Another proud tradition destroyed?

Question

By equal rights. For the first time in 500 years a female has been employed as a beefeater. I think this is a step too far.

Answer 1

I have to agree on this one. The Tower of London has a long, long tradition. It is the very nature of today's Beefeaters to embody that tradition. Having a femal just ruins the whole thing. What's next, men in drag playing as ladies-in-waiting?

Answer 2

But see, this boils down to a fear of change. I think an amazing example of embracing of change is the culture of Bali. Despite their comparatively ancient farming culture, they welcome technology, because they believe that history moves in cycles, and things change in the same patterns. Therefore, if the society you are in now is good, then it is because of past changes. Future societies will be just as good, though different.
Why is change a bad thing? Why does it matter that the old tradition of male-only beefeaters is over? It simply means that a new tradition is born. The phoenix effect, a new regime rising from the ashes.
If not for change, America wouldn't exist. We'd still be hunter gatherer tribes.
Democracy wouldn't exist, we'd still be in functional monarchies, not the figurehead monarchies of Britain and the like.
Diseases would kill us all, as there would be not much more medicine than simple poultices and the lot.
That Lamborghini you covet wouldn't exist. I'll be kind enough to allow you a steam-driven car or an internal combustion kit car from Sears-Roebuck.

I assume a lot about you in the preceding paragraphs, but it is all to make a point.
How is change BAD? Until you can prove the detrimental effects of the new system, you cannot assume that there is anything other than positives gained by any changes.


Justin

Answer 3

Traditions are all relative and have to start somewhere. If the first female beefeater had been 250 years ago, you would probably accept it as not being improper.

Answer 4

but isn't that the whole point of progression? if we kept tradition as is, we'd never be who we are today as far as technology and stuff because "it's tradition." The whole point of moving foward is sometimes old traditions are retired and new traditions take it's place. what would london be like if traditions didn't change? there would be the royals with all the luxories, all the privilages, all the rights, and the peasants with nothing at all. London is a different place than it used to be because traditions were let go and replaced by new ones..for the better I think. How about the U.S.? what traditions have been replaced making it a better place for EVERYONE? not just some few privilaged.....

and why not employ a man for a lady-in-waiting? obviously he won't be called that, more like man-in-waiting, gentleman-in-waiting, or something like that.

we wouldn't have the technology and the nice things we take for granted today if it weren't for letting go of traditions. Seriously, were would you be right now....in london...if you weren't a royal? Don't think of it as losing a tradition, The tradition is not completely gone, it's a part of history now. And what makes up the world....the past, the present, and the future.

Answer 5

About time too. Beefeaters are only symbols, they do not guard anything. The tragedy is lowering the standards in the Armed Forces to allow women in. The only time a woman should be allowed in the amred forces is when she can perform all the duties of all the other soldiers, that is equality.

Answer 6

Not a valid case. I'm afraid. The position as a beefeater is reserved for soldiers who have served in active duty for at least 22 years. She qualified as she was an active SOLDIER. When you on the battle field the bullets don't know what sex you are when the work their way through flesh and bones. She took the risks like every other soldier male or female. Move on.

Answer 7

There's nothing wrong with female beefeaters, in this day and age. A lot of women are taking on roles which men have done in the past. You can get male midwives and no one bats an eyelid, no one complained long about female bishops only those who couldn't come out into the 21st century.

Answer 8

Eh. It's times like this that I'm reminded of Churchill replying to an admiral squawking about an affront to the way things were always done, when he noted that the only traditions in the Royal Navy were rum, sodomy, and the lash.

Answer 9

'Proud Tradition' - don't you mean quaint anachronism, useful for tourists to take photos of and to provide guided tours of a popular landmark.
Why shouldn't a woman do that job?
The Beefeaters today seem to pride themselves on their in-depth knowledge and ability to talk about the history of the Tower of London, their ability to look good in the uniform and maintain it in the highest standard of presentation, and their ability to relate to people from all over the world in such a way as to make their visit memorable and enjoyable.
Anyone who says a woman can't learn as much, can't talk as well, can't present herself as well, and can't relate to people as well as any man is a mysoginistic jerk.

Answer 10

wow things are turning in a different direction now aren't they? i wouldn't nessesarily say it is destroyed, that would be like saying that having a long line of nothing but men as ministers and then all the sudden letting a woman be one is a bad thing. but i suppose people have certain traditions they like to keep. who knows, it could be a step in a good direction for some people. times they are a changin aren't they?