This is the passport that the Governor General carries. (no, really!)
I'm enough of a nerd to have watched the swearing in ceremony on Monday. The GG holds this symbolic role as Head of State so that we can freely show our contempt for our elected officials (as they deserve). This sentiment is truly non-partisan, as they are all sleazy, stupid and self-serving. (It just usually goes without saying.)
I could have done that GG job. (Shit.) I'm good at making chit-chat with the military. (And was I the only one who noticed that Batiste, the billy goat mascot for the Vandoos (Royal 22nd Regiment), was heavily sedated?)
"L'histoire veut qu'en 1884, un couple des ancêtres de Batisse fut donné en cadeau à la Reine Victoria par le Shah de Perse. Ces bêtes étaient originaires du Tibet et leur présence faisait l'orgueil des habitants du pays. La Reine Victoria accepta ce cadeau et ordonna que le bouc devienne la mascotte de son Régiment. De ce jour, fut créé le troupeau royal qui prit logis au jardin zoologique de Londres. Le troupeau y est encore et on dit que ces boucs et ces chèvres sont les derniers survivants de cette race. Nos boucs régimentaires sont les descendants directs de ce troupeau."
"Origin of our regimental goat. The history wants that in 1884, a couple of the ancestors of Batiste was given in gift to the Victoria Queen by the Shah of Perse. These animals were originating in Tibet and their presence made the pride of the inhabitants of the country. The Victoria Queen accepted this gift and ordered that the goat becomes the mascot of its Regiment. This day, was created the royal herd which took home with the zoological garden of London. The herd is there still and it is said that these goats and these goats are the last survivors of this race. Our regimental goats are the direct descendants of this herd."
There is a chip implanted in my brain that helps me speak fluent French, but unfortunately, the French to English translation software is Alta Vista Babel Fish, so my English official is a small weird.
I should also take back my comment about sedating Batiste, I certainly wouldn't put up with a tumescent goat humping everyone's legs at my investiture.
Regimental goat? Who knew? Can we get a regimental goat? (The University of Texas has a steer--its name is Bevo.)
A regimental goat for Digital Media Tree? Sounds great! Do you want one from the Second Elizabeth Queen? (We do have those kinds of connections up here.)
No, I meant for the United States!
Didn't your country already receive one as a gift, in the mid 70's, from the Shah of Perse?
For some reason Von Bark knows about this US Navy football goat.
"Bill the Goat XXXI and XXXII are the current mascots, a tradition for the past 100 years."
"Over the years, the delicate casein painting on its horns was replaced by the practice of wrapping colored duct tape around them..."
I found a list of former GG's and up until the early 50's it reads like a role call of inbred twits: The Lord Lisgar, The Earl of Dufferin, The Lord Stanley of Preston, The Earl Grey, The Lord Byng of Vimy, The Viscount Alexander of Tunis and The Earl Richard of Rusholme (I made up that last one, he's my neighbour).
But don't let me stop the rest of you from pursuing the goat aspect of this story.
We Yanks (and former Rebs) can't relate to GGs and titles and such, but farmyard animals, well...
Hey! I'm torn as well.
okay well the GG is weird. Before Adrian Clarkson I never ever thought about the Governor General one bit. It's so funny that this kind of "for show" station, like the monarchy, actually functions. If the Governor General visits my town, kisses my baby, or attends my cultural event I am supposed to feel honoured and blessed...but that's kind of all she does. Or am I missing something?
It's a funny thing. I'm not a monarchist in terms of supporting that institution in perpetuity. (but I have a soft spot for Elizabeth 2 because she has us totally convinced that she's the Queen. End of fucking story.) The symbolic role still holds for the GG. There are also political reasons for his/her existence. The important one that comes to mind is that the disputed treaties of the First Nations are not with the Government of Canada (it didn't exist then) but with the Crown. (You'll recall that the Cree, among others, were justifiably nervous about the legal status of their land claims in the event of Quebec separation.) Of course here we are hitting the sore spot of Quebec nationalism. Martin made a canny political move by elevating a Haitian immigrant & French speaking woman to this role. With this gesture, he's emphasized that the forces that will keep the country together are coming from new Canadians. (it was that demographic shift in Quebec that probably defeated the last referendum on separation)
I think its great that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean is representing the crown. And I see from what you say about First Nations treaties that the crown requires representin' in this country, even if all they do it stand around at functions. Another thing funny about it is the last two GGs both came from broacasting. A figurehead expressing journalistic content becomes a figurehead representing ...the Queen! It a lateral move, to say the least.
...and the Queen, well, she's the Queen.
I'd do lunch with either of them.
...and back to goats to keep this thread fair and balanced, simpleposie has a great goat photo. Scroll down a bit to her September 25th post.
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This is the passport that the Governor General carries. (no, really!)
I'm enough of a nerd to have watched the swearing in ceremony on Monday. The GG holds this symbolic role as Head of State so that we can freely show our contempt for our elected officials (as they deserve). This sentiment is truly non-partisan, as they are all sleazy, stupid and self-serving. (It just usually goes without saying.)
