Union Jack cushions, toilet seats, toilet roll

If I also remember correctly, the Royal souvenirs became a "must have".
Tea towels, mugs, posters, etc

If a government has little to offer its people, no meaningful improvements in life chances etc, increasingly, it seems, it resorts to this culture war bollocks to drum up support

I see a government who are just reacting to relentless attacks on our culture and national symbols. Remember secondary school students burning flags in Pimlico, a teacher replacing portraits of national heroes with Greta's picture at a school? These are just recent examples -and let's not go into the statue toppling incidents, etc. The government are not the ones instigating this 'culture war'

I see a government who are just reacting to relentless attacks on our culture and national symbol

This is utter batshit

@mustlovegin

If a government has little to offer its people, no meaningful improvements in life chances etc, increasingly, it seems, it resorts to this culture war bollocks to drum up support

I see a government who are just reacting to relentless attacks on our culture and national symbols. Remember secondary school students burning flags in Pimlico, a teacher replacing portraits of national heroes with Greta's picture at a school? These are just recent examples -and let's not go into the statue toppling incidents, etc. The government are not the ones instigating this 'culture war'

You have no idea what a relentless attack on your culture and national symbols looks like. Try being in one of the colonised countries where the UK tried to eradicate local language, local culture, local religion, where they removed everything of value that they could lay their hands on, appropriated and exploited anything that couldn't be removed, and where they committed genocide on the local population.

That's a relentless attack on culture and national symbols.

Which country was it ?

As a former elected student President of College (the other light blue better university!) I would have never allowed this to be permitted under my watch! Politics is a minefield and best avoided apart from robust debates in the Union! However I am not surprised giving the changing tastes and views of the students these days. It’s fair game as long as the next generation of Oxbridge leaders don’t end up as snowflakes but show justifiable and majority agreed convictions. It’s called democracy but important to note that current and future judgements should be applied to current evolving environment and not retrospective back to very different historical colonial mindset when the governing legal framework did not include equality laws. Incidentally I used to love the May Balls and May Day traditions at Magdalen Oxford where family members attended.

You have no idea what a relentless attack on your culture and national symbols looks like. Try being in one of the colonised countries where the UK tried to eradicate local language, local culture, local religion, where they removed everything of value that they could lay their hands on, appropriated and exploited anything that couldn't be removed, and where they committed genocide on the local population.

That's a relentless attack on culture and national symbols.

Yes, very well said.

I would have never allowed this to be permitted under my watch

You would have overruled a student vote? 🙄

It seems BJ has waded in... and no, its not to calm waters or defend freedoms

Ah, I see. Stalled brexit talks. Got to give something to the plebs to froth about, so they don’t turn on him

@Clarkeny

Which country was it ?

Was that question to me, meaning which colonised country was I referring to?

If so, any of them.

It’s fair game as long as the next generation of Oxbridge leaders don’t end up as snowflakes

Not sure what to say here, really...

You have no idea what a relentless attack on your culture and national symbols looks like. Try being in one of the colonised countries where the UK tried to eradicate local language, local culture, local religion, where they removed everything of value that they could lay their hands on, appropriated and exploited anything that couldn't be removed, and where they committed genocide on the local population.

That's a relentless attack on culture and national symbols.

Excellently put. "You've pulled down our photo - waaah, our culture!" Talk about being spoilt and throwing tantrums. Some people really have no clue.

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia

As a former elected student President of College (the other light blue better university!) I would have never allowed this to be permitted under my watch! Politics is a minefield and best avoided apart from robust debates in the Union! However I am not surprised giving the changing tastes and views of the students these days. It’s fair game as long as the next generation of Oxbridge leaders don’t end up as snowflakes but show justifiable and majority agreed convictions. It’s called democracy but important to note that current and future judgements should be applied to current evolving environment and not retrospective back to very different historical colonial mindset when the governing legal framework did not include equality laws. Incidentally I used to love the May Balls and May Day traditions at Magdalen Oxford where family members attended.

Would you have allowed it to be put up in 2013? If so, why and what's the difference between voting to put it up and voting to take it down?

The whole media frenzy is utterly ridiculous. The print was only put up in 2013, in all probability as part of some drunken whim. It's hardly a formal portrait in a gold frame that's been hanging in a place of honour for centuries - it was a poster in what is really the equivalent of a bar.

@Clarkeny

Which country was it ?

Countries

@ TheKeatingFive

No I would have used the power of advocacy and persuasion. Historically I suspect this would not be a viable option open to challenge in any case back in the day. There is always more than two sides to every story and I am not knowledgeable as to the background context as to why Magdalen acquiesced to this? This may be a symbolic toppling that can potentially trigger a slippery slope of change and recognition of a fuller interpretation of history based on all (including silenced) and not just the views of those in charge. Interesting times!