The next few weeks are going to be hard for me. Yes, I have University exams, and they’re bad enough, and no, I don’t cope well with hot weather, but there’s something much worse bothering me. Can you guess what it is?

Jubilee fever.

As a Welsh nationalist and a republican, my blood is quietly boiling below the surface at the moment. I say ‘quietly’, but in actual fact, I’m frothing at the mouth. Time and again, I have had to justify my views on the monarchy to people who simply can’t understand why I don’t want to celebrate Mrs Windsor’s wonderful 60 years as queen of the United Kingdom.

‘What about all the wonderful work she’s done for our country?’ they ask. My poor mind does somersaults when faced with such a ridiculous question. What work would that be? The endless shaking of hands, holding lunches for Swazi and Bahraini tyrants, and opening of buildings? Yes, such hard work. Never mind the commendable work that teachers and nurses, factory workers and bus drivers, owners of small businesses and community activists do all across Wales and throughout the UK. No, never mind them. Poor Elizabeth works hard.

Times are tough, friends. So much so that the national newspaper of Wales recently had the nerve to suggest that we simply cannot afford to have a fully bilingual national legislature here in Wales, although Welsh is an official language of Wales, and indeed an official language of the National Assembly. We simply can’t afford such luxuries, they said. Of course we can, however, spend £15 billion on the Olympics (the benefit of which Wales will see, I add, will be minimal) and over £1 billion on Jubilee celebrations.

‘Ah ha,’ royalists are quick to shout, ‘we’d be spending this money on an elected Head of State even if we did get rid of the monarchy!’ I don’t deny that for one minute. Surely, though, in a democracy, if we’re spending quite that much money on a Head of State, the person occupying that office should be accountable to the people? What happens if Mrs Windsor falls out of public favour? What can we do about it? Diddly squat. We are but subjects.

Then, of course, there’s the argument that there’s so much history attached to the monarchy – we would be massacring our heritage if we got rid. It’s not my history, not by a long shot. My history is that of The Lord Rhys and his court at Dinefwr, and of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and the incredible skill and power he showed in managing to unify the Welsh kingdoms in the thirteenth century, and of Owain Glyndŵr who raised an army against the English invaders and held the first ever Welsh parliament (or Assembly) at Machynlleth in 1404.

I don’t feel that my history is that of the son of a Welshman, Henry VIII, deciding, through his own ego, to incorporate Wales into England. Nor do I feel that my history is that of the eldest sons of English monarchs since Edward II back in 1301 being given the title of Prince of Wales.

As for the current prince, Charles is but a mouse when placed next to Rhys, Llywelyn, and Owain. Charles has no place meddling in politics, lobbying and putting pressure on the government, simply because of his own views. As a republican however, it was recently argued that I should rather look forward to Charles becoming king, and I can see why.

I know what you’re thinking: ‘what a party-pooper.’ Not so. I’m a student, remember, so I know at least as well as the rest of you how to have a good time. I just can’t bring myself to rejoice in being reigned over by a multi-billionaire simply because of her bloodline, and archaic English (or arguably, German) tradition. I cannot for the life of me understand why any self-respecting citizen of any country would want to allow the office of Head of State to pass from generation to generation within the same bizarre, inbred family without even having a say in the matter.

I mean no harm to Elizabeth Windsor, or her family. I’m sure they’re quite lovely people – they seem it. I have no doubt that she is gracious, elegant, professional, and has stamina by the bucket-load. (Mind you, I’ve never met her, so I wouldn’t know.) What gets me about her, what really irritates me, is that she is at the top of a hierarchical, unelected, undemocratic hotchpotch of inherited privilege, while the rest of us subjects flounder below her, ready to drop to our knees at the very sight of her perfectly-pressed white gloves, two-inch heels, or even the tip of one of her impressive, if slightly ostentatious, hats.

I think I’ve said my piece for now, and I’d rather stop before I get going on her husband. I don’t think my blood pressure can handle it.

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then this blog is for you – just for you.

It’s not going to be an easy few days for those of us who – unlike you – don’t like hereditary privilege.

Last year was pretty bad for us republicans as well.

The seemingly endless build-up to the Royal nuptials, followed by the tedious spectacle itself, followed by the astonishing sickly honeymoon love-in between Kate, William and the British media. There are three of them in that marriage (I’m looking at you The BBC).

So as the Jubilee weekend, with all its pomp, circumstance and street parties edges nearer I thought it might be useful to offer a bit of guidance for those of you who don’t understand why your republican friends won’t be joining in with the celebrations.

Firstly: We Are Not Miserable (or Amused).

Yes, I know it’s hard to believe, but being a republican doesn’t mean you’re perpetually grumpy. We can and do enjoy things.

We just don’t like hereditary privilege.

We’re not spoil sports (I hope you enjoy the Jubilee weekend – honest) – we just don’t like hereditary privilege.

We don’t want to ruin it for you. We’re normal, like other people. I promise.

We just don’t like hereditary privilege.

So. When you encounter a republican friend, please don’t tell him/her that they’re being miserable.

They’re not.

They just don’t like hereditary privilege.

