There are a number news stories addressing the fact that ‘The Queen’ (Elizabeth of Britain) is celebrating 60 years on the throne this year. There are also a number of blog posts regarding this fact, and the fact that the Britain of 60 years ago is hardly the equivalent of the current state. In short, she is no longer Great.
My family genealogy takes me back to British History, in fact the family Coat-of-Arms shows three crosses, delineating (I’m told), the Guffaw family was in service of the Church in three Crusades. But much of this side of the family emanates from Ireland. (The other from Germany).
And my maternal side of the family is D.A.R. material, having fought against the British in The American Revolution. As previously recounted in these pages: Sybil Ludington
While I’m proud of my family’s heritage and history, proud of being of Irish, German and English stock, however, I am an American. Much to the dismay of a number of my friends who are anglophiles who are reveling in the current 60 year celebration of the Queen.
While perusing all the hubbub about this matter, I remembered an event years ago, when I was first working at TMCCC.
A female co-worker was quite emotional regarding the shocking loss of Princess Diana, and was going on-and-on about how sad the event was. The Princess was beautiful, she helped so many charities, yatta, yatta, yatta. While I recognized the loss, it was not as if she were an American icon, a Jackie Kennedy for example?
But, we read to our young children fairy tales about princesses, and set ourselves up for this anglomania, especially in our women, who remember the princess fantasies of childhood. And this attachment seems especially strong in our connection to Britain, rather than Monaco or some other European duchy.
I’m (in)famous in my small circle for opening my mouth and inserting my foot both feet up to my knees. Repeatedly. I did not disappoint in this circumstance.
After seemingly endless hours of adulation for the Princess, I’d had enough. And I said, “I thought we fought a war to get away from those a$$7372s!” Which, of course, was true.
My timing might have been a bit off.
I was treated with icy silence the rest of the day by the person whom I offended. It was rude of me.
But I still don’t get the fascination with ‘The Royals’. In a Nation born of fighting them; to divorce ourselves of the class warfare embedded in Europe.
To be here, in the United States, 236 years after the Declaration of Independence, after freedom from the oppression of the ‘upper classes’ only to have it remanufactured by the so-called 99%, to promote Marxism and anarchy. Because that worked so well in Europe.
Looks like I put my feet in my mouth again…
The only queen I love is a bee… a honey bee.
The death of any human being diminishes me – by incalculable though immutable degrees.
Their race, creed or nation has nothing to do with it. I am saddened by the death of obviously innocent people most, and those who are stupid or evil a bit less perhaps, but that would be the only distinction.
I don’t understand the worship and adulation of “royals.” But I see no difference between that and any worshipful nationalism in the long run. The death of the princess would have been no more or less sad to me if she’d been an American.
I am a human being, first and foremost. I happen to have been born in and live in “America.” The second fact does nothing to change the first one.
And it certainly doesn’t make me anything “special.”
Posted by MamaLiberty | June 3, 2012, 8:05 amI am of British & Scots-Irish ancestry – and would probably have said the same thing you did. My dad’s family was from Yorkshire, but I’m hardly a Yorkshireman; American, born & bred. But I don’t get the fascination – it’s interesting, but that’s all. To paraphrase John Adams, “My country is Alaska.”
Posted by Rev. Paul | June 3, 2012, 8:32 amAh, the endless quirks in our population makes life interesting. My question is this. Does anyone think the “Royals” even care what we think?
Posted by WSF | June 3, 2012, 9:08 amGuffaw, are you trying to stir up chaos amongst the ranks of the Anarchists?
Posted by Gregory Brown | June 3, 2012, 6:21 pmThey’re Anarchists…they should welcome chaos.
Posted by guffaw1952 | June 3, 2012, 7:54 pmDoes anyone here really care about Dutch or Monaco royalty? While I do not feel qualified to meddle in the affairs of a foreign nation, why does the UK still have royalty, anyhow? We did fight a war against them some 236 years ago, and AFAIK, we bloodied their noses pretty good. I do respect the Grand Duchy of Fenwick, however, ‘cuz they do possess the Q-Bomb, after all. (Yes, I know it’s a dud, but shhhh!)
Posted by liamburner | June 3, 2012, 9:00 pmWelcome to the Moon, gentlemen!
Posted by guffaw1952 | June 3, 2012, 9:07 pmAs a Canadian citizen but American resident, I think the love of the Royals that permeates American society comes from a human longing to follow another human and hold THEM up as an example to follow. In America, we don’t have that sense of permanence: The only thing that’s the same in government is the Constitution, and while that is a fantastic and inspiring document, it is a document, and as such, lacks a personality.
It’s important to remember here in the states that the monarchy that fought against independence for the Colonies is VERY different than the monarchy today in terms of power and sway over government. The Queen today is a figurehead and an important touchstone to a past, but that’s about it. Harboring resentment over the actions of George II is roughly equivalent to being PO’ed at the state of Connecticut for giving the world Benedict Arnold…
The Queen is Britain. She is the embodiment of the Commonwealth, and she’s quite a gal.
Her son, on the other hand, has all the makings of another Edward VII, but even less competent. William I have hope for, and Harry’s like his ancestor Henry V, but the shorter time that man is on the throne, the better off we’ll be.
Posted by exurbankevin | June 3, 2012, 11:13 pmThanks for your unique perspective. – gfa
Posted by guffaw1952 | June 4, 2012, 7:51 amI love royal events because the clothes are generally fabulous and tend to show up on my favorite fashion website. Of course, I’m not BUYING the furs, cars, heels, fascinators etc, because I’m not a bloody subject; I’m an American. That lets me enjoy their frippery in peace.
Posted by Lissa | June 4, 2012, 4:09 amWhatever floats your boat! I don’t care for it, when there are other important things about. But, I don’t care for American fashion frippery, either.
Posted by guffaw1952 | June 4, 2012, 7:53 amWhen William married Kate last year I snipped the following comic out of my local newspaper and pinned it to my corkboard:
http://www.gocomics.com/tomthedancingbug/2011/04/28
Pretty much put an end to co-workers asking me what I thought of the royal wedding!
Still, 60 years on the throne is quite an accomplishment on Elizabeth’s part. I’m just not going to obsess over it.
Posted by UncleMikes1897 | June 4, 2012, 11:01 amProud of my ancestry – the whole mix of it, but I agree with exerbankvin, we are looking for someone to look up to and to follow. John Paul II was well aware of this as he canonized so many saints – his intent was to give us good examples to set our sights on. Our standards often get misplaced, as with the adulation given to sports figures and rock and movie stars.
Although I viewed it as an tragedy, I also got thoroughly annoyed with the Princess Diana coverage. In the midst of it I was listening to a radio host rant about its excesses: “It’s not like Mother Teresa died, folks!”. No more than an hour later there was sudden silence, then he came back on with “I’ve just been informed that Mother Teresa has died.” Painful irony.
Posted by ProudHillbilly | June 5, 2012, 2:37 pm