Steve Jobs' Knighthood Nomination Blocked by Gordon Brown?

[whooleytoo]

So....what does Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire get you? Half off bangers & mash in pubs across Britain?

Seriously, it's a made-up, non-sense title. It may be an honor for the country it originates in, but the rest of the world stifles a yawn in response. Get over yourselves.

Just like every other honour, then.

 

[Adidas Addict]

So....what does Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire get you? Half off bangers & mash in pubs across Britain?

Seriously, it's a made-up, non-sense title. It may be an honor for the country it originates in, but the rest of the world stifles a yawn in response. Get over yourselves.

Jeez, inferiority complex much?

 

[George Knighton]

Seems a very petty reason for blocking him. Which also makes you question how merited other such honours are.

He was up for an MBE or KBE. These awards are political and within the gift of the government of the day, whether Liberal, Tory or Labour. That there was a Labour government in power the polices of which Jobs criticised, was going to get him vetoed by the Cabinet even if he made it past the vetting committee.

There are higher orders of honour, like the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. This order is given to career soldier and career diplomats, and The Queen exercises more influence over these.

There is a particular Order of Knighthood, the Royal Victorian Order, which is in the personal gift of The Sovereign and over which the government have no influence. Needless to say, people who attain one of the ranks of the Victorian Order cherish these very highly.

As a citizen of the United States, he would not be able to use the "Sir" before his Christian name, but he would be able to use the appropriate postnomial after his name. So he would be Steven Jobs, MBE (or whatever).

 

[George Knighton]

This is, without doubt, the most amazingly deranged comment I have read on the internet in the past year. Unless you are somehow sending your posts from 1983 I suggest you read up on "new labour". Of all the things you could complain about "nationalisation" is none of them.

You'll have to excuse him. Harold Wilson left an indelible mark on the British psyche.

In those days, Labour was so far to the left that they were virtually Communist.

 

[George Knighton]

Well said. As an American, I do not believe American citizens should accept titles of nobility, especially from foreign governments.

A knighthood [sic] is not a title, and it does not elevate someone to the peerage.

Many, many Americans have orders of knighthood, including some of your best known statesmen and generals.

I cannot imagine why this has rubbed some of you the wrong way.

 

[Glideslope]

Gordon Brown was always a snivelling wanker.

Totally Bonkers Old Boy!!

 

[Denarius]

Are you telling me you've never heard anybody say (and believe) something similar to that? Really?
You may accept the nobility's right to hereditary power and privilege, but I do not. And yes, they are called that, that is the word used to describe them, I'm not sure who you were quoting there, even though you used quote marks.

Actually, I'd say there's a damned sight more merit to hereditary power than democracy. Democracy guarantees you will be ruled by a self-serving cretin. Hereditary at least offers the random chance of a decent person having responsibility...

 

[Denarius]

You'll have to excuse him. Harold Wilson left an indelible mark on the British psyche.

In those days, Labour was so far to the left that they were virtually Communist.

Wilson? Attlee was the biggest criminal of the bunch. Bloody waster.

 

[George Knighton]

Point in case on tonights news again the report that more then 1000 service people are being fired from the Air Force, also the scrapping of 2 Tornado squadron's, this on top on the grounding of the entire Harrier fleet, the scrapping on the Ark Royal and the scraping of the Nimrod... this is all FAR too big a cost just for some deficit.

This is complicated.

The Bush Era taught the UK that it could not necessarily any longer naturally believe that the interests and goals of the United States would always coincide with the interests and goals of the United Kingdom.

The Bush Era served to push the United Kingdom further into Europe.

In consequence of this, you are allowed to retire the Ark Royal and the Illustrious, and the entire Harrier fleet because your new treaty with Europe (and France in particular) allows Royal Navy Eurofighter/Typhoons and Jaguars to use European aircraft carriers, notably the Charles de Gaulle, which will be under British control in British waters.

The Harrier, let's face it, is seriously outdated. And our pocket carriers simply do not have the room for the Eurofighter, much less the upcoming F35.

That the UK were pushed farther into Europe allowed for this compromise.

At least the two new super carriers of the Elizabeth class are still underway. You're simply going to be able to save the expense of maintaining the old, ageing Harrier fleet and you can put that money into more Typhoons and F35's.

