To send back that Jubilee book?

[YahBooFucks]

My DS came back with the Jubilee book this week. I didn't know anything about it (the Jubilee wasn't something that I was remotely bothered by) but apparently every family with a primary aged child is getting one. I'm massively annoyed by this book... It strikes me as an enormous waste of money, especially at a time when so many people/organisations/schools etc are struggling. I also hate having patriotism shoved down my (and my kids') throat. But it's mainly the money...

WIBU to send the book back (haven't figured out to whom yet. I'm guessing not the queen) with a note saying 'no, thank you'?

Put that royalist propaganda where it belongs… in the recycling

You seriously think that what's wrong with this country is that people aren't patriotic enough?? 😂😂😂

Do enlighten us - in what way would matters improve if more people were bowing and scraping to an overprivileged family who have nothing to do with how the country is actually run? 🤔

I know you were asking someone else, but I'm going to give my two penn'orth anyway.

IMO we 'plebs' are encouraged to be patriotic to foster a false sense of this country's greatness. A sense of 'Isn't it lovely to be British, and really who cares that there are people starving on our streets when we've got Her Maj? Britain is great - it must be, because it has a monarchy. We should all be proud to be British, bow and scrape and wave our little flags, and stop expecting ludicrous extravagances like having enough to live on. Who do we think we are, royalty?'

(See also: 'bread and circuses')

Plus, imo, the line between patriotism and jingoism/outright racism is perilously narrow.

Mmm. I think you can be patriotic without bowing and scraping etc, at least I can. There are many worst places to be and other nations are (rightly) incredibly passionately patriotic without criticism. I will carry on being patriotic, I don't think Britain is perfect and if I ever feel it's as bad as some people make out I would make plans to leave.

My DD in year 3 loved hers and has read hers from cover to cover.

feistyoneyouare

I don't think it's right to conflate being patriotic with being a staunch royalist. They are 2 separate things. You can be patriotic and a royalist or just patriotic. I think it's really worrying that so many people (tend to be on the left) find it impossible to take pride in their country. Yes, I know that left-wingers are by definition dissatisfied with the state of the country - but patriotism is about culture and history, and there's a scary revisionism which is making the UK to be morally on a par with Nazi Germany or Stalin's Soviet Union. I can only think that this is coming from people with little knowledge of history - and if they don't know anything about history, then really they haven't much right to condemn.

Slavery - appalling. But hello- Britain was not the only country involved in slavery, and it still goes on today because we allow it to (eg those using recreational drugs are participating, and turning a blind eye in the same way that sugar and tea consumers did in the 18th/19th centuries, but they can't see the irony).

And when I go to Europe (which I love) you can't move for flags all over the shop. European countries aren't shy of being openly patriotic, but heaven help anyone in the UK who waves a flag.

You can be patriotic (and should be, I think, if you have chosen to live here) whatever your political views.

And….What?
do you not get it?

Agree.

Who are the 28% that think OP is reasonable. Honestly, get a grip.

Do I not get what?

Your point that this book was given out whether you wanted it or not - it’s a fucking book. Don’t read it, don’t even keep it if you don’t want to, couldn’t give even half of a shit - but it’s a BOOK. You’ve phrased this like someone has assaulted you by giving you a gift you didn’t want.

I don't think anyone will care if you send it back or not ,I think I got a coin and a silver jubilees mug in 1977,and there is definitely a Charles and Diana mug in my mum and Dad's kitchen cupboard .

I’ve just bought one on eBay. Our grandchildren are too young to get one.

I don't like having a book in my home which includes the paedo prince 🤢 and as someone previously said I didn't like that the illustrators weren't mentioned because the artwork is beautiful.

But I'll pop them in the attic or something and let the kids keep them if they want when older.

@CulturePigeon Yes, you said it much better than I did.

How is a book for children a waste of money?

It isn’t. It’s just an excuse for republicans to have a rant.

Who is going to care what you think?
Bigger issues in the country to get worked up about.
Also you werent the recipiant, you kid was.

I don't think it's right to conflate being patriotic with being a staunch royalist. They are 2 separate things. You can be patriotic and a royalist or just patriotic. I think it's really worrying that so many people (tend to be on the left) find it impossible to take pride in their country. Yes, I know that left-wingers are by definition dissatisfied with the state of the country - but patriotism is about culture and history, and there's a scary revisionism which is making the UK to be morally on a par with Nazi Germany or Stalin's Soviet Union.

Fair point re conflating patriotism with royalism @CulturePigeon - the two so often seem to go hand in hand that it's easy to end up thinking of them as one and the same (although I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at re the revisionism - I may have missed something there, it's so hot atm that my brain's partially melted 😄.)

I'm actually indifferent neutral re the monarchy per se, it's the use of the monarchy as (imo) a tool to distract people from the state of things that gets me riled. There are plenty of good things about Britain, but the shower of hypocrites running it atm are a disgrace and their behaviour has really tarnished the way I feel about being British tbh. Quite simply there's so much wrong with how those at the bottom of the heap are treated atm that I'd find it hard to describe myself as patriotic at this point in time, because to me that would be a statement that I think things are mostly fine and dandy when they're really not.

@ChiefWiggumsBoy
Your point that this book was given out whether you wanted it or not - it’s a fucking book. Don’t read it, don’t even keep it if you don’t want to, couldn’t give even half of a shit - but it’s a BOOK. You’ve phrased this like someone has assaulted you by giving you a gift you didn’t want.

It's NOT a gift. My bloody taxes paid for it.

So did mine and I didn’t get one. Consider it my present to your child.

feistyoneyouare

It's complicated and I can only be very 'broad-brush' here, so apologies, but by revisionist I mean...sure, the Ladybird Book view of history is clearly not one we would be satisfied with as well-informed adults, but I think we can go too far in being negative...even nihilistic about our history and I think that's not only wrong but very harmful to us all.

I think some people have taken it to such an extreme that they view (and will teach children that) the history of the UK as one long catalogue of shame. If it is, then I would say - that could apply to pretty much any nation. The big issue currently is slavery, and the issue I take with that is that I was taught about the slave trade long ago as a child in the 60s/70s, both at primary and secondary school, as well as watching TV programmes about it, and never at any point was it portrayed as anything other than horrific and morally wrong. I don't think it was ever hidden or covered up - at least not in my educational experience. But, mysteriously to me, some people seem to have only jut heard about it and it now dominates all discussion about British history.

In fact, slavery is common to pretty much all dominant cultures throughout history (Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, pre-Columbian America, all the major European powers in the age of empires, the States). Some might argue that it still goes on in places like Dubai!!! Certainly it was practised in Africa even without the intervention of Europeans. It's horrible, but the British didn't invent it!

While acknowledging its horror (as, incidentally Prince Charles advocates - eg teaching it as the Holocaust is taught), I think it's important to teach children about the positive aspects of their countries history too. I just don't understand the relish some people have to rubbish everything about their homeland - so strange! There is so, so much to celebrate, in fact.

countries history

country's history!!! Sorry for this and other typos...

I agree. It seems to almost a badge of honour amongst some on the left to proclaim how awful the UK is and that anyone being patriotic in the sense you are using it is some sort of mad, extreme right winger.

Oddly it seems to be acceptable by these people to be patriotic about Scotland.

Some might argue that it still goes on in places like Dubai!!! Certainly it was practised in Africa even without the intervention of Europeans

There are plenty of countries where slavery and child labour is alive and kicking.

It's not your book to send back! It is for your child. You may not care, but in years to come they might.