Royalty - Positive or Negative?

[CSolarstorm]

So today is the British royal wedding between Prince Edward and Kate Middleton. The prevalant opinion about the wedding in the U.S. seems to be that the wedding is a romantic event between two attractive, good people graced with the fortune of being British royalty. For Americans and other nations without a royal family they seem to view the UK royal family as a benign relic of a valued international partner, and respect their cultural value in a nation that is now actually democratic. Even those raised in a nation that was founded without a royal family seem to take joy in hearing news about a nice, glowing couple's happy fortunate life.

Here's a Yahoo website devoted to it. http://royalwedding.yahoo.com/

However the more vocal liberals and conservatives in the United States seem to agree that there is something contradictory in giving a royal family so much attention in a nation that was founded upon opposing a monarchy. Some U.S. activists have gone so far as to say that giving the UK royal family media attention betrays our standards as a democratic republic. (After all, we did fight a revolution a couple of centuries ago.) It's safe to say that just because somebody likes following the activities of the royals, does not mean they want to be ruled by a singular monarchy (although sometimes that might be the case) but the idea nevertheless gets around that this fanfare over the royal family is giving democracies the wrong impression.

Do you think that self-professed democratic republics devoid of royalty can take something positive away from being friendly with royalty, or do you take a stricter approach and believe that getting close to them is a negative thing? I'm sure even in the UK, opinions differ about the nation's royal family. Just in general, what do you think of the wedding and the royals?

 

[giratina hates shaymin]

Personally royaltys power should have just about died by now seeing as how monarchy typically is not the best way to rule a country (see just about every ruler pre 1700's) and should step aside to allow a proper government... But meh thats just my opinion

 

[Vermehlo_Steele]

Why can't we just be pleased that two young people have found each other? Must we be so cynical and bitter? I bet it's cuz all those lemons really wanted that much attention and glamour on their wedding day. If you're concerned that this couple has an extravagant amount of attention and money thrown at their wedding, then go protest the next Saudi royal wedding (they're actually a real monarchy) or protest some billionaire's extravaganza or some celebrity's nupitals.

As for the bit about America's proud legacy of being forged in the fires of conflict against an Imperial foe being tarnished by this event, it's just as silly as saying that America would become a Chinese colony if the Premier and his wife had their honeymoon in Hawaii. Or saying that if we continue to celebrate Christmas, everyone will be swallowed by the 'evil' of religion.

I hear the British have a 4 day holiday due to this event, that's good enough reason to have the monarchy for me if I were a Brit.

 

[Sweets]

Personally royaltys power should have just about died by now seeing as how monarchy typically is not the best way to rule a country (see just about every ruler pre 1700's) and should step aside to allow a proper government... But meh thats just my opinion

You do know the English Monarchy have next to no power and the government rule the country, right?

Also, the Royal Family bring lots of tourism to Britain and tourism fuels the economy.

 

[giratina hates shaymin]

I hear the British have a 4 day holiday due to this event, that's good enough reason to have the monarchy for me if I were a Brit

there is?!!! then why is there no holiday in australia damnit!!!!!!!

 

[charizardreams]

Personally, I think it's pretty stupid that all the media coverage is almost all dedicated to it and it alone. I mean, it's a special public event, but come on, we've got better things in the world than a royal wedding. It's not important.

 

[Will-powered Spriter]

I hear the British have a 4 day holiday due to this event, that's good enough reason to have the monarchy for me if I were a Brit.

Not true. We would of had Saturday, Sunday and Monday off regardless. Only Friday is due to the wedding.

Also every channel in britain (except maybe Dave) has been showing round the clock coverage since 6am, despite the fact nothing will be happening for another half hour. I am sick of this already, I couldn't even escape from it when I was in Germany.

 

[catzeye]

I'm happy for the couple and I think that this is an important day. However, I do wish that the media outlets here in the US wouldn't just stop for this event.

I mean we've had TORNADO outbreaks killing hundreds of people here. I would think they would want to cover that some more to get people to want to help.

 

[cantab]

I am in favour of Britain remaining a monarchy. We have a head of state who is essentially apolitical, a good thing I think given all the negative aspects of politics. I think the Westminster system is preferable to the Washington one. Since government is drawn from Parliament, it's far less prone to situations where it cannot pass laws, while also being answerable to Parliament. Although in practice some Prime Ministers have been powerful, they have no legally defined power, unlike in the Washington system where much power is vested specifically in the President, who cannot be removed from office before the next election unless they commit a crime. While the Westminster system is entirely viable in a Republic, the President in such a Republican is essentially a figurehead; why replace a hereditary figurehead with an elected figurehead?

