My friend, Barb, posted a most interesting article on fb from Psychology Today entitled, "Tribal Weddings and Democratic Stability".
The author, Robin Fox, believes that we humans are not "wholly rational creatures" and even the most "atheistic and ruthlessly secular" among us realize we need our rituals and tribal customs.
The author, being American, was primarily focused on the way the Brits accomplish these things, i.e., very well, with the Monarch being more or less eternal, versus the American method which is less successful but has its moments - think of the American reverence for their flag, their founders etc.
I was immediately struck by the fact that in Canada we have neither.
We don't have our own royal family and our country wasn't born and formed out of endless vats of blood, fields of bleached bones and wonderful gallows quotes such as, "Give me liberty or give me death!"
"Fuddle duddle" or even the historical "How much for that beaver pelt?" don't exactly send shivers of national pride up and down your spine.
We experience our tribal rituals vicariously through the British and our national attitude to our own history is simply that everyone has always done what they had to do and it is no big deal.
Now I have to tell you that I have no great love for the British royal family.
I do however think a constitutional monarchy is a very effective method of government for the same reasons Ms Fox gives:
The monarch provides the fixed centre of legitimate authority that is unchallengeable, and thus leaves the politicians free to be politicians and vulnerable to challenge.
Canada, we need a monarch.
We need one that comes with all of the monarchic trappings: the history, the scandals, the wardrobe.
We need Good King Harry.
I propose that we offer Prince Harry the Kingship of Canada.
It would free us from the British Royal line while still keeping our connections.
No hurt feelings!
(Okay, maybe a few noses out of joint in Quebec but that's the norm and besides their ancestors got rid of their king so there's no French prince or princess available.)
Join me in my crusade to bring our King home!
You can actually choose who you would like to be our monarch by voting in the poll in the uper right hand corner of this blog.
You can vote for as many of them as you like.
Write in suggestions are welcome in the comments below.
Long live King Harry of Canada!
p.s. Sorry there aren't any links here. My linker programme isn't working at the mo.
4 comments:
". . . we need our rituals and tribal customs." We DO HAVE rituals and tribal customs to bind us together in Canada. One word: HOCKEY. And we don't need no Windsor by-blow to be our king. We've got WAYNE GRETZKY for that purpose.
Hmmm.
Maybe, but we share too many players with the Americans.
And as for rituals and tribal customs, I was thinking of something a little more elegant than wearing a rubber maple leaf hat and drinking beer.
But Wayne Grettsky is a write in candidate for king.
I prefer Elton John. He seems to meet your criteria, plus, he's married to a Canuck and already has a house in Ontario, so there would be little additional expense.
Jeesh! He's a COMMONER, Doug.
We might as well go with Mr. Bean.
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