Pomp and ceremony or bread and circuses?
Re God save our sturdy, gracious Queen, June 6 It is highly ironic that in the post-economic crash era of austerity, crisis and massive cuts to social programs around the globe, where the working public are told daily by their governments that we cannot afford social “entitlements” like pensions and health care, we are witness to the gratuitous and lavish excesses of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in England celebrating the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
Events such as this celebrate a history of aristocratic rule and excess built on the backs of millions of conquered peoples who were subjugated and exploited all their lives for centuries to allow a privileged few to live in luxury.
The irony of this lavish overspending in the face of a struggling English economy appears lost on the royal family, the British government and the public who unthinkingly perpetuate this checkered tradition.
However, as the Romans knew only too well, providing bread and circuses to keep the minds of the destitute populace off revolution was an effective poverty management strategy then as it is now. It is time the monarchy exited the stage of history as an excess we can ill afford. Dr. Robert Bahlieda, Newmarket As most of us celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, some people call for an end to the monarchy. That’s a popular drum to beat, and one that is usually approved by politicians who don’t want anyone looking over their shoulders while they rob and betray us. But there is a lot to be said for a monarchy and some of the wealthiest, best-developed and most democratic countries in the world — Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Holland and Belgium as well as the U.K. — retain it.
The alternative is a republic and, one way or another, the office of president usually for sale to the highest, or perhaps the least ethical, bidder. We live in a market economy but I would rather be ruled by law than by the market. Andy Turnbull, Toronto Stephen Harper’s loyalty to Queen Elizabeth is unquestionable. But buried deep in the obscure recesses of the “Great Omnibus Bill of 2012” are disconcerting concessions to Canada’s sovereignty — allowing carte-blanche authority to U.S. security forces to pursue and capture their suspects anywhere on Canadian soil with the full powers of the RCMP.
Omnibus 2012 may prove to be the epilogue to the War of 1812 that our PM is so eager to celebrate. D. S. Barclay, Georgetown
Canadians can and should be proud of the many things be- queathed to them by the motherland, chief of which is our parliamentary form of democracy. But why some continue to feel beholden to her is a mystery to me.
As a proud Canadian of the 21st century I am repulsed at the thought of bowing down to, being subject to, and being reigned over by a foreign plutocrat. Wayne C. Vance, Toronto For 60 years the Queen has filled her role in this British fairytale fantastically well. May she be there for a long time. But it should end with the “Elizabethan Era.” Who needs a Queen Camilla? Tony ten Kortenaar, Toronto I am a writer from India travelling in North America and I want to congratulate Rosie DiManno for her excellent coverage of the Jubilee week in London. I have enjoyed her language, style and delivery. I have saved all her articles for emulation back in Bombay.
She has very lucidly portrayed the events and the highlights of this momentous occasion. Jude H. Gomes, Brampton We were shocked to read Rosie DiManno’s column about the pageant on the river Thames. Her opening sentence, “Good Lord, were they trying to kill the old girl,” shows a lack of graciousness to the Queen and our Head of State. Vivien and Louis van Gulick, Scarborough Aw, come on Rosie DiManno. Nobody “Puts the Queen through anything.” She is mistress of her soul and person. Period. I watched most of the close-ups and I saw no shivering. Percy Barber, Unionville Canada Post should hire another artist. The older image of the Queen on the $2 stamp looks more like someone who had gone two rounds with Mike Tyson. Not flattering at all to say the least. Terry McNutt, Brampton That we Canadians must rely on an American TV network such as CNN to view blanket live coverage of the Jubilee celebrations should be a national disgrace. And, I don’t know whether to blame the CBC or the Harper government that funds it.
And Piers Morgan’s enthusiastic performance on Sunday was in sharp contrast to the staid delivery of Peter Mansbridge at the CBC. Al Truscott, Collingwood