Lewis Hamilton gets a knighthood

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Soldato
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According to the Daily mail this morning,Hes been given a Knighthood.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ng-Swiss-Monaco-havens-13-years.html#comments


Now,Dont know about you guys but what exactly has he done to disserve a Knighthood?

Imo Knighthoods should be reserved for those that actually disserve it, Like pioneering surgeons ,Or inventors of life saving producs,OR someone who has saved a life or done something thats totally amazing for the country.

What am i missing here guys? enlighten me.
 
The honour is given for a pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity.

How about outstanding and record breaking achievements in sport at the highest level during a highly successful career?
 
In terms of sporting achievement, he is obviously one of the best ever sports people this country has ever had.

Him as a person, I just get the impression he is a bit preachy.... just a hunch. Although I will be interested to see if he keeps this accolade given his hardcore BLM views.... yes I went there, someone had to start it off.
 
Can't say I agree with it but plenty of people in various fields have got them for essentially doing their job and getting paid really well to do said job. He is no less deserving than many with knighthoods.

As with a lot of these things, their value has decreased with time.

I would like to see people who dedicate their lives to the service of others to be recognised over people who get paid a ridiculous sum of money to drive a car or appear in films or TV. Then again, worshipping celebrities has always completely baffled me.
 
Although I will be interested to see if he keeps this accolade given his hardcore BLM views.... yes I went there, someone had to start it off.

Of course he won't. That would make him a hippocrite wouldn't it...

There have been plenty of people who have refused knighthoods and honours on moral grounds so I'm sure he will take the same road and put his principles over personal glory.
 
Why would his BLM views make him want to give up the title? Is BLM against the monarchy?

I'm surmising it may be because BLM have a very anti-establishment tone to their rhetoric.

You don't get much more establishment than the UK monarchy.

Then there is the whole history of the Empire and suchlike.

Dunno. Just guessing.
 
Why would his BLM views make him want to give up the title? Is BLM against the monarchy?

Probably because the British Empire and its actions are deemed to be highly racist and a major factor in the history of racism. So it would seem perhaps contradictory to then accept an award which makes him a Knight of the British Empire.
 
I'm surmising it may be because BLM have a very anti-establishment tone to their rhetoric.

You don't get much more establishment than the UK monarchy.

Then there is the whole history of the Empire and suchlike.

Dunno. Just guessing.

Probably because the British Empire and its actions are deemed to be highly racist and a major factor in the history of racism. So it would seem perhaps contradictory to then accept an award which makes him a Knight of the British Empire.

Perhaps that would be the case if life was only determined in absolutes. But life isn't only black or white and there's a whole range of choices in the middle. Not everything is either/or. You can be a proud Brit whilst still acknowledging what went wrong in the past.

He's said countless times that he really likes the Royal Family and he finds the Queen an inspiring character (for what, I don't know) so I'd find it odd after saying all that if he would then turn it down.
 
Can't say I agree with it but plenty of people in various fields have got them for essentially doing their job and getting paid really well to do said job. He is no less deserving than many with knighthoods.

As with a lot of these things, their value has decreased with time.

I would like to see people who dedicate their lives to the service of others to be recognised over people who get paid a ridiculous sum of money to drive a car or appear in films or TV. Then again, worshipping celebrities has always completely baffled me.

This.
 
Perhaps that would be the case if life was only determined in absolutes. But life isn't only black or white and there's a whole range of choices in the middle. Not everything is either/or. You can be a proud Brit whilst still acknowledging what went wrong in the past.

He's said countless times that he really likes the Royal Family and he finds the Queen an inspiring character (for what, I don't know) so I'd find it odd after saying all that if he would then turn it down.

Well technically a knighthood isnt really about the Royal Family or the Queen (or King), its about the British Empire. You become a KBE (Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)

I agree entirely with you, life isnt black and white, its not about absolutes, something that some people seem to forget when they want statues of people pulled down as they conveniently ignore the good that those people have done and only focus on the questionable acts of that persons history. Which is odd really, as many of the BLM claims are entirely black and white and about absolutes.

We'll see what Lewis chooses to do (I'm 100% certain of what he will do), several other famous (arguably more famous) people have refused their knighthoods on various political grounds though so who knows, maybe Lewis will follow suit.
 
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I think you'll find both sides of the argument, both left and right, find it difficult to deal in anything but absolutes.

like the statue which was in Bristol. You have one half of the argument saying he did good things in Bristol - which is true he did. And you have the other have saying he was a vile human which profited off of the lives of people he treated like cattle - which is also true.

The reality is that he was somewhere in the middle. He wasn't evil but he was no saint either. Personally, I'm glad the statue has been removed and will be going to the M shed. It shouldn't be hidden away as if that automatically hides the past but it should've been put in a museum along with the other relics relating to the slave trade so that people can learn about it all in context.

anyway. Bit off topic for a motorsport thread. I'm glad Lewis has had his achievements recognised but I'm hoping there isn't a huge deal made about it when we get racing back next year
 
Perhaps that would be the case if life was only determined in absolutes. But life isn't only black or white and there's a whole range of choices in the middle. Not everything is either/or. You can be a proud Brit whilst still acknowledging what went wrong in the past.

He's said countless times that he really likes the Royal Family and he finds the Queen an inspiring character (for what, I don't know) so I'd find it odd after saying all that if he would then turn it down.

He has a choice to make.

Either accept or decline. My feeling is that if he accepts then his stock in the social movement of BLM will plummet so I guess the only real question is what is more important to him?

I could be completely wrong of course.

I dont really mind what he does. I still view him as a highly successful sportsman and a Brit and would be happy for him to have it - he is certainly deserving.

But likewise if he feels he is subscribing to a higher social mission and accepting is at odds with that message, then I can respect that decision also. He certainly wouldn't be the first to decline an honour.

But like I said, its his choice.
 
Bit off topic for a motorsport thread. I'm glad Lewis has had his achievements recognised but I'm hoping there isn't a huge deal made about it when we get racing back next year

I wish we could say the same (recognising achievements) of more people but thats a whole different complaint of mine.
 
Either accept or decline. My feeling is that if he accepts then his stock in the social movement of BLM will plummet so I guess the only real question is what is more important to him?

I'd agree that's what he should do as accepting a knighthood is basically declaring your tacit acceptance of the British Monarchy and it's colonial/aristocratic past.

However, my suspicion is Hamilton is enough of a hipocrite who only acts in his own self interest to not be bothered by it. I'll wager he accepts the Knighthood and carries on with his usual knee bending theatrics.

Be interesting to see how it plays out...
 
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