However, I hate celebrity culture in general. I'm sick to death of the media banging on about this one event that is frankly of very little importance. William may be King in future, but that's decades off. So I for one am making a point of avoiding the media coverage.

As it happens, some people are displeased with the Friday off, since for some it's a forced unpaid day off. A late Easter this year has given us four public holidays in eleven days, which is rather overdoing it. It's annoying for anyone wanting to use public services.

 

[FiremanLV5]

They're good people. They don't just sit around doing nothing and being frivolous with their wealth, they do charity work and actually help people out. In fact, there's a girl at the wedding who's a homeless girl that William met at one of the shelters he helps to fund or something.

I'm happy for them, regardless of whether this country still needs a monarchy or not (Let's face it they don't have any real power anymore and are more of a remnant from Britain's past xD)

Also Kate's dress is gorgeous and she clearly has good taste in picking a McQueen one x3. That was pretty much all I watched the first half hour of the wedding for.

 

[7 tyranitars]

it is nice they are having a wedding but the attention is a bit too much in my opinion

 

[meteor64]

You do know the English Monarchy have next to no power and the government rule the country, right?

Also, the Royal Family bring lots of tourism to Britain and tourism fuels the economy.

This.

Seriously, we'd have next to no tourism if it wasn't for the royal family, and they aren't exactly very controlling. They're just... there. The Monster Raving Looney party has just about as much influence on british people as the royal family does (admittedly, members of the MRL Party aren't branded onto out coinage, but meh).

 

[ChedWick]

I'm glad theres all this media coverage. I haven't found much else to watch these past few weeks. I'd rather see media coverage on something like this than some drugged out x-child star or the death of some x-porn start turned reality tv star.

But really, they appear to be too great people and I'm as happy as anyone who doesn't know someone at all can be for their happiness.

 

[Malanu]

There are people who will say the sun doesn't rise in the east if you let them. We here in America don't have royalty, but we have Pop Stars, Movie Stars, Sport Star that live like royalty. We even kinda treat them like Royalty until the prove themselves to failable like the rest of us. Royals are the ultimate celebrities.




For the record I couldn't wait till the wedding was over with cause like with all the celebs here, I am tired of hearing about them. I do wish the royal couple well, I just want to get back to hearing about the wacky adventures of Charlie Sheen!

 

[GaZsTiC]

The prevalant opinion about the wedding in the U.S. seems to be that the wedding is a romantic event between two attractive, good people graced with the fortune of being British royalty.

Actually, Kate was a commoner and didn't become the Duchess of Cornwall and future Queen of England until after the wedding. That was why it was so significant. Although I will never understand why people from other countries care.

Regardless, the ceremony was beautiful and timed to perfection. Kate's dress was, for lack of a better word, FABULOUS. I wish the two all the best.

 

[CSolarstorm]

That's so cool that she was a commoner first. Now that I hear that, it does sound more significant; it's a rags to riches story.

 

[legendarypokemonmaster]

Personally, I think it's pretty stupid that all the media coverage is almost all dedicated to it and it alone. I mean, it's a special public event, but come on, we've got better things in the world than a royal wedding. It's not important.

The media tends to follow what's popular, not what's important.
I don't think it matters, if you want to follow it, that's fine, but it is not unpatriotic/constitutional/etc.

 

[foodmetaphors]

I agree, it's not unpatriotic or anything but I find the whole thing to be pretty boring. Like any other wedding between ppl to whom I have no connection. I'm just glad this is the internet age where I can avoid the coverage for the most part.. in fact the most I've seen of it has been on Daily Show/Colbert.

 

[Snipehsheep]

I just find it sad that people are paying more attention to it then Japan.

Although I will never understand why people from other countries care.

I agree, I mean, to be perfectly honest, the British royalty is really nothing more than a bunch of celebrities now.

 

[CSolarstorm]

Or the rest of the areas affected by the tsunamis...the spreading radiation and the shoddy information about it...the tornados in the US...or Libya or Syria...about five disasters for one section, one wedding for another section.