The good news for me after watching hours of the coverage of the death of Elizabeth is that people all over the world still love freedom and decency. That is her legacy.
The sad news for me is the growing realization that the people of England, our mother country, are, in so many ways, freeer and more united than we are.
I got hooked on the Queen’s last procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey this morning; I meant to watch the march for a few minutes, but I ended up glued to the screen for a couple of hours.
That big story is revealing itself to me this week as our country plunges deeper and deeper into cruelty, repression, and the grip of haters and wannabe Putins. The Queen defended democracy and civility while her renegade nation’s offspring are tearing it to pieces.
I don’t know precisely how this worked and how the Queen clarifies it; I know that her leadership has accomplished something we are sorely and dangerously missing.
How many hundreds of thousands of Americans would line up in the rain for 24 hours to pay respect to an American leader who stands for constitutional tradition, honor, and duty?
This morning I saw leaders of both parties and all major parliament officials gathering together to respect the Queen and greet her successor.
The moving and subdued process clarified several things I’ve thought about as I watched TV (I love the BBC.)
I find the Queen’s death overwhelming in some ways; the global and British responses are so deep, wide, and powerful that I’m having a tough time getting my head around it.
I’ve had one thought that repeatedly returns as I watch this pageantry.
I keep thinking of what a nasty, angry, and cold country we have become by contrast, even as compassion and freedom in Great Britain endure. This country is also rife with conflict, divisions, and economic and political woes.
I was struck by the many steps the government, authorities, and police have taken to make the countless mourners lining up to say goodbye to their Queen comfortable.
They are handing out numbers so the mourners won’t lose their place in line if they have to go to the bathroom and eat something.
In much of our country, giving an aging voter a drink while they wait to vote is now illegal, and letting old, mail-disabled, and poor people mail in or drop their votes in country receptacles is against the law, a felony.
The British government is doing everything it can to encourage people who come and pay respect to their dead Queen be safe and comfortable. People will easily access bathroom facilities, refreshments, and first aid stations.
Helpful police officers (mostly unarmed) work day and night to take care of people, hand out blankets and umbrellas, guide them to food stations and bathrooms, and take selfies with kids.
People are extraordinarily well behaved, calm and respectful, even in the cold rain and massive crowds.
People are not showing up with guns strapped to their waists to show how tough they are, a new rite of the people’s public gatherings in America.
In America, anything many governments can do to make participating in our democracy more painful, challenging, and uncomfortable is being done.
England offers a jarring contrast. Lining up to see the Queen is made as easy as possible. Lining up to vote in America is getting more and more difficult. In a democracy, that is an awful thing to write. In England this week, people seemed to work at being good to one another. In our country, people work day and night to hate one another, often cheered on by our leaders.
We have no Queen.
How can a country with a thriving monarchy be more democratic and kind to its people than the world’s first and oldest democracy?
In our country, teachers, civil servants, election officials, librarians, politicians, FBI agents, and IRS workers now have to fend off death threats and thugs with guns showing up at their homes and workplaces.
Police are not sent to investigate parents with gay and transgender children and threaten them with arrest. Teachers can be sued for teaching their students about slavery and transgender people.
Neighbors are given cash to turn other neighbors in for supporting abortions.
In their country, abortion is safe, available, and legal, especially in rape, incest, or severe threats to the mother’s health. Women can make their own decisions about their lives and bodies.
There is a sizeable anti-abortion movement in England. Still, there is no support for the cruel and punitive legislation enacted all over our country to punish and torture women who get pregnant and children who are born gay or wish to change their gender.
From my reading of history, America was meant to be a country where people can be what they want and where government and religion (a source for much of the violence in world history) are separate.
In our country, blatantly racist and sexist white Christian Nationalists call for a Christian nation in our growingly diverse Republic.
In England, the monarch is head of the Church of England, yet the government does not demand that other faiths leave or suggest they don’t belong or have no rights. Isn’t there something to learn from this while we’re all engrossed in the pageantry?
In much of our country, 10-year-old rape victims risk being charged with murder if they try to abort their babies.
Nobody in England is telling gay people that they can’t or shouldn’t marry or that Mickey Mouse has no right to his own opinion. People can be “woke” or “asleep,” it’s not the government’s business; they have real work to do.
The point of the Queen for the British (who are just as quarrelsome and divided as we are) is that she is a unifying force. She has always supported democracy, respect for the law, the value of tradition, and the idea of treating people with concern and dignity.
England has been through Brexit, the death of a Queen, severe economic woes, and the resignation of a Prime Minister. There has not been a single act of violence or any attempt to overturn the peaceful and democratic traditions of the country or struggle with death threats to public workers who are trying to do their jobs.
In their country, conspiracy theories and trolls are being regulated and punished; in our country, they are being celebrated and protected, and some are even getting elected. They are troubled but healthy at the core; we are troubled and sick at the core.
I see that the Queen, of all people, deserves some of the credit. She is the only X factor that makes any sense. She held the core together.
British politicians have plenty of troubles, but no prominent leader in England has openly urged or led a resurrection aimed at Parliament and their work or claimed the transition of power to King Charles was stolen and illegitimate.
