Benjamin Zephaniah on the monarchy and turning down an OBE

Benjamin Zephaniah shares his thoughts about the British monarchy and explains why he rejected an OBE.

Benjamin is a supporter of Republic - an organisation which calls for the people of Britain to be granted the right to elect their head of state.

http://www.republic.org.uk/

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Royal Family
• Monarchy
• Republic
• Republican
• Britain
• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland
• Canada
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Commonwealth
• British Empire
• Slavery
• Multiculturalism
• Poetry
• Equality
• Liberty
• Democracy

[kingdrewew]

we are a monarchy..always will be so piss off..dont like it, leave for a republic.

[sysmoute]

Benjamin is a crap poet. he is where he is due to patronising left wing idiots.

Thank god he turned down an OBE. Labour devalued the Honour enough without

a six form "street poet" getting one. A lot of people turn down the OBE, real principled

people keep quiet, publicity seekers never stop going on about it

I would say to him TAKE THAT FKN GREAT BIG CHIP OFF YOUR SHOULDER. go to another country and see how popular your shit infantile poems are.

[Fancymanofthedeep]

@robbieofdoom People should just read a history book if they want to know about it. Its a disgrace to the millions slaughtered by the UK's imperialism.

[TheMambavenom]

YOUR A MAN THAT IS PRINCIPLED-RESPECT!

[nassermashadi]

Good on you Brother Benjamin.

[majorMcpharter]

Workers of all lands unite.

[NuNegus]

This guy is a personal hero of mine for so many reasons. God bless him for turning down the OBE. I wrote briefly to him once, thanking him for doing it. Apparently, he got a lot of praise from the good people of Ireland :)

Peace and love from Seattle!

[naganokumas]

But do it properly.

The referendum of about fifteen years ago shows most Australians want to do such, rather than just accept crap put before them as the model they should adopt as an alternative to monarchism.

The vote back then, which 'voted against becoming a republic', was not anti-republican, but anti the model that was forced upon them as a replacement.

Australians are in no hurry in this front.

But becoming a republic after England does would compromise the banter of the Ashes, etc.

[naganokumas]

Who will become a republic first, Australia (constitutional monarchy) or England (monarchy)?

They're both talking about it. But wouldn't it be ironic if England did it first?

FARK! would be the immediate sentiment in Australia if England did it first.

So, for Fark's sake Australia, do it before England.

There's no embarrassment involved when you realise common sense late. But there is eternal embarrassment involved if you don't do it before those you should have done it before.

[animalnt]

Republic TV lol, yeah goodluck