Secondly: About the Tourism.

We know all about the tourism money. The debate about how good the monarchy is for the tourist economy is complicated. There are arguments for and against.

If you want to read about how much the monarchy costs the taxpayer (and why it isn’t value for money) the nice people at Republic can help.

However it’s not about the money.

No matter how many tatty plastic replicas of Buckingham Palace the Royals shift it’s unlikely to make your republican friend change their view.

Because they probably don’t like hereditary privilege, you see?

The money brought in by the Queen through tourism doesn’t really have much bearing on matters if you’re against hereditary privilege.

Which we are.

Thirdly: The Royals Do Good Work.

I know they do. I see them on the BBC all the time.

They are generally seen opening something, or being the patron of something – being shown around something or somewhere or other – shaking hands and making inane comments (unless they’re Prince Philip in which case it’s bound to be something rude he’s saying).

Yes, they do good work.

But we don’t like hereditary privilege despite the good work those who benefit from it might do.

Their good work is fine – it’s good I’m sure – but it doesn’t negate the fact the Royals are the product of an outdated system of hereditary privilege.

Which incidentally republicans are against.

Fourthly: The Queen Is A Lovely Woman.

She does seem to be.

But not really knowing her I couldn’t comment.

David Icke thinks that the Queen is a six-foot-tall lizard (I’m not sure about that).

What I am sure about is that she represents an unfair, unequal and anachronistic system of hereditary privilege.

It doesn’t matter if she’s nice or not.

If it was my mum (who is nice) I’d still want her abolished (and me for that matter).

Fifthly: Why don’t you just lighten up and join in you miserable so-and-so?

Sorry, but republicans are likely to be busy over the Jubilee weekend.

Protesting, organizing alternatives to the royalist street parties, enjoying the sun if we have any. Drinking.

You can find details of some of the events taking place over the Jubilee weekend via those nice people at Republic again.

Your republican friend won’t be joining in with your royalist celebrations because they’re against hereditary privilege you see?

It would make them hypocrites wouldn’t it?

So. Hang up your bunting if you like. And have a great time.

But have a little think about that hereditary privilege thing whilst you’re doing so.

And have a little think about whether it’s something we should be celebrating at all.

It’s time. (by getupaustralia)

Homecoming. (by mikebuonaiuto)

Caeau Pontcanna yn yr haul

Yes Scotland - the Campaign for an Independent Scotland (by YesScotland)

ofmiceandtransmen asked: Martin Shipton is an idiot. I've read so many things from him that are factually inaccurate; it's like he doesn't properly research anything. He doesn't even get the reports on election results correct. Thanks for standing up for the Language of Heaven, my friend.

I would probably use a touch more restraint to describe the man himself, but my sentiments are the same. It is was a terrible piece, and in fairness, it wasn’t an attack on the Welsh language, but as IWJ pointed out on CF99 on S4/C last night, that’s how it appeared. And in any case, Shipton’s belief that the Assembly shouldn’t accept the committee’s proposal goes completely against my own opinion.

The Olympic flame will make its way to Cardiff tomorrow for the start of its stint in Wales. I know many people will be excited - they’ll flock to the City Centre as though Jesus Christ himself were about to present himself in a puff of something. Parents and grandparents will take their grandchildren to catch a ‘moment of history.’ How quaint.

Stop for a minute and think, though. Unless you live in London, ask yourself what the Olympics will really do for you and your area; ask yourself what they’ll do for Cardiff and for Wales. I struggle to think of any genuine answers.

Yes, I know we’ve got a few football games going on, but really, is it that amazing?

Ridiculous Olympic rules mean that the Labour government in Cardiff Bay has decided to place a 500m buffer zone on the Millennium Stadium, within which, only Olympic sponsors will be allowed to advertise - these include Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. How dreadfully ironic.

There’s still the question over whether the Brains bridge will have to be covered up while the Olympics are in Cardiff. This bridge is an iconic and important part of Cardiff’s heritage, yet because the games are here, we have to cover it up! Clearly, this isn’t about promoting Wales and Welsh enterprise; it’s about London and the South East of England. (Goodness knows why I’m at all surprised.)

And as for the economic benefits of the Olympics - codswallop! It is estimated that Wales will lose out on £100 million in Lottery funding to pay for the Olympics. Guess who estimates that, go on. No, not Plaid Cymru. The Welsh Affairs Select Committee at the House of Commons. Money for the Olympics will come out of a UK budget but who’ll benefit the most? London and the South East, as per.

Remember also that those taking part in the Olympic flame relay will not be
permitted to carry the Welsh flag as they carry the flame. That being said, they won’t be allowed to carry any flag. However, there were some instances of Cornish wording being removed from signs in Cornwall when the flame passed around there. This leaves a distinctly bitter taste in my mouth so far as the Olympics are concerned about other nations within the UK. (And yes, I consider Cornwall a nation.)

I guess we have to wait and see what Olympic legacy Wales will have once the games are over, but at this point, I doubt it’ll be any more than minimal, even here in Cardiff.

