Recently (well, not recently, mor like 2 weeks ago now) I watched the movie, "The Queen". I was quite impressed with it, and it really brought forward issues about the monarchy relevant to present day.
What reason does the monarchy have to exist in modern day society? They take their copious spending budgets from the taxes paid by ordinary people, and do pretty much diddly-squat while sitting on a big cushy throne while wearing pretty, sparkly hats.
Consider also, the monarchy in Britain, as it compares to the Canadian similarity, is one that leaves the common people no choice at all in who or who is not their head of state, while in Canada, our Prime Minister, an elected representative of the Canadian people, chooses who our governor general is.
So why then, has the crown not been abolished? Or at least, changed into something that gives the people more choice in who their head of state is?
A couple reasons. And these are big ones, for they would have to be to affect something of this magnitude. The first is that, I for one, kind of like the idea of someone bigger than me, someone who is watching over us, protecting us. A semi-conservative point of view, but it's true. The fact that there is a person seemingly uninfluenced by powers outside them, who is ready to intervene appropriately when circumstances arise.
Second. The crown is an incorruptable symbol of justice and truth, a franchise that outshines the one that wears it. Someone who is the country, who is the people, who stands holding the flag up high for the entire world to see. A powerful voice of authority and principle. Citizens fell comforted in the fact that someone is their advocate to the world who doesn't have to listen to politicians or cave to pulic opinion.
This wise, just, and influential person will not be taken away without the wolrd trembling. People want to hold on to the crown, her power, and what she represents.
Besides, if there were no Queen, who would I get a letter from when I turn 100?
______________
World Peace
P.S. I'd like to apologize to anyone (Dustin) who'd been reading my blog regularly, after which I simply stopped. Actually, no, I'm not really sorry. Just commenting. What I really meant was: TOUGH.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
War: What is it good for?
Throughout the ages past, war has been used in many different ways. Blood feuds, conquest, territorial disputes, religion, terrorism, policing actions, and politics. But, no matter how you swing it, war, for whatever purpose or motive, is not a good thing.
Certainly one can argue that, if Hitler had not been stopped in the 1940's, he would have taken over the world. And so, we go to defend our country, our way of life, and the world from evil. That doesn't take away the brutality and corruption that can result from conflicts as large as these.
There are examples in our past of wars that were negative in nature. The Vietnam War, a fine example of political tensions causing the deaths of thousands of people. The Cuban Missile Crisis, where the hatred between two superpowers nearly caused a nuclear holocaust. The Crusades, where religion was used as an excuse to gain an influential piece of territory in Israel.
War is a tool. Just like the gun, the law, technology, and the vote, war can be used either for good or for evil. Whether it be rebellion against an oppressor as we saw in World War II, or the same scenario where one man desired power above all else.
Regardless of it's use, war brings devastation, deprivation, and death.
_______________
World Peace
Certainly one can argue that, if Hitler had not been stopped in the 1940's, he would have taken over the world. And so, we go to defend our country, our way of life, and the world from evil. That doesn't take away the brutality and corruption that can result from conflicts as large as these.
There are examples in our past of wars that were negative in nature. The Vietnam War, a fine example of political tensions causing the deaths of thousands of people. The Cuban Missile Crisis, where the hatred between two superpowers nearly caused a nuclear holocaust. The Crusades, where religion was used as an excuse to gain an influential piece of territory in Israel.
War is a tool. Just like the gun, the law, technology, and the vote, war can be used either for good or for evil. Whether it be rebellion against an oppressor as we saw in World War II, or the same scenario where one man desired power above all else.
Regardless of it's use, war brings devastation, deprivation, and death.
_______________
World Peace
Monday, May 7, 2007
What is love?
Sometimes it's difficult to understand our feelings. Even more so to understand those of others.
I've recently, by circumstance, looked at relationships from my perspective, and the knowledge that I have. I think that it's a lot different looking in to a relationship from the outside than it is to be on the inside. You don't really know what to do, what to expect, and there aren't any set rules or guidelines for you to follow; no precedent. Because every pair of persons is different.
You ask them if you can buy them something, but they decline. Then they let you share what you bought with them. Confusing? Yes! Later, you think that something you share together may be unique, but in fact they share that with someone else. Perplexing? Definately. I didn't really know what all those guys on T.V. meant when they commented on how women were so fickle, and all the different signs about, does she like me, does she not.
I've been told that I could simply take the plunge. I'm getting two mixed signals from my heart. One tells me to lay my cards on the table. The other tells me to wait before I play my pair of aces.
My head hurts. I'm signing off.
_____________
World Peace
I've recently, by circumstance, looked at relationships from my perspective, and the knowledge that I have. I think that it's a lot different looking in to a relationship from the outside than it is to be on the inside. You don't really know what to do, what to expect, and there aren't any set rules or guidelines for you to follow; no precedent. Because every pair of persons is different.
You ask them if you can buy them something, but they decline. Then they let you share what you bought with them. Confusing? Yes! Later, you think that something you share together may be unique, but in fact they share that with someone else. Perplexing? Definately. I didn't really know what all those guys on T.V. meant when they commented on how women were so fickle, and all the different signs about, does she like me, does she not.
I've been told that I could simply take the plunge. I'm getting two mixed signals from my heart. One tells me to lay my cards on the table. The other tells me to wait before I play my pair of aces.
My head hurts. I'm signing off.
_____________
World Peace
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