A thread for discussing the death of the Queen:
David Maddison: She led as Queen way after typical retirement age because she knew Charles and her grandsons were not up to the job. Even though the Queen had little political power, she was an anchor figure of our Civilisation and offered a sense of stability and constancy.
Serge Wright: Yep, she didn’t want Charles to be king for a day longer than humanly possible and she didn’t want to see Charles as king with her own eyes – or Camilla as queen. I think the reason for this is obvious when you look at how Charles influences the government and public opinion on important issues and views himself as a pseudo ruling head of state. To her credit, the queen was always focused on allowing the government to rule without influence or intrusion as this would erode democracy. Now that Charles has become king we can expect a vastly different approach and it won’t be helpful. There is also a risk of countries exiting the commonwealth.
Ronin: The other thing I liked about her, regardless of her own personal beliefs, she never paraded her politics in public, unlike her male heirs.
I think part of what we are all sad for is the end of a wonderful era.
UPDATE: #2 Tucker Carlson “This is why they are attacking Queen Elizabeth II”
Nigel Farage: “I am profoundly sad” — “Her reign was 30% of the time the US has existed — it gives you some idea of sheer historical span of what she’s done, never a single scandal…”
The British Empire was not perfect, but it was far more humane than any other ever. It’s gone now, barely even remembered. Queen Elizabeth II was the last living link to a truly Great Britain.
When the U.S. government withdrew from Afghanistan after 20 years, we left behind airstrips, shipping containers and guns. When the British pulled out of India, they left behind an entire civilization, a language, a legal system, schools, churches and public buildings, all of which are still in use today.
The British did give the world the Magna Carta and habeas corpus and free speech. They helped end the transatlantic slave trade, as well as the ritual murder of widows in India. The British Empire spread Protestant Christianity to the entire world. It published some of the greatest literature ever written and produced the finest manufactured goods ever made anywhere at any time, including now. — Tucker Carlson
*UPDATE: Strop and Tonyb point out that technically the Commonwealth has grown in member states from 7 to 52, and now nearly a third of the world’s people live in a Commonwealth nation. Jo replies: I would hope that the influence of the Commonwealth would grow rather than recede, and with Brexit, it seemed so obvious to renew the Commonwealth as a trading and cultural union. Now with the abject decline and failure of the EU on display, the time is perfect, but alas, Charles is unlikely to be that guiding light and the opportunity may be squandered…
I suspect in hindsight we will feel grateful she reigned as long as she did.
Boris Johnson does a superb Eulogy
Superb https://t.co/BQAcbyICnw
— Cartoons by Josh (@Cartoonsbyjosh) September 9, 2022
*Edited. Today is not the day to analyze the pluses and minuses of the Queen’s legacy and the comment by Daffy about the long term trends of the British Empire can wait. There will be time later…
Image Paul Templeton
