The ‘modern’ British Army belongs to (and fights for) the democratically elected ‘Parliament’! It is NOT the ‘Royal’ Army – this has been the case ever since the Armed Forces of Parliament defeated the Armed Forces of King Charles I in the 1640s – and the last absolute monarch of England was executed by ‘beheading’ in 1649. Parliament uses the rhetorical device of ‘ordering’ the British Army to assume that it fights for a ‘Constitutional Monarchy’ – when in fact the British Army is subject to the strictest ‘secular’ discipline and must consider itself at all times subordinate to the democratically elected Members of Parliament (MPs) – who are the only individuals empowered to issue this Army orders.
Part of the duty of the modern British Army is to equip and train certain British Regiments to ‘Stand Guard’ and ceremonially protect government owned buildings within which the family of the (powerless) ‘Constitutional Monarchy’ are permitted to inhabit. To carryout this duty – the men (and now ‘women’) of the British Army must learn the old ways of ‘standing still’ whilst stood to ramrod ‘attention’ for prolonged period of times (mastering a type of militarised meditation). The movements when marching up and down – or changing the side upon which the weapon is held – must be ‘stiff’, ‘perfectly timed’, ‘robotic’ and ‘powerful’! The mind of the soldier must be absolutely ‘calm’, ‘expansive’ and ‘aware’. All in all the ‘presence’ of the on-duty soldier must exude the immense strength and security imbued within the State!
In reality, these ‘Guard’ Regiments are protecting the British State (and everyone living within it) whilst performing a Parliament-induced ‘ceremonial’ role of supposedly guarding the lives of a ‘Constitutional Monarchy’ – a monarchy these soldiers seldom see – or are ever in the buildings being patrolled. In this sense the ancient ritual of ‘guarding’ is a charade – or a piece of very interesting ‘theatre’ that constitutes a living history. These guards are professional soldiers trained to fight on the modern battlefield – but also ‘volunteer’ to learn all the required skills to ‘march’, ‘stand’ and ‘patrol’ just like a British Infantry Soldier did during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Once upon a time – soldiers in the British Army used march into battle dressed in these uniforms and behaving in this manner – whilst advancing on the enemy standing in straight ranks and moving slowly but precisely forward with fixed bayonet! As the dead and wounded in the front-line fell to the ground – soldiers in the supporting ranks would move up and take their place without effecting the momentum of the attack!
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 