Personally, if you'd left it up to me, I'd have preferred to keep two of the three pocket carriers going...provided we could find the money.

But the money was hard to find, Europe was there, and I don't see it as any kind of terminal tragedy that you (or we) are going two years while the Elizabeth class is completed.

 

[whooleytoo]

He was up for an MBE or KBE. These awards are political and within the gift of the government of the day, whether Liberal, Tory or Labour. That there was a Labour government in power the polices of which Jobs criticised, was going to get him vetoed by the Cabinet even if he made it past the vetting committee.

There are higher orders of honour, like the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. This order is given to career soldier and career diplomats, and The Queen exercises more influence over these.

There is a particular Order of Knighthood, the Royal Victorian Order, which is in the personal gift of The Sovereign and over which the government have no influence. Needless to say, people who attain one of the ranks of the Victorian Order cherish these very highly.

As a citizen of the United States, he would not be able to use the "Sir" before his Christian name, but he would be able to use the appropriate postnomial after his name. So he would be Steven Jobs, MBE (or whatever).

Interesting, thanks!

p.s. great name, for this topic!

 

[George Knighton]

Actually, I'd say there's a damned sight more merit to hereditary power than democracy. Democracy guarantees you will be ruled by a self-serving cretin. Hereditary at least offers the random chance of a decent person having responsibility...

The main point of continuing a more or less democratic monarchy into the twenty-first century is because we know that The Queen is not the most brilliant or most capable person in the world.

But she also knows this, and we can nevertheless rely on one perfectly normal woman, with one average person's common sense and intelligence, on behalf of the entire corporate body of the people, bringing the entire apparatus of government to a standstill when absolutely required.

When the Commissioners stand in front of that table and and read the packet of bills, they wait for The Queen to say, "Approved." Everybody is standing because it is supposed to be more or less automatic, and it's only supposed to take a few seconds.

Yet there is still no way around La Reine s'avisera! if it is ever uttered. That's it. Period. End of report.

It is a guarantee that the government cannot ever get but so out of hand.

Everybody talks as if this hasn't happened recently, but no less a leader than Tony Blair asked for The Queen to refuse to allow the second reading of an act that would have taken away his government's right to move troops around without Parliamentary approval. It was a constitutional issue because it compromised the position of The Queen as Commander in Chief, and he asked her to intervene.

 

[Denarius]

The main point of continuing a more or less democratic monarchy into the twenty-first century is because we know that The Queen is not the most brilliant or most capable person in the world.

But she also knows this, and we can nevertheless rely on one perfectly normal woman, with one average person's common sense and intelligence, on behalf of the entire corporate body of the people, bringing the entire apparatus of government to a standstill when absolutely required.

When the Commissioners stand in front of that table and and read the packet of bills, they wait for The Queen to say, "Approved." Everybody is standing because it is supposed to be more or less automatic, and it's only supposed to take a few seconds.

Yet there is still no way around La Reine s'avisera! if it is ever uttered. That's it. Period. End of report.

It is a guarantee that the government cannot ever get but so out of hand.

Everybody talks as if this hasn't happened recently, but no less a leader than Tony Blair asked for The Queen to refuse to allow the second reading of an act that would have taken away his government's right to move troops around without Parliamentary approval. It was a constitutional issue because it compromised the position of The Queen as Commander in Chief, and he asked her to intervene.

Nicely written and long may it stay that way. All politicians are frustrated dictators when push comes to shove.

 

[George Knighton]

It's not just the British who wonder what to do with the Monarchy.

This thread reminded me of this two year old clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi1yhp-_x7A

 

[ksgant]

Just like every other honour, then.

Yes, pretty much. An "honorary degree"...and "honorary oscar"...and "honorary ____(fill in the blank)".

Achievements such as what Mr. Jobs has done speak for themselves. As I say, Steve probably isn't losing too much sleep over this.

But please, don't let me stand in the way of all the indignation about this.

 

[ct2k7]

Yes, pretty much. An "honorary degree"...and "honorary oscar"...and "honorary ____(fill in the blank)".

