# Why No Sir George Harrison?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-sir-george-harrison/567109>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 10, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-sir-george-harrison/567109 "2011-01-10T16:57:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-sir-george-harrison/567109/41 "2011-01-13T03:34:08Z")

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> [@Shakester](#):
>
> I know Americans like to imagine Australia is a British colony, but we’re not. We’ve been a separate country since 1901, and while QE2 is nominally the Queen of Australia, the actual effect that has on us is nil, and the gov’t of Britain has zero power over the gov’t of Australia.
> 
> ETA: Australia **is** a member of the Commonwealth, but that’s similar to the European Union: there’s no single country in charge, it’s a partnership.

Overreacting much?

Okay, Australians aren’t awarded knighthoods. Thanks for clearing that up.

But nobody said Australia is a British colony. We’re all aware that Australia is an independent country. All SanVito said about Australia’s government was that Queen Elizabeth is the Head of State - which is true.

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**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-sir-george-harrison/567109/42 "2011-01-13T04:26:36Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> Overreacting much?
> 
> Okay, Australians aren’t awarded knighthoods. Thanks for clearing that up.
> 
> But nobody said Australia is a British colony. We’re all aware that Australia is an independent country. All SanVito said about Australia’s government was that Queen Elizabeth is the Head of State - which is true.

I wasn’t reacting so much to the particular statements made here as to some widespread misconceptions about Australia in general. Yes, it’s off topic, but it **is** in keeping with the overall purpose of the SD: fighting ignorance.

Making a big deal about a factual digression seems much more of an overeaction than the digression itself. To me, anyway.

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**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-sir-george-harrison/567109/43 "2011-01-13T06:05:11Z")

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> [@dolphinboy](#):
>
> It would be interesting to know if Ringo turned down knighthood or was simply passed over.

Poor Ringo: he’s always been a hard day’s knight. ☹

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-sir-george-harrison/567109/44 "2011-01-13T14:52:19Z")

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> [@Docta\_G](#):
>
> Poor Ringo: he’s always been a hard day’s knight. ☹

:: rimshot ::

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