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Big Ben Name Change?

SJK91SJK91
edited June 2012 in General Discussion Posts: 1,310
http://news.yahoo.com/big-ben-renamed-elizabeth-tower-report-232721084.html

Being that I'm from the States, I'm a little weary...but can one of you Brits confirm this news??????

Comments

  • thelordflasheartthelordflasheart
    Posts: 1,370
    I thought this was a joke whose humour was too dry to be understood as a joke until I read the article...I also thought that they were thinking of a temporary name change, as in just for the celebrations. But it looks to be a serious news story.

    There are two important points in the story - first of all, the Clock Tower's name isn't really Big Ben:

    "The 316-foot tower is formally known as the Clock Tower, but it is commonly called Big Ben after the huge bell that it holds, whose distinctive "bongs" sound out the hours in central London."

    And the second, in my mind, even more important point is this:

    "Lawmakers accepted that the iconic tower, which looms over the 19-century Gothic revival parliament, would continue to be known colloquially as Big Ben, but said that its formal name should honor Queen Elizabeth."

    So it looks like a win-win situation - Elizabeth gets honoured and everyone keeps calling it Big Ben anyway...
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,339
    As they say in fencing: What's the point?
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    CommanderRoss wrote:
    As they say in fencing: What's the point?

    Exactly.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    Posts: 12,480
    Well, the clock istself is still known as Big Ben - but the tower will be the Elizabeth Tower to honor your queen. I think it is a nice accolade. Why not?
  • actonsteveactonsteve
    Posts: 1,492
    This is sycophancy going too far, Where's Cromwell when you need him?
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited June 2012 Posts: 12,837
    4EverBonded wrote:
    Well, the clock istself is still known as Big Ben - but the tower will be the Elizabeth Tower to honor your queen. I think it is a nice accolade. Why not?

    I'm anti monarchist. I think it's pointless because everyone will still call it Big Ben, people will have forgotten about it pretty quickly.
  • myworldisenoughmyworldisenough
    Posts: 1,143
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    4EverBonded wrote:
    Well, the clock istself is still known as Big Ben - but the tower will be the Elizabeth Tower to honor your queen. I think it is a nice accolade. Why not?

    I'm anti monarchist. I think it's pointless because everyone will still call it Big Ben, people will have forgotten about it pretty quickly.

    Well I'm like James Bond, a Monarchist. For Queen and Country! BTW it should not have a name change. Big Ben is the bell (officially) plus the clock and tower as far as I'm concerned. Rename the Mall, Queen Elizabeth Way

  • AlexanderWaverlyAlexanderWaverly
    edited June 2012 Posts: 2,115
    "Please acknowledge acceptance of our terms by arranging for Elizabeth Tower to ring seven times at 6 p.m. tomorrow." (totally non serious comment)

  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,339
    I'm a monarchist as well, for our own Royalty, obviously, but I think only buildings built in the day of said Royal should get the name, not a building that's been there for hundreds of years.
  • fire_and_icefire_and_ice
    edited June 2012 Posts: 6,432
    why don't they just rename it big Liz. like a previous poster stated, pointless.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,393
    They should rename it the William and Kate Tower, because those two have rescued the worldwide image of the royal family after the Charles/Camilla debacle.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    They can change the name if they want? But it will always be known as Big Ben to me! :-bd
  • nick_007nick_007 Ville Marie
    Posts: 443
    RogueAgent wrote:
    They can change the name if they want? But it will always be known as Big Ben to me! :-bd

    Big Ben was never the name of the tower. Big Ben is the name of the bell that rings. The bell isn't getting a name change. the tower that the bell is in will get a name change. What's the big deal?

  • VirageVirage
    Posts: 1,856
    Big Bess?
  • JWESTBROOKJWESTBROOK
    Posts: 5,745
    nick_007 wrote:
    RogueAgent wrote:
    They can change the name if they want? But it will always be known as Big Ben to me! :-bd

    Big Ben was never the name of the tower. Big Ben is the name of the bell that rings. The bell isn't getting a name change. the tower that the bell is in will get a name change. What's the big deal?

    Yes but that doesn't change the fact that internationally the whole thing is commonly misknown to be Big Ben. I didn't know it was the bell until I read it on this forum a few months ago..

    Keep in mind outside of England its not in textbooks or common knowledge that its the bell. And all of that has already been discussed. So it will always be known as Big Ben to international people.
  • nick_007nick_007 Ville Marie
    Posts: 443
    So it was a misconception before and it will be a misconception in the future. I still fail to see how it is a big deal? People used to think the clock tower was Big Ben and now they will think Elizabeth Tower is big Ben. Same difference, non?
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent
    Posts: 12,526
    nick_007 wrote:
    RogueAgent wrote:
    They can change the name if they want? But it will always be known as Big Ben to me! :-bd

    Big Ben was never the name of the tower. Big Ben is the name of the bell that rings. The bell isn't getting a name change. the tower that the bell is in will get a name change. What's the big deal?

    Yep i am aware of that, but as mentioned above? Visitors know the land mark as the Houses of Parlaiment, and Big Ben. And once changed? It will still be seen that way still i'm sure?
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