While writing this column, a journalist friend of mine, in Ottawa for work, emailed a quick note. “I’m currently watching a working crew put the finishing touches on the big stage for Kate & Wills' visit, and I want to puke through my eyeballs.”
That very same day, The Gazette had an article in its News section (proving the line between information and entertainment has long become blurry) entitled: “All eyes on Kate”. It contained interviews by Quebec designers and their thoughts on what the Duchess of Cambridge will be wearing during her visit. Riveting stuff!
Judging by the non-stop reports, Canada is in a tizzy over Prince William and his bride flying across the pond for a royal visit. While some people are giddy at the thought of waiting in line to catch a glimpse of them, others consider the mere mention of their name anathema. I admit to being one of those solidly in the “meh” category. Their presence neither offends me, nor thrills me. I could care less.
The truth is Will is a prince in a world that no longer needs or wants kingdoms. An antiquated symbol of an England which no longer exists. A tourist attraction of the most expensive kind (for the English, mostly). Sure, his lineage has provided us over the years with countless juicy tidbits and scandals to last us a lifetime, but what do they DO?
The Royal Family represent something that most of us, especially in North America, have come to hate: nepotism. Being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, to a life of privilege “just because”... Gilles Duceppe was right on the money when he once called the monarchy a “genetic lottery” because it’s indisputably true. Being born into a family of blue-bloods automatically affords you a life of privilege and luxury.
I do, however, think that calling them a “parasitic system”, like Quebec MNA and member of Québec Solidaire, Amir Khadir recently did, (even though 46 per cent of Quebecers agree with him) goes a tad too far. Depending on which side of the fence you’re sitting on there are many political, social and religious institutions that could also easily be categorized as such, and perhaps, in the eyes of many federalists, Khadir would not fare so well either.
Do we as Quebecers have so little confidence in who we are that every questionable visit or event (think Paul McCartney playing the Plains of Abraham) is instantly construed as a threat and insult to what we stand for today? -
There are valid reasons for us to be less than overwhelmed by the Monarchy’s visit, but it’s important to distinguish between reality and propaganda. I’m just as disillusioned by Canucks lining up to buy a coffee mug with Kate’s likeness on it, as I am with statements made by the Réseau de Résistance du Québécois (RRQ) claiming the Royal couple are here to remind everyone in Quebec that we’re still under the… “yoke of the British Empire.” Yoke? Do we as Quebecers have so little confidence in who we are that every questionable visit or event (think Paul McCartney playing the Plains of Abraham) is instantly construed as a threat and insult to what we stand for today?
« Comme si Québec, une des principales destinations touristiques de la planète, avait besoin que la monarchie britannique visite ici ses « loyaux sujets » pour que notre capitale soit sur la carte du monde! » the RRQ press release continues.
Forget the sarcastic mention of “loyal subjects”, Quebec is “one of the main tourist destinations in the world”? Since when? Right there is the problem with extreme politics. You start spewing nonsense and all the decent points you made are negated by the non-sensical stuff you threw into the mix.
Writing this before Will and Kate even set foot on Canadian soil, I just hope that we – at the very least and irrelevant of our personal views on the subject- afforded them the common decency that any commoner visiting us would be entitled to; blue-blood or not.
