Monday, June 4, 2012

The Stiff Upper Lip

David Pryce-Jones on some fucking jubilee thing:
The weather was miserable, with much cold rain. Nevertheless a million people at the lowest estimate lined the river’s embankments, and they cheered and waved Union Jack flags all day long. What explains the enthusiasm running so wild? Well, the boats were an unforgettable spectacle, a Canaletto painting come to life for an occasion that will never be repeated, with allusions to Handel’s “Water Music” and Dunkirk 1940. It was also possible to sense in the camaraderie of the crowd something more profound. The standing of the country is not what it was; the Empire is no more; nobody can be sure whether there are now any moral absolutes governing behavior; and tomorrow may see a variety of political and economic crashes. None of this is the Queen’s fault. She’s setting the example of how to carry on regardless.
You'd all stop your whining if you'd just be billionaires.

13 comments:

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

She ain't no human being!
~

Dragon-King Wangchuck said...

Watch it youse guys. That lizard alien is my queen too.

Smut Clyde said...

"Almost the only monarchy left", according to Mr Pryce-Jones, who is not fit to clean Queen Margrethe's well-used ash-tray.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Did somebody say "Lizard Alien?
~

Dragon-King Wangchuck said...

Speaking of "almost the only monarchy left", Ahem.

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

I'll just leave this here.

J— said...

Don't hate one the jubilee. Grace Jones was knocking down the mic stand and everything.

Smut Clyde said...

Other UK newspapers are telling the readers how proud they should feel to be British, and have a government that's willing to alleviate its "austerity for commoners" policy with celebrations of the long life of a billionaire lady.

Meanwhile the Guardian hates England.

Malacylpse said...

with allusions to Handel’s “Water Music” and Dunkirk 1940.

He gets that Dunkirk was a retreat, right? Right?

Say what you will about the tenets of Bolshevism, but their policies did preclude Diamond Jubilees.

Substance McGravitas said...

He gets that Dunkirk was a retreat, right? Right?

In the lore of the Commonwealth Dunkirk is a Heroic Evacuation Against All Odds.

Substance McGravitas said...

Meanwhile the Guardian hates England.

Wow.

A spokesman said the unpaid work was a trial for paid roles at the Olympics, which it had also won a contract to staff.

The Olympics bring benefits yet again!

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

She’s setting the example of how to carry on regardless.

It must be heartbreaking to be unable to plunder the world anymore.

Dan Coyle said...

Sometimes I wish these guys would just rename their affiliation the I Don't Wanna Feel Bad About Anything Party. It would be so much more honest.