Can you imagine thousands of people with lethal weapons storming Westminster Abbey or Parliament to keep King Charles from the throne?
I’ve never been ashamed to be an American before.
The Queen always advocated for constitutional traditions, and partly due to her, they are respected, even in times of struggle.
The British can put aside their worries and differences regarding the death of a Queen or the elevation of A King. Change is accepted and embraced. Politicians understand that they will sometimes win and sometimes lose.
In America, that is no longer the cherished tradition that is practiced. The new one is lying and stealing, winning at all costs, and never admitting defeat.
Our country’s political process has been so corrupted and undermined that the scramble among positions is now for who can be the most extreme, cruel, dishonest, and divisive person, not the smartest, most compassionate, and effective.
Has anyone’s life been improved by fighting with Mickey Mouse?
Somehow, and for reasons I can’t quite grasp yet, the Queen stood between the forces of evil and the forces of Good. Perhaps this was because she always stood for the common understanding of good, duty, and responsibility.
The Queen never lied, supported dividers and racists, liars and traitors, or put herself over her duty.
Thanks to Liz Chaney for keeping this idea alive, even at great personal and political sacrifice. She’s far from finished.
In England, the courts still function independently of politics. In our country, one takes one side, and the other takes the other. Justice is just another argument.
The Queen never told businesses what they could believe, teachers what they should teach, prosecutors what they should prosecute., women when they should have children.
She always spoke of duty and tradition.
That’s the point. Honesty, compassion, and decency still work.
The Queen mattered.
This week marked the first time in my life that I gave a thought to living in another country. The Queen did it!
Fortunately, I can’t afford it.
I always have, all of my life, thought of America as the best place to live. And I’m not leaving.
The lesson of the dead Queen is that you don’t have to argue, manipulate, or fabricate.
You just let your life make the arguments for you.
In her way, she stood up for democracy while many of our leaders have abandoned it and are betraying it. She stood up for the truth when so many of our leaders lie. And the irony of ironies is that a Queen from a thousand-year-old monarchy stood up for democracy and freedom, so many of our so-called leaders chose cowardice and treason.
Her country can pull together, while ours can only seem to fall farther apart.
In one of the world’s first democracies, the cradle of liberty, the land of the free, the Queen has shown us that we are not nearly as free as her grieving subjects.
This is oddly uplifting to me. Freedom is in our national DNA, and I believe it will triumph.
People want to be free more than they want to be angry. Perhaps one day, we will agree on what freedom means and what it is.
Our leaders increasingly cover themselves in robes of shame, cowardice, and the abandonment of duty and honor. And millions of people love them for it and applaud them. That is dispiriting and heartbreaking.
If we can’t have a Queen, perhaps we can find a true leader. The Queen also shows us that true leaders can unite. Our own Messiah is stirring and getting ready to rise somewhere out there.
The liars and hate-mongers in our country will never have the respect or influence she had or unite our country in how she helped match hers.
What we do have is a love of freedom and individuality. That is a root that runs deep.
The world still loves freedom and decency. It will rise again.
Paragraph 30, beginning “In England, the Monarch “, I believe you meant to say “the government is NOT demanding. Don’t mean to be picky, but I think the distinction is important in this case. The article hits on so many important points.
Not picky at all, Carolyn, I appreciate the correction it IS important. I’ll go and fix it, thanks. I’d prefer to be corrected than wrong.
Jon, I read with interest you post today regarding the Queen’s death and the associated response to it in the UK. And your comparisons to the USA. I am Canadian. Queen Elizabeth was our Queen as well and many share the mourning of her death. You comment about the US being ‘ the world’s first and oldest democracy’ is somewhat troubling. Is it really? I struggle with e the US being held up as the bastion of democracy ( and not just by you) it seems to be me there are many other countries that e brass democracy and May in fact have done so be fore the US. But maybe with less fanfare. I find it puzzling and annoying..and wonder if in part it is a contributor to problems facing the US at this time. It seems, at times, that the US and its citizens are more in false awe of themselves than anything. This sounds angry I’m sure, but who said that America was the leader of the free world? It is repeated over and over again, as if the world has pledged and believed it to be so. NOT ! Really? Not so sure if outside the US that is the thinking. When immigrants came to to the US in years past they also went to Canada, to Australia , etc. It is like the US is a figment of its own imagination. Thank you for allowing the opportunity to express these thoughts. Alex
Interesting Alex, a good point. As I go through my favorite history blogs, I see several other countries, including Marino and Iceland, lay claim to being the first democracies, so I changed the text to say “one of the first…” I think Americans are so screwed up right now and angry and confused I don’t they anyone is in awe of the country at the moment, it’s a very painful time, whoever was first, our democracy is under siege. Thanks for your comments, they are thoughtful and interesting.
