dispatches from the new world of work

Tradition!?

Sure, I'm a ... radical. BUT I'M ALSO A SUCKER FOR TRADITION. As I write, my touch-pad shakes as Queen (Elizabeth) is receiving about a 100-gun salute (maybe not 100, but far more than our 21 max), as she leaves Buckingham Palace and heads off to Westminster to open a New Parliament with the traditional "Queen's Speech." Of course, this nod to tradition is also a nod to Radicalism (especially after a return from the Middle East). The "radical idea" (ever so recent in the human journey) is ... DEMOCRACY! Problems with Old Georgey Three aside, we Americans are the descendants of the Great British Experiment with self-rule! Hooray for the Queen! Hooray for her symbolic importance! Hip Hip Hooray for her powerlessness!

Tom Peters posted this on 05/17/05.

Comments

Tom

The sun is shining here in Birmingham, England.

I am proud of my country's heritage.

Yep ...I accept we made some bad mistakes over the centuries .... but at least we did something ... we tried to make changes..... we made things happen ... we defended the rights of friends when some of our friends faced obliteration .....in your words Tom - Brits are 'players!'

The opening of parliament is indeed a wonderful tradition - we Brits still know how to do stuff in the ceremonial brand!

Trevor

Posted by Trevor Gay at May 17, 2005 10:49 AM

interesting, the many-gun salute. I had heard that we adopted 21 since that had been the British salute for their Royalty and we didn't want to seem to be trying to top them.

Posted by steven vore at May 17, 2005 2:09 PM

The first time I saw parliament open with Tony Blair was very amusing. He looked like a naughty school boy who'd been called to the Principal's office and was made to wait in the doorway in a suit ten times too big while the Lords seated in their chairs glared at him disapprovingly.

It's a shame he looks so self-possessed now. It was much more fun to watch before.

Posted by Noel Guinane at May 17, 2005 3:23 PM