this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025

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King Charles gives his Canadian attendant a sword as sovereignty threats intensify (www.cbc.ca)

submitted 3 months ago by Shadow to c/canada

24 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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[–] BlameThePeacock 40 points 3 months ago (2 children)

This is how you monarchy properly. Handing out swords is peak king/queen.

[–] LimpRimble 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I bet Trump didn't get a sword...

[–] Reannlegge 9 points 3 months ago (1 children)

They gave him a plastic knife! “it was the best most beautiful plastic knife. They say there is no other plastic knife like it! I could shive you no problem.”

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Iunno. I think it should derive from a mandate by the masses.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I'd rather simply be in an autonomous collective.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

I mean, if I went 'round saying I was "Usher of the Black Rod" just because some geezer had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd lock me away!

[–] Kichae 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah! We should all be handing out swords in these uncertain times!

[–] HikingVet 1 points 3 months ago

Preferably ones that will stands the rigours of combat.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 months ago

the Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada

That's one badass job title

[–] Reannlegge 20 points 3 months ago

As much as I believe we need to chop the royal family out of Canada, this is fairly moving and I appreciate the gesture. Scares me poopless that even the royal family sees this as a war now to, I think it could move past trade war real fast!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

Slay the king and declare the Canadian Republic

[–] asg101 3 points 3 months ago

I would like to see the UK surface a ICBM capable sub off DC or NYC and wave the missile ports as a gesture.

[+] voluble -14 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes, planting trees, playing dress up, and giving ceremonial swords will fix this.

I'll uncross my arms when they do something that makes a material difference.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Well if by they you mean the monarchy, I think symbolic actions are about all they have been relegated to do at this point in history, and they seem to be crushing that:

In the royal tradition, a sword like this is seen as a symbol of sovereignty. The Senate originally commissioned the sword to the[!] mark the change of reign from Elizabeth to Charles.

They are telling you that you are on your own and better look for reliable alliances fast.

As far as my limited understanding of Commonwealth and UK politics goes the monarch does actually have some pretty extensive rights, but they come along with a damn near 100% chance of a constitutional crisis if enacted.

So if you are looking for something more material I believe the executive and legislative branches of the respective governments are your tree to bark up at. The monarchy seems to be doing all they can in this particular instance.

Which is not much, in that we agree, but symbols are not worthless either. There is a reason every monarchy, religion, and ideology has used them throughout history.

[–] voluble 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Canada needs allies now probably more than ever in its history. What we see here coming from the monarchy is not a meaningful gesture of alliance. That's what I'm bitter about. It's monarchs doing what monarchs do after they've squeezed all the benefit from colonial conquest - they bandy meaningless symbols about. That benefits them, because conveniently, it costs them nothing to 'stay out of politics'.

As a Canadian, it's truly frightening to see world leaders reluctant to simply say the words 'we stand behind Canada'.

What does the word 'Commonwealth' even mean if the British monarchy can't say that and mean it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

He's our king but he doesn't rule us. We stand for ourselves, and instead of keeping the item that was supposed to mark the start of his tenure, he immediately gave it to an ally that is being impinged upon.

[–] voluble 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I understand that. And I guess I'm not convincing anyone in this thread, but, things like this, and how the article gushes about Elizabeth's 'brooch warfare', I fail to see how these are things that Canadians ought to feel good about or empowered by. They don't benefit us in any way.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

You say that but they do. The Crown doesn't have the authority to tell people to go get fucked directly anymore, there are the prime ministers and the rest of our elected officials.

So instead of actually doing nothing, they give a threatened man a weapon and show in other ways that they stand behind their people.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

What we see here coming from the monarchy is not a meaningful gesture of alliance. That’s what I’m bitter about.

They aren't allowed to make any meaningful gesture of alliance, that was my entire point. There have literally been wars fought specifically to take these responsibilities away from them. The ball is in the parliaments court now.

What does the word ‘Commonwealth’ even mean if the British monarchy can’t say that and mean it.

A loose collection of anglophone colonies and their motherland. Its importance declined along with the power of the British monarchy. Which didn't really bother anyone so far because there were things like the five eyes and NATO to fill the gap.