Jon, I’m glad you wrote this piece on the queen and the monarchy of Britain. While I feel that the monarchy may be running out of time for its purpose as it has been, having a Queen as head of state, such as in Canada as a Commonwealth country, to me, gives it a certain stability as it has done in England and Scotland. While there is talk of dispensing with the monarchy in Scotland, I think it may be quite obvious there are many who do not subscribe to this thought. I may get ‘slammed’ (a new word I’ve learned on the gossipy internet, for saying this, but it’s almost as though Trump has created a river that is so poisonous to the US, though I realize he did not start the disintegration of respect for the White House…and politicians….but the US is going through some very rough times and it’s like he’s the head of the military attacking it’s own country and bringing along the legions of angry people willing to join his crusade. While I don’t agree with the heir and the spare business, because the monarchy has never been known to provide a meaningful purpose in life for the second born. And they stand on ceremony as to who can wear what when Prince Harry served in Afghanistan for some years and in the service, because he’s not a senior royal as before, he cannot wear his uniform as you saw today. Stuff like that makes me think the monarchy’s grey suits need overhauling. Thanks for words today.
Sandy Proudfoot, Canada
Thanks, Sandra, for another thoughtful post. I agree that Trump didn’t begin this, since he has no coherent ideology of his own, but he let the demons out of the jar and exploited them as well as us. He became the voice of rage and frustration.
Unlike you, I am not ashamed to be an American. There are many good, kind people in this country. Millions of hard working, brave Americans built and fought for this this country in order to provide us the freedoms we enjoy every single day. I honor them by being proud to be an American. I am not proud or supportive of corrupt politicians, but I am proud of my neighbor who now shares their home with a Ukrainian mother and daughter. I am proud of my niece who collects coats and blankets for the homeless. I’m proud of your Army of Good. So many reasons to be proud to be an American.
Jon, the monarchy is supported by some UK citizens and some people have been deeply affected by the Queen’s death. What the BBC haven’t represented is that some people in the UK would like the monarchy abolished because the BBC is, in the UK, widely viewed as an antiquated and biased institution. It briefly referred to protesters expressing anti-monarchy sentiment in London being arrested and showed footage of an insult aimed at Prince Andrew but showed the crowd’s put down which was to sing ‘God save the King’ to reinforce their view that the whole of the UK is pro-monarchy. While we have the prerogative to be a monarchist, anti monarchist or to not care either way I have never seen any BBC coverage where they have sought out or represented alternative views about the monarchy, They are painting a picture that the UK is a nation in mourning when, for some, life goes on as normal.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Hi Jon,This I believe is why our queen lived her life like she did.To say millions of people have been affected by her death not only in the UK but all over the world raises the question why?
My daughter who is a teacher was told by a little boy in her class that the Queen was an angel from God.Having looked up what an angel is maybe this was what will explain why the queen’s death as affected so many people.
: a spiritual being serving God especially as a messenger. 2 : a person who is very good, kind, or beautiful.
I would hope that out of her death the message comming across is to love /respect and be patience with one another.
This world of our’s could no worse than to live by the above.
Just to finish off when it was announced that the queen had died the most beatiful rainbow appeared over the palace,while in Scotland her coffin was illuminated by a single sunbeam.
You either believe in God or you Don’t
This is beautiful, Jon. Thank you so much. I believe I read, long ago, that the entire contents of this site may be shared. I intend to do that.
I am not going into the politics of this, that is not my field of interest. But I wanted to share some thoughts as a European who has lived in the US, Canada, Australia and Bermuda. Except the US all of these are part of the Commonwealth. They all print the Queen of England on their money and other carriers.
I have always told everyone that there is no such thing as ‘America’. Or Europe, for that mattter. America might call their states states, Europe might call them countries. Fact is, they are all different in character. Europe more so due to history, but I, as the foreigner overseas, can tell you that the States of America also have their own culture. Sure, whichever State your travel to, you will see 99 percent of the same restaurants and stores. But the lores are different. I hated living in Pennsylvania, to give you an example. Very different from spending time in Boulder, Colorado where things are super liberal. So, there may be a political entity called the United States and there may be a decided trait that all Americans share. But united they are not… and there are haters in every corner of the world. I like to think that we see them so clearly and with so much shock because basically most humans are good people. If we were bad people, the bad would not stand out so much…. Just my five cents.
I just read a book about 5th century BC Greece. Democracy there was mentioned as an aside. https://classicalwisdom.com/people/leaders/solon-the-great-lawgiver-and-first-democrat/#:~:text=Solon%20can%20justly%20be%20considered%20as%20the%20%E2%80%98father,but%20have%20influenced%20societies%20since%20the%20Classical%20era.
But I think more important is how we americans are losing cohesiveness and community. A common queen or king is a source of community, but many of our sources in the US are falling away, like dropping by the local school to watch a teacher teach which my parents did but we cannot, having the “elites” not mix with what they call Deplos now (from deplorables) is a really ugly class system which the Brits have too but they at least communicate with the lower classes. It seems like we are growing our hatred for each other but should be growing out recognition of communal interests.
Wow, those are some rosy colored glasses you are looking through at the UK and at this very orchestrated event. Perhaps you missed the news that peaceful protesters carrying signs against the monarchy are being arrested and jailed to maintain gain this illusion of unity. Jailed. Imagine being jailed in America for carrying a sign expressing an opinion. England’s PR machine is running overtime right now. I myself would far rather have our First Amendment.
Yup, I love Rose colored glasses, it’s a good way to see the world.