A castrated lion – the perfect symbol for European defence policy
Military lion shorn of his equipment after women troops protest
The proud motto of northern Europe’s crack rapid-reaction force is ad omnia paratus. Prepared for everything, everywhere. But the heraldic lion above the Latin tag now sends a less plucky message – he has just been digitally emasculated and, though technically still a lion rampant, he does not seem to be ready for anything, anywhere.
The change was implemented after a group of women Swedish soldiers protested that they could not identify with such an ostentatiously male lion on their army crest. A complaint of sex discrimination was then lodged with the European Court of Justice.
“We were forced to cut the lion’s willy off with the aid of a computer,” Christian Braunstein, from the Tradition Commission of the Swedish Army, said.
Most upset, though, was Vladimir Sagerlund, the designer of the crest from the National Archives. “A heraldic lion is a powerful and stately figure with its genitalia intact and I cannot approve an edited image,” he told öteborgs-Posten, a Swedish daily.
“The Army lacks knowledge about heraldry. Coats of arms containing lions without genitalia were given to those who betrayed the Crown.”
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Comments
I'm suprised they left the sword.
Posted by: Cybrludite | December 15, 2007 9:18 AM
"The change was implemented after a group of women Swedish soldiers protested that they could not identify with such an ostentatiously male lion"
But it has long hair and painted nails!
Posted by: Gareth | December 15, 2007 11:35 PM
I wonder if the removal of such genetalia has anything to do with our failure to reach 2008 whatevertheyare finals?
Posted by: Dan | December 16, 2007 8:24 AM
I wonder if the removal of such genetalia has anything to do with our failure to reach 2008 whatevertheyare finals?
Posted by: Dan | December 16, 2007 8:24 AM
Seems to me like the men ought to protest that they cannot serve if their emblem is clearly a female lion.
Posted by: Global Warming | December 17, 2007 7:19 PM
Surely a lion without male genitalia is a pussy?
No coincidence that the last time the England football team won owt was with a mascot called World Cup Willie.
Posted by: Doctor Mick | December 18, 2007 8:57 AM
Yes, women, you have your priority - your plane reproductive anatomy. But, think, what will happen if
men's genitals will be plane too. And is it witty this regulative hystery. This castration is an answer to men's domination? But women's domination is more human?
And the poor lioness was she asked about her permission? Will lioness be content with women's untolerance to the lion penis size? Say me...
Best, Ven from Vilnius
Posted by: Ven | June 3, 2008 5:25 PM
Yes, women, you have your priority - your plane reproductive anatomy. But, think, what will happen if
men's genitals will be plane too. And is it witty this regulative hystery. This castration is an answer to men's domination? But women's domination is more human?
And the poor lioness was she asked about her permission? Will lioness be content with women's untolerance to the lion penis size? Say me...
Best, Ven from Vilnius
Posted by: Ven | June 3, 2008 5:25 PM