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Monday, 4 June 2012

Jubilee


There is very little interest in the jubilee round here if bunting and flags are any guide. On that basis, folk were far more enthusiastic about the last football world cup – at least until England were knocked out.

I’m not surprised really. I’m no monarchist, but neither am I a republican. When one considers the shits we manage to elect now, it’s pretty obvious we’d just end up with one more shit and a lot of useless expense if we had a president. Anyway, we do have a president, a useless shit we didn’t elect.

What has Mrs Windsor done about her ministers giving away her country? Nothing visible to the keenest eye as far as I can tell. I rather think that was her job, her defining mission, her chance to validate over a thousand years of monarchy. But as far as we are allowed to know she flunked it.

So why those few enthusiasts bother to wave the flag and cheer the empty vessel, I don’t know. Just possibly these patriotic games give us a glimpse of what might have been. Just possibly.

So is that all we have left on the political stage? Nostalgia?

3 comments:

Demetrius said...

Wasn't it just after the 1897 Diamond Jubilee that the Empire began to run into increasing problems? The Boer War comes to mind, also the Sudan which proved no end of trouble.

A K Haart said...

Demetrius - hmm - is that a coincidence? I suppose we'll find out soon enough.

James Higham said...

Interesting comment, Demetrius and think I'll include it in the triple post scheduled tomorrow, titled "mere coincidence".