Before I close off, let me also point out that in a week where spending £400,000 on ensuring that Wales has a fully bilingual National Assembly has been criticised by our national newspaper and a former Labour Secretary of State for Wales, I can’t see anyone kicking up a fuss about spending £15 billion on the Olympics in these ‘times of austerity.’

That, mes amis, is why I will not be going to see the Olympic flame tomorrow evening. After my exam tomorrow afternoon, I will much rather spend my time relaxing than going to see a flame which has nothing to do with me and will do nothing for my country. Diolch, ond dim diolch.

(Source: lexilatry)

Ben Howard - ‘Only Love’ (by benhoward)

Alex Clare - Too Close (Live Unplugged) (by @alexclare)

Having read Martin Shipton’s shocking comment piece in today’s Western Mail, I’ve emailed some thoughts to the newspaper’s editor. I doubt they’ll be read, but I just had to respond to some of things Mr Shipton said.

If you want to read his article, click here. And for responses from members of the committee, click here. To read an article for the Independent on this issue, click here.

Dear Editor,

I wanted to take a moment to respond to the comment piece written by Martin Shipton published in today’s Western Mail regarding the recommendation being made by the Communities, Equality and Local Government Committee at the National Assembly for Wales, the members of which is in the process of scrutinising the National Assembly for Wales (Official Languages) Bill.

From a strategic point-of-view for your newspaper, the publication of Mr Shipton’s article is worrying. Let’s face it – a vast majority of people in the Welsh-speaking community in Wales buy the Western Mail in order to support Wales’s only true national newspaper. Many of them will boycott your newspaper now. You seem to have gone to a special effort to alienate your core readership, somehow and for some reason forgetting that times are not good at the Western Mail. I have noticed on social networking sites that many have predicted that this is the final nail in the coffin, as it were, and aside from being angry, I am upset by that; it is massively important that we retain our national newspaper.

As a matter of principle, this piece was at best misguided, at worst offensive. Mr Shipton suggests that translating written records of Assembly proceedings into Welsh is a ‘luxury we cannot afford.’ I would put it to him that it isn’t a luxury; Welsh and English are official languages of our country and of the National Assembly for Wales and so, it is a matter of principle that proceedings of the National Assembly are wholly available in both those languages. It is neither appropriate nor acceptable to suggest that those who wish to scrutinise the work of their National Assembly in Welsh would simply have to put up with doing it in English because times are hard, which, more or less, is what Mr Shipton is suggesting.

As for the suggestion that the recommendation, if implemented, would cost the Assembly Commission in the region of £400,000 a year, I too call on Mr Shipton and on your paper to explain how exactly that is the case. He says that that is what he was told by a ‘senior Assembly source’, whatever that means, but it is interesting to note that Bethan Jenkins AM and Mike Hedges AM, members of the committee in question, have doubted the claim that this would cost £400,000 a year. If a ‘senior Assembly source’ has told Mr Shipton that it would cost £400,000, it is only right that that source explains his/her views to the National Assembly, especially when making suggestions like this, which two committee members from differing parties do not recognise.

In his article, Mr Shipton notes that ‘we are not alone: the committee report itself quotes a legal adviser to the Assembly Commission as saying: “… there would be huge implications as regards the budget if absolutely everything was done bilingually.”’ I think it is important that Mr Shipton realises that saying that there would be financial implications is not the same as saying that it is ‘a step too far at this time of austerity’, as he puts it. That is nothing more than cheap spin and poor journalism on his part, which being that the Western Mail is our national newspaper, is shameful.

Towards the end of his piece, Mr Shipton says that ‘at a time when public services are being cut back and hundreds of thousands of poorer people in Wales will be getting less help with their council tax bills, for example, is simply unjustifiable.’ I would put it to him that being that the Welsh language is a cornerstone of our culture, and that Welsh is already under-threat what with Westminster’s careless attitude towards S4/C, it is wholly appropriate that the National Assembly for Wales makes moves to improve its Welsh-medium accessibility.

Furthermore, I would suggest that Mr Shipton’s piece is nothing more than scaremongering. Even if the budget needed for this recommendation, if implemented, were £400,000 per annum, that would be an extremely small proportion of the Assembly Commission’s annual (and, notably, rising) budget, and for that matter, it would be a tiny fraction of Wales’s annual budget from the Treasury. 

I find it amusing that Mr Shipton should attack moves to further enhance the position of the Welsh language on financial grounds like this, when overall, this year’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will cost the state in the region of £15 billion, and the Jubilee celebrations will cost in the region of £1.3 billion. If Mr Shipton thinks that £400,000 a year in order to have a fully bilingual national legislature is ‘extraordinary’, ‘astounding’, ‘unaffordable’, and ‘unjustifiable’, as he puts it, then I suggest he thinks about the Olympics and the Jubilee, and perhaps write an article on those. Next time, let’s have something which is fitting for the national newspaper of Wales.

With regret,

Cerith Rhys Jones

Kelly Clarkson - “Dark Side” (by kellyclarkson)

Paloma Faith - Picking Up The Pieces (by PalomaFaithVEVO)

One can’t help but think Obama’s feigning surprise here… 

(Source: motherjones)