I want to set aside the problems I have with the monarchy for the moment, and examine something else that’s nagging at me regarding the death of the queen - the extent to which many people have a strong emotional reaction to her death.
This is not in any way to deny this reaction exists - it most definitely does.
It is also not to downplay the sorrow of the moment - for that is definitely the case, as the death of any human is sad.
It is also not to downplay the sorrow of the moment - for that is definitely the case, as the death of any human is sad.
I am instead fascinated by the strength of emotion people manage to express for someone they have never met and did not know and - in comparison to the deaths of someone like Gorbachev or Thatcher - someone who probably had comparatively marginal direct impact on their lives.
This is also not to deny a person’s significance - a person can surely be immensely historically or politically important, but that does not mean the general public necessarily ought to have some sort of emotional attachment to that person.
The same plays out somewhat for living political characters - there are EU people I know who think Emmanuel Macron is uniquely brilliant, while all I can bring myself to think is that he’s one of the slightly better ones of a bad bunch.
By contrast the recent news that did have an impact on me was the death of Hans-Christian Ströbele, and a few years ago, of Paul Flynn, two political figures - perhaps not ones of the very highest international standing - but ones I did know, did really mean something to me.
I ultimately conclude I am the strange one here.
I am not sure how I ended up like this, but I am maybe not projecting my hopes and fears onto others, and definitely not onto those I only know through a television screen, radio mic, or pages of a newspaper.
I am not sure how I ended up like this, but I am maybe not projecting my hopes and fears onto others, and definitely not onto those I only know through a television screen, radio mic, or pages of a newspaper.
And so I am not opposed to these reactions to the queen’s death, or disrespectful of them, but do not share them.
I respect her standing, extraordinary life, and her historical significance, and I am sad for her family who are no doubt anguished by the loss.
I respect her standing, extraordinary life, and her historical significance, and I am sad for her family who are no doubt anguished by the loss.
But personally I am not invested in this either, nor would I be for pretty much any person I do not know personally.
It’s an odd place to be, when it feels like everyone else’s reactions are the very opposite of that.
/ends
It’s an odd place to be, when it feels like everyone else’s reactions are the very opposite of that.
/ends
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
