Just found this on Wikipedia

Lazyguy · 05-01-2007, 07:14 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_o...British_Empire

Quote:

n 2004, a House of Commons Select Committee recommended changing the name of the award to the "Order of British Excellence", and changing the rank of "Commander" to "Companion" as the former was said to have a "militaristic ring".

Now I'm ******.

Britannist · 05-01-2007, 07:35 PM

Yes, I remember this being reported at the time. We really do appear to have gone soft as a nation with all this political correctness. Who is going to want an award called the Order of British Excellence?

Besoeker · 05-01-2007, 07:37 PM

placid?

John Carter · 05-01-2007, 07:38 PM

Isn't "commander" actually a "knight commander"? Which makes "companion" sound like the bird who gives the knight his lance colours.

Mandy would like that. Make it so! :twisted:

freedom & democracy 4 · 07-01-2007, 11:35 AM

Companion, next they will complet a communist transfromation by proclaiming everyone comrade!

Anthony Butcher · 07-01-2007, 05:10 PM

Are you sure that it isn't related to this kind of thing:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter

Quote:

The Most Noble Order of the Garter is an English order of chivalry dating from mediæval times. It is the world's oldest national order of knighthood, and the pinnacle of the British honours system. Its membership is extremely limited compared to most modern orders, consisting of the Sovereign and not more than 25 full members, or Companions. Male members are known as Knights Companion, and female members are known as Ladies Companion (not Dames, as in most other British chivalric orders). The Order also includes certain extra members (e.g., members of the British Royal Family and foreign monarchs), known as "Supernumerary" Knights and Ladies. Unlike most other orders, the Order of the Garter is not subject to the Prime Minister's binding advice on appointments; rather, the Sovereign alone grants membership. Membership in the Order is thus the personal gift of the Sovereign. Except for the grants of supernumerary membership, awards are made only to those with an exceptional record of service to the United Kingdom.

As the name suggests, the Order's primary emblem, depicted on several insignia, is a garter bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense in gold letters. The motto is Old French for "shame upon him who thinks evil of it". The Garter is not only symbolic, but is an accessory worn by the Order's members during ceremonies.

Most British orders of chivalry cover the entire kingdom, but the three most exalted pertain to only one constituent nation. The Order of the Garter, which pertains to England, is most senior in both age and precedence. Its equivalent in Scotland is The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. While the Order of the Thistle was certainly in existence by the 16th century, and possibly has mediæval origins (according to legend, it dates to the eighth century), the foundation of the institution in its modern form dates to 1687. In 1783 an Irish equivalent, The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, was founded, but since the independence of the greater part of Ireland, the Order has fallen dormant: its last surviving knight died in 1974.

Companion is not an uncommon term in this context

Anthony Butcher · 07-01-2007, 05:23 PM

Personally I don't give any credence to the entire honours system. We have already seen how corrupt and PC it is now, so why should we care what it is called?

While I like the idea of rewarding good people, the current system just makes a mockery of it.

05-01-2007, 07:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 23,128	Political correctness in award titles Yes, I remember this being reported at the time. We really do appear to have gone soft as a nation with all this political correctness. Who is going to want an award called the Order of British Excellence?

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05-01-2007, 07:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Besoeker Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 5,114	placid?

05-01-2007, 07:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	Isn't "commander" actually a "knight commander"? Which makes "companion" sound like the bird who gives the knight his lance colours. Mandy would like that. Make it so! :twisted:

07-01-2007, 11:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
freedom & democracy 4 Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Emsworth, full of the EU's Polish imports! Posts: 209	Companion, next they will complet a communist transfromation by proclaiming everyone comrade!

07-01-2007, 05:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 10,315 Party: None	Personally I don't give any credence to the entire honours system. We have already seen how corrupt and PC it is now, so why should we care what it is called? While I like the idea of rewarding good people, the current system just makes a mockery of it.