I just read that the admitted wife batterer, Sean Connery, has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (or will be shortly). I have several questions about this, one of which is; based on what criteria is someone knighted? What did Sean Connery do, or have to do, to qualify for this honor? One would think that having openly stated that he not only feels it’s acceptable, but also necessary, to smack your wife around from time to time to keep her in line, would prove him to be a dishonorable man and therefore unworthy of a title such as this. Or does it have nothing whatsoever to do with the kind of man you are, but some sort of rank you’ve attained through good works or something?
I’d also like to understand why his not having been knighted before this was an embarrassing situation for Britain’s Labor government. Does it have something to do with having been “eligible,” but denied the honor because of his support of the Scottish National Party’s bid for independence? Or is it just that the Scots think he should have been honored in spite of his political views, whether eligible or not?
Then; what does one do with one’s title after it’s bestowed? Does it afford him any privileges or perks outside of being referred to as Sir Sean Connery? If so, what would those be?
And lastly, does it sicken anyone else that this creepazoid (fine actor though he may be) has been honored in such a way? And it’s not just by the Queen of England. He’s also a member of France’s Legion of Honor and a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors here in the U.S. What the heck does he keep getting honored so much for? I mean, he’s just an actor for heaven’s sake. Unless he’s involved in some kind of humanitarian cause(s) of which I’m unaware. I just don’t get it. Can anyone enlighten me, please?
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” - Anne Frank
Usually actors get knighted for ‘Services towards the Entertainment Industry’. It’s really just a title, nothing else, and it acknowledges that he’s still alive, still entertaining, and considered pretty darned good at it. You won’t find a knighted entertainer under sixty, usually, though Cliff Richard got his (for the music biz, of course) when he was quite young.
Just to show off, my brother’s Father-in-Law is a Knight. He got knighted for services towards Politics, I think.
I’m not sure what the official criteria are (if any), but in practical terms they seem to be mainly just a recognition of extraordinary achievement (or extraordinary popularity). Actors, musicians, and football players can all be eligible. Kinda like the Oscars’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
Connery was up for a knighthood a couple years ago but it was denied, allegedly because of his support for the SNP. (The British government denies this but everyone else seems to believe it, for whatever that’s worth.) If he gets one now it’s probably just because the government is sick of the whole controversy.
It still strikes me as odd that a Scottish nationalist would want a British knighthood, though.