Sure, I laughed at the media hoopla over yesterday's royal wedding and I mocked stupid journalists, but I watched the wedding anyway because I wanted to see the pageantry, and I actually found the ceremony quite moving in ways that both did and did not have to do with the fact that two young people were getting married -- a thing that in itself is an act of hope and faith no matter who the bride and groom are. There is also something deeply affecting about choral hymns sung in a place of history and splendor (and "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer" is probably my favorite hymn ever for times both of joy and pain). A few random thoughts:
If you didn't want to participate or watch or invest any time at all into the royal wedding no matter who and where you were, you didn't have to. But I have a problem with folks who want to make fun of people who did want to. Let people do as they please, for goodness sake. If the royal wedding brought pleasure to a great many folks around the world who watched and enjoyed it, then what's wrong with that? From street parties in the UK to celebrations big and small around the globe, if people had a grand day out making merry with family and friends on the occasion of a wedding, with a wedding as an excuse, then good on them! Yesterday was a holiday of cheer, and while some analysts may moan about "lost productivity" as millions of Brits took the day off, sometimes we need a holiday. I won't plague you with Bahktin and theories about festival, or remind you that C.S. Lewis had mentioned this too, or that really good holidays let you then return to workaday life with renewed vigor. Times are hard right now, and I think we can all appreciate a day taken to celebrate something meant to be happy and glorious. Would you rather see yesterday's flag-waving, cheering, happy crowds in London or the recent violent protests in London with anarchists destroying business and running riot? Chances are all too good that we will see such protests again before long.
I also have a problem with people who are snarking away at William and Kate. I won't name the scoundrel who already spewed that he was awaiting the royal divorce. REALLY? There's no reason to be rude and unkind.
On the issue of anti-royal critics complaining that the royals get perks because of who they are. OK, but when you're dumping all over the bride and groom on the day of their wedding, how are you not doing that because of who they are, not out of any personal connection to them as individuals? Sounds a bit hypocritical to me, not to mention just plain rude. The civilized thing to do at a wedding -- ANY wedding -- is to congratulate the bride and groom and wish them all joy in their life together. Frankly, if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all. Then again, I suppose there are always bitter, socially shriveled contrarians who get some perverse pleasure out of raining on other people's parades. Go be miserable somewhere else.
UPDATE: Even Daleks were in a celebratory mood.
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