Is this a step too far? messing with military tradition?

Question

a animal rights group is meeting the MOD to discuss scrapping the bearskin hat worn by the Queens guard!

i personally think this is a step too far, its military tradition to wear these hats, what do you think?

its really annoying me to think the government is even entertaining the idea!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7590705.stm

Answer 1

Without question.  bardic sums up very well how the Guards get their pelts for their bearskins.  PETA are just a bunch of very rich and empty headed "celebrities" who have nothing better to do with their time (at least those who run the organisation are).

Answer 2

Jimbo, I gave you a thumbs down. Besides making nice hats, bears taste good, too.  

Answer 3

As the MoD says, they have tried before, but found that synthetic materials do not survive the same wear and tear.  Until they find something which is as good as bearskin, they should keep it.

It's regrettable that bears a killed for it, but it's partly population control in Canada, and part a large number of people's livelihood.

Answer 4

I agree, they should not even be giving the idea the time of day. Urrrgh!

Answer 5

pure folly

Answer 6

Initially I thought the same as you.  I hate messing with long standing Military traditions.  I am NOT a PETA fan.  The only issue I have is that Fur Farming is illegal in the UK.  But it is acceptable to have them farmed in Canada.  I think it is a little of a double standard.

Answer 7

Perhaps I have got my information wrong over the years but!Have the Guards Regiments been using synthetic materials for years as regards head wear?

Answer 8

you saw the group was PETA right, they are a bunch of morons and not really a animal rights group half the time some of their ideals end up hurting more than hurting and not a lot of people take them seriously for the most part.  

Answer 9

Of course they should use a synthetic fur, why kill a bear just to make a silly hat. Ask the soldiers who have to wear them, they are heavy hot and extremely uncomfortable to wear. Modern materials would be far better and the tradition of wearing these extremely expensive, not to say down right inhumane hats could be preserved. While we are at it, why should the Guardsmen have to wear those heavy wool uniforms in the summer, why don't they get issued lightweight uniforms to stand out in the sun in. I do not see the officers parading about in the sun wearing uniforms that weigh a ton.

You are talking from complete ignorance. Officers uniforms are tailor made and not the same material, Guard duty is by other ranks not officers. I note I have 3 thumbs down, but you or them never explain why, cowardice?

Answer 10

Jimbo - you obviously have a chip on your shoulder about officers.  Pity you're so ignorant as well... Officers' uniforms can be extremely heavy.  Do a quick search on Google and you will see what I mean...

Answer 11

Three thumbs down are well deserved for talking nonsense.

Officers do have the same uniforms as the men and wear the bearskins.

I think you will find that as this headgear wears out it is replaced with synthetic fur.

Everyone has their opinion but I wish some of them had an educated opinion instead of uneducated ramblings.

Answer 12

I'm in the US, not the UK, but my opinion is h**l YES it's too far.  To each their own.  If you don't like something, don't be a part of it, but don't elicit the coercion of government to stop what isn't hurting you.  Too much PC limits freedoms and only encourages more PC nonsense.

Answer 13

It depends if there are enough people concerned with this issue they have the right to voice their opinions as much as the rest of us. They also have to right to change what they see wrong, or try to at least. Their Government, Their money, Their concerns.

Answer 14

It won't be long before they're forced to wear artificial, synthetic ones.

It's ridiculous how wishy-washy western society has become, pandering to these far-left groups. No one has the courage to stand up to them.

Maybe the Queen should have plastic mannequins for a guard detail since it's inhumane to make human beings stand around out in the weather.

Answer 15

it wouldn't save one bear from being killed anyway, they've been going on for years and years about this, it's mainly because they are stupid, they don't keep using them out of spite. The King's Troop now use fake beaver fur, and the bandsmen who used leopard skin now use fake fur.

Answer 16

As I understand it, bear pelts are made available only because of the annual cull that has to be carried out in North America to keep bear numbers under control. The last I hear, 20,000 black bears are culled each year, of which we buy about 100 pelts. They are not shot to provide hats!