by Oxpictus

Created on: November 02, 2008

The British monarch is an anachronism! The 21st century has no place for such silly pomposity. The idea of having a queen, even only as a figurehead in a nation, is an expensive frivolity that even the most die-hard traditionalist could question in these hard economic times.

Tourists go to Great Britian to see historical buildings, the London Museum, Stonehenge and to perhaps visit those places where ancestors have lived. Few go to England, to get a glimpse of the queen or her family. The queen and her family are fodder for the tabloids and gossip columns, with the press of a rock group coupled with living off the beneficence of the British people.

"Its traditional", some will say. Yes, and the rack and thumbscrews were a part of "traditional" British incarceration, which were retired long ago. Britain has an elected prime minister, the House of Lords and the House of Commons; enough elected officials to conduct the legislation of any country.

So why continue the monarchy? If the queen pointed at someone and said, "Off with his head!" would this take place? Of course not. That person would have to be formally charged with a crime, arrested, and go through a court trial. If found guilty, they would go to jail for a certain amount of time. (No rack, this time.)

If you ask a proponent of the monarchy of what benefit is the queen, you would hear that she is good for tourism. Does she have her own little receiving room at Heathrow, where she greets each plane load of people arriving on British soil? No, she is probably traveling between one of her many palaces, wondering what new embarrassment will be caused by Prince Charles.

"She is dedicated to the people.", advocates will say. Well, so was Mother Theresa, and I doubt the queen is in the same league as Mother Theresa. Hers was true dedication.

"Her subjects love her." Inferred subservience, imbedded in a child's psyche from birth, could make people actually believe that they love some woman born into a certain lineage. Really, it seems the only useful thing a monarchy could do is to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of a shop on Piccadilly Road. or be present at the opening of a hospital, in which they had no hand in creating.

You know, Thanksgiving is approaching, in 3 1/2 weeks. Every year, I give thanks for my ancestors who were smart enough to break away from a monarchy and come to America, where all men and women are created equal.

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