I get not caring about the crown; this country was born so we wouldn’t have to care about it. It’s unwise to dismiss the monarchy as a mere relic of a bygone era, however. We thought the same of empire and that mindset hasn’t gone away. If anything it’s trying its damndest to reassert itself. I think it’s partly because most people have this nostalgia for a traditional aesthetic.
They want to believe in the good king, the British Crown that’s more important than the individual, that impulse of nobility that somehow used to exist but doesn’t anymore. It never really did of course, but that’s how nostalgia works. It’s not terrible in and of itself but as we’re seeing overseas nostalgia can be easily used for evil purposes.
On paper, having a neutered monarch can present some advantages. Since their rich lifestyle is subsidized by the country and they can’t lose it unless the country dies, they can be above typical political machination and be a voice for the people in a way that politicians can’t. That’s what people thought of in Queen Elizabeth II. The problem is that if they aren’t in touch with the people then they’re effectively useless. And since the gap between the rich and poor keeps growing (both financially and culturally) there’s even less connection between the royalty and the common folk. Much as I value traditions for culture’s sake, if they aren’t helping or they’re acting as a hindrance they should be reformed or demolished.
Monarchy itself doesn’t really matter much to me regardless. Far as I’m concerned the only true King has yet to return to us, all the others are just pretenders.
I get not caring about the crown; this country was born so we wouldn’t have to care about it. It’s unwise to dismiss the monarchy as a mere relic of a bygone era, however. We thought the same of empire and that mindset hasn’t gone away. If anything it’s trying its damndest to reassert itself. I think it’s partly because most people have this nostalgia for a traditional aesthetic.
They want to believe in the good king, the British Crown that’s more important than the individual, that impulse of nobility that somehow used to exist but doesn’t anymore. It never really did of course, but that’s how nostalgia works. It’s not terrible in and of itself but as we’re seeing overseas nostalgia can be easily used for evil purposes.
On paper, having a neutered monarch can present some advantages. Since their rich lifestyle is subsidized by the country and they can’t lose it unless the country dies, they can be above typical political machination and be a voice for the people in a way that politicians can’t. That’s what people thought of in Queen Elizabeth II. The problem is that if they aren’t in touch with the people then they’re effectively useless. And since the gap between the rich and poor keeps growing (both financially and culturally) there’s even less connection between the royalty and the common folk. Much as I value traditions for culture’s sake, if they aren’t helping or they’re acting as a hindrance they should be reformed or demolished.
Monarchy itself doesn’t really matter much to me regardless. Far as I’m concerned the only true King has yet to return to us, all the others are just pretenders.