Achievements such as what Mr. Jobs has done speak for themselves. As I say, Steve probably isn't losing too much sleep over this.

But please, don't let me stand in the way of all the indignation about this.

Inferior complexity much?

 

[whooleytoo]

Yes, pretty much. An "honorary degree"...and "honorary oscar"...and "honorary ____(fill in the blank)".

Achievements such as what Mr. Jobs has done speak for themselves. As I say, Steve probably isn't losing too much sleep over this.

But please, don't let me stand in the way of all the indignation about this.

I don't know, I think Jobs might get a chuckle out of the whole thing. Not everyone has a head of state going out of their way to shun them.. I guess being a billionaire might not buy you everything, but it does get you a better class of 'enemy'!

 

[AidenShaw]

This is the most amusing topic I've seen on MacRumours in ages.

"Sir Steve" - ROTFLMAO.

And the fans and anti-fans - even more LOL.

Keep going, girls - you're hysterical.

 

[CFreymarc]

Seems a very petty reason for blocking him. Which also makes you question how merited other such honours are.

Knighthoods in the British Empire of the 21st century is not what it used to be. You can't even get a weapons permit from it! In short, a Knighting is a political feather on one's cap and you get to jump the line for a lot of government requests and into the back rooms of the better pubs in Soho. These days, titles are for legacy royals, civil servants and the occasional "subject" that has massive personal or professional achievement.

One thing the article forgot to mention is that for any American citizen to legally hold a foreign royal title that is not inherited requires an Act of Congress and approval of the Embassy for that country. The country awarding the title should be on the Most Favored Countries list. Thus, most European titles are almost an immediate fata compli.

However, titles from Middle Eastern countries and Asian countries are a big no-no for American Citizens without State Department guidance. There have been no federal prosecutions of illegal titles for decades but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

 

[applebook]

He'll always be SIR Steve Jobs in my book anyway.

 

[leveller]

I fired off my email recommending Jobs. Hell, why not. I admire people who advance tech, and he has more so than most in the past couple of years. Although of course if he were to ever receive the honour then it would be on behalf of his company and staff as well.

Thanks for iPods, iPads, iMacs, Lion OS, iOS, and I'm looking forward to what they can give us over the next couple of years.

p.s. make AppleTV do something sexy and then I can thank them for that too.

 

[SimonMW]

Well Prescott spoke up about the lies leading to the iraq war that killed so many for no good reason.

Not at the time it was happening he didn't!!

 

[George Knighton]

I don't know, I think Jobs might get a chuckle out of the whole thing. Not everyone has a head of state going out of their way to shun them....

It never got to the Head of the Commonwealth. It stopped at #10. The Queen probably never even knew about it.

Either you do not know how an honours list works, or you do not know that the Prime Minister is not the head of state.

 

[George Knighton]

Thus, most European titles are almost an immediate fata compli. [sic]

What European nation awards titles to US citizens?

 

[macadam212]

In theory, yes, in practice, probably not.

The queen doesn't really have any power now, I mean technically she does but if she ever tried to use those powers there would be chaos.

I mean the things like when the new PM goes and asks her permission to lead the country is just more for tradition than anything.

I wouldn't under estimate the Queen and her role in the UK and the world. She may not be a politician, but she knows how to play politics and has huge influence both here in the UK and around the world. She is a great ambassador for our country and probably one of the most experienced in the world. The Queen is Head of the Commonwealth which is an incredibly important alliance between nations that share common values such as: democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace.

For more about the Queen's role in the UK see below...

When the Commissioners stand in front of that table and and read the packet of bills, they wait for The Queen to say, "Approved." Everybody is standing because it is supposed to be more or less automatic, and it's only supposed to take a few seconds.

Yet there is still no way around La Reine s'avisera! if it is ever uttered. That's it. Period. End of report.

It is a guarantee that the government cannot ever get but so out of hand.

Everybody talks as if this hasn't happened recently, but no less a leader than Tony Blair asked for The Queen to refuse to allow the second reading of an act that would have taken away his government's right to move troops around without Parliamentary approval. It was a constitutional issue because it compromised the position of The Queen as Commander in Chief, and he asked her to intervene.

 

[Delta-NC]

http://republic.org.uk/