I could have done that GG job. (Shit.) I'm good at making chit-chat with the military. (And was I the only one who noticed that Batiste, the billy goat mascot for the Vandoos (Royal 22nd Regiment), was heavily sedated?)
"L'histoire veut qu'en 1884, un couple des ancêtres de Batisse fut donné en cadeau à la Reine Victoria par le Shah de Perse. Ces bêtes étaient originaires du Tibet et leur présence faisait l'orgueil des habitants du pays. La Reine Victoria accepta ce cadeau et ordonna que le bouc devienne la mascotte de son Régiment. De ce jour, fut créé le troupeau royal qui prit logis au jardin zoologique de Londres. Le troupeau y est encore et on dit que ces boucs et ces chèvres sont les derniers survivants de cette race. Nos boucs régimentaires sont les descendants directs de ce troupeau."
- L.M. 9-29-2005 3:49 am
"Origin of our regimental goat. The history wants that in 1884, a couple of the ancestors of Batiste was given in gift to the Victoria Queen by the Shah of Perse. These animals were originating in Tibet and their presence made the pride of the inhabitants of the country. The Victoria Queen accepted this gift and ordered that the goat becomes the mascot of its Regiment. This day, was created the royal herd which took home with the zoological garden of London. The herd is there still and it is said that these goats and these goats are the last survivors of this race. Our regimental goats are the direct descendants of this herd."
There is a chip implanted in my brain that helps me speak fluent French, but unfortunately, the French to English translation software is Alta Vista Babel Fish, so my English official is a small weird.
I should also take back my comment about sedating Batiste, I certainly wouldn't put up with a tumescent goat humping everyone's legs at my investiture.
- L.M. 9-29-2005 3:50 am
Regimental goat? Who knew? Can we get a regimental goat? (The University of Texas has a steer--its name is Bevo.)
- tom moody 9-29-2005 5:40 am
A regimental goat for Digital Media Tree? Sounds great! Do you want one from the Second Elizabeth Queen? (We do have those kinds of connections up here.)
- L.M. 9-29-2005 6:55 am
No, I meant for the United States!
- tom moody 9-29-2005 7:15 am
Didn't your country already receive one as a gift, in the mid 70's, from the Shah of Perse?
- L.M. 9-29-2005 7:20 am
For some reason Von Bark knows about this US Navy football goat.
"Bill the Goat XXXI and XXXII are the current mascots, a tradition for the past 100 years."
- sally mckay 9-29-2005 6:35 pm
"Over the years, the delicate casein painting on its horns was replaced by the practice of wrapping colored duct tape around them..."
- tom moody 9-29-2005 6:39 pm
I found a list of former GG's and up until the early 50's it reads like a role call of inbred twits: The Lord Lisgar, The Earl of Dufferin, The Lord Stanley of Preston, The Earl Grey, The Lord Byng of Vimy, The Viscount Alexander of Tunis and The Earl Richard of Rusholme (I made up that last one, he's my neighbour).
But don't let me stop the rest of you from pursuing the goat aspect of this story.
- L.M. 9-29-2005 7:31 pm
We Yanks (and former Rebs) can't relate to GGs and titles and such, but farmyard animals, well...
- tom moody 9-29-2005 7:40 pm
Hey! I'm torn as well.
- L.M. 9-29-2005 7:41 pm
okay well the GG is weird. Before Adrian Clarkson I never ever thought about the Governor General one bit. It's so funny that this kind of "for show" station, like the monarchy, actually functions. If the Governor General visits my town, kisses my baby, or attends my cultural event I am supposed to feel honoured and blessed...but that's kind of all she does. Or am I missing something?
- sally mckay 9-29-2005 8:06 pm
It's a funny thing. I'm not a monarchist in terms of supporting that institution in perpetuity. (but I have a soft spot for Elizabeth 2 because she has us totally convinced that she's the Queen. End of fucking story.) The symbolic role still holds for the GG. There are also political reasons for his/her existence. The important one that comes to mind is that the disputed treaties of the First Nations are not with the Government of Canada (it didn't exist then) but with the Crown. (You'll recall that the Cree, among others, were justifiably nervous about the legal status of their land claims in the event of Quebec separation.) Of course here we are hitting the sore spot of Quebec nationalism. Martin made a canny political move by elevating a Haitian immigrant & French speaking woman to this role. With this gesture, he's emphasized that the forces that will keep the country together are coming from new Canadians. (it was that demographic shift in Quebec that probably defeated the last referendum on separation)
- L.M. 9-29-2005 8:37 pm
I think its great that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean is representing the crown. And I see from what you say about First Nations treaties that the crown requires representin' in this country, even if all they do it stand around at functions. Another thing funny about it is the last two GGs both came from broacasting. A figurehead expressing journalistic content becomes a figurehead representing ...the Queen! It a lateral move, to say the least.
- sally mckay 9-29-2005 9:33 pm
...and the Queen, well, she's the Queen.
I'd do lunch with either of them.
- L.M. 9-29-2005 9:44 pm
...and back to goats to keep this thread fair and balanced, simpleposie has a great goat photo. Scroll down a bit to her September 25th post.
- L.M. 9-30-2005 5:28 am