Monday, December 24, 2012

Royal Babylon: Our Jaundiced Monarchy


Needless to say, I wouldn't have posted a seventy minute documentary had I thought it not worth watching.



This is an investigative poem about the criminal record of the British Monarchy. Heathcote Williams has devised a form of polemical poetry that is unique, no-holds-barred personal and political. It is a great collection of facts that most people are unaware of.

Can we go on bowing and curtsying to people who are just like ourselves? We begin to wish that the Zoo should be abolished.

That the royal family should be given the run of some wider pasturage – a royal Whipsnade. Will the British Empire survive?

Will Buckingham Palace look as solid in 2034 as it does now? Words are dangerous things remember. A Republic might be brought into being by a poem.






The Criminal Record of the British Monarchy
An investigative poem
by Heathcote Williams

“The comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor.”
Voltaire

In 1840, Pierre-Joseph Proudhon the first self-declared anarchist, defined anarchy in ‘What Is Property’, as “the absence of a master, of a sovereign”.



In the year of the Queen’s Jubilee tourists peered as usual
Through the railings of Buckingham Palace,
But her fairy-tale was fading; the fairy queen’s wings were being clipped
By the Sex Pistols putting monarchy in their sights.

“God save the queen,” they sang, “it’s a fascist regime.”
And the song’s hook-line became a new anthem;
Disturbing to clutches of flag-wavers lining the streets
And horrifying to Middle England and the Daily Mail.

The Sex Pistols proclaimed, “She ain’t no human being,”
And their subversive posters for the record
Placed the band’s salacious name right across the Queen’s lips
And they masked her eyes with two spidery swastikas.

Full poem/transcript

18 comments:

Colin said...

Powerful attack on our family of Keyser Soze's. I hadn't seen it before, thanks for posting. Did you see Unlawful Killing?

Colin said...

The greatest trick the family ever pulled was convincing the world they were just there for tourists

Himself said...

Thank you.

I watched the first half hour or so, just past the part where they were giving the times for the medical team's response.

Pretty telling and quite outrageous.

I revisited it last night, only to find it pulled. I had a search for a new stream but to little avail, so if you have link, it would be appreciated.

Himself said...

If you haven't seen it, Youtube 'Edward the traitor King'

The bloke should have been put against the wall and shot; seriously.

Colin said...

Blimey, that Web Sheriff has been busy. I found it on a torrent. I'll find it again, give me a while.

I'll watch the Edward vid. I knew about him (not about Phillip and his four sisters though)

Colin said...

http://pirateproxy.net/torrent/7923784/Unlawful_Killing_by_Keith_Allen

that one is still working (I checked it with the copy I have already)

Colin said...

It is flashing like the world's biggest lighthouse though, might be risky.

(I'll try and find a stream)

Himself said...

Thank you very much.

I'm not terribly familiar with torrents, I guess I just hit the play button?

If that's the case, I shall grab it on my other machine.

Yes?

Himself said...

Just seen your second comment.

I await.

Colin said...

Only two torrents I can find unfortunately. I expect our old friends the libel lawyers are involved re: evidence given at the inquest (the film names those they claim told lies)

Is this our JFK? The truth will out one day!

Himself said...

I've always tended to steer clear of torrents, but might you explain this, and what is it that you are seeing.

Might save some grief one day.

Thanks

It is flashing like the world's biggest lighthouse

Colin said...

I think it's easy for interested parties to grab IP addresses from torrents (unless net users are taking steps to hide them - most don't I'm sure) and they can then find out people's ISPs and possibly take action again them.

This chap John Giacobbi (http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-features/industry/2012/02/21/the-hot-seat-john-giacobbi-web-sheriff/) is leading the hunt for streams and torrents of Unlawful Killing I think (he looks to have been very successful too)

but two torrents remain - perhaps deliberately?

Himself said...

Ah so! sneaky fuckers.

Thank you for your time and info.

Best for the new year.

Himself said...

By the by, a treasure trove.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/

Colin said...

Thanks! Interesting site.

With the Unlawful Killing torrents, it might be they can't touch those websites (but IP addresses will still be visible anyway, unless you take precuations)

I'm sure it will leak widely in coming weeks anyway. I watched the whole thing again just now and it doesn't pull its punches. I can see why they couldn't get insurance against potential libel claims. The most suspicuous part of the whole affair to me was the cleaning and reopening of the Paris tunnel so quickly. I remember watching on TV and thinking, what????

Best wishes for the New Year to you too (and your great blog)

Himself said...

Thank you, and as you say, it will turn up again undoubtedly.

Speaking of Sheriffs, you're familiar with this one?

http://www.themusicnetwork.com/music-features/industry/2012/02/21/the-hot-seat-john-giacobbi-web-sheriff/

Colin said...

Have you seen this article, just on the Guardian's site tonight?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/14/secret-papers-royals-veto-bills

Interesting I think. We'll see the back of them yet I swear (maybe..)

(I knew about the Sheriff)

15 days into the New Year already!

Himself said...

Delayed thank you.