The Royal Wedding

What is the opinion of the average, working class British individual regarding this absurd spectacle?

Admin wrote:What is the opinion of the average, working class British individual regarding this absurd spectacle?

*Cough* -- I'm English. A pox on these royal parasites and this anachronism of a monarchy. The Hapsburgs, Hohenzollerns, Ottomans, and countless other monarchies have been washed away by the tides of 20th century history; these worthless Windsors remain. The point about the Windsors is neither their wealth (they don't have much) nor their power (non-existent, except symbolic and ceremonial), but that they serve as the apex and epitome of an ossified and anachronistic class system that -- like the curved spine of a hunchback -- prevents the body social from developing in a healthy fashion. Our institutions -- Houses of Commons and Lords, our judiciary, our social structure -- are all built with reference to a monarchical structure. That the monarchy is now symbol and spectacle doesn't affect the legitimacy the institution of the monarchy lends to these obsolete and ossified structures.

hermeticist wrote:

Admin wrote:What is the opinion of the average, working class British individual regarding this absurd spectacle?

*Cough* -- I'm English. A pox on these royal parasites and this anachronism of a monarchy. The Hapsburgs, Hohenzollerns, Ottomans, and countless other monarchies have been washed away by the tides of 20th century history; these worthless Windsors remain. The point about the Windsors is neither their wealth (they don't have much) nor their power (non-existent, except symbolic and ceremonial), but that they serve as the apex and epitome of an ossified and anachronistic class system that -- like the curved spine of a hunchback -- prevents the body social from developing in a healthy fashion. Our institutions -- Houses of Commons and Lords, our judiciary, our social structure -- are all built with reference to a monarchical structure. That the monarchy is now symbol and spectacle doesn't affect the legitimacy the institution of the monarchy lends to these obsolete and ossified structures.

Interesting explanation. I, too, am curious regarding this question.

Some women my wife knows, ordinary working-class (although with middle-class aspirations, typical British), ardent "royalists" were discussing the forthcoming event (although my wife as any good republican should has a dislike for any royal ass kissing). They expressed horror that with all the cut backs and austerity talk, the local council still has money to idulge in festivities to mark the event.

So I would say this time the "royals" (gawd bless em), and the 'elite', may have misjudged a bit. The 'Bread and Circuses' may not have quite the desired effect.

Unfortunately come the day the British (working-class or otherwise) will fawn and celebrate, Just like the Americans at the 'Oscars'. For a few days after all you'll hear is how lovely 'kiss me Kate' looked, but then (perhaps) the working-class will stop and look around them. Then comrades I will tell you what the woking-class are thinking.

Here is an informative and sobering article in -- of all places -- Newsweek.

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/04/24/time-for-a-royal-wedding-while-england-is-royally-screwed.html

An excerpt:

The country is facing the biggest squeeze in living standards since the 1920s. Government budgets have been slashed in every direction. This year hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers will get the sack, while inflation, tax increases, and a steep reduction in welfare benefits will eat into the household incomes of nearly everyone else. A whole range of public institutions, from military airfields to public libraries, are closing or being sold off. What remains of the British Navy has been deprived of its last aircraft carrier (the HMS Ark Royal, now for sale on the Ministry of Defence’s version of eBay).

On a side note, I observe that even bastions of ruling class opinion like the Financial Times, WSJ, and Newsweek are now printing sombre pieces like the one above.