The Opening of Parliament
Dec. 3rd, 2008 10:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sevendeadlyfunSo, I'm watching the opening of Parliament over on YouTube because as an American, I am both fascinated and repelled by pomp and circumstance. An American poet, Elinor Wylie wrote Down to the marrow of my Puritan bones/There's something in this richness that I hate. and I never feel my American identity more then when I'm watching monarchical displays because, like Elinor Wylie, it is the spartan that I prefer.
But I am an American and that's like being British twice removed. So I watch because this is part of my cultural history and yet so far removed that it is as alien as the cultural practices of Mongols or Bedouins.
That said...
Few things:
1.) Why even have a House of Lords? From what I can tell (in my admittedly scant reading), they don't do much, have little government oversight, and aren't even made up of actual Lords anymore? What up, pookies?
2.) The Queen looks terribly frail these days. She almost reminds me of my grandmother (albeit with more bling), so stooped and shrunken by time. Helen Mirren deceived me with her fantastic Elizabeth and I'd like a refund (and Helen Mirren in a bikini, please).
3.) Christopher Eccleston is a much hotter Norfolk than the actual Norfolk and again, I'd like a refund (and Helen Mirren in a bikini.)
4.) Srsly, Britain? Stop calling the Electoral College complicated. Just reading about your government has exhausted me. I can't imagine actually trying to vote for your MPs and the Queen doesn't have power, but she does? Look. This is me. Exhausted. Send Helen Mirren in a bikini (and Chris Eccleston in a bikini, while I'm at it).
5.) There's door slamming? Is this the ceremonial "Na-nah, you're not the boss of me"? Britain, I LOVE YOU. SEND HELEN MIRREN AND CHRIS ECCLESTON (in bikinis) SO THAT I MAY SHOW MY LOVE. XOXO
But I am an American and that's like being British twice removed. So I watch because this is part of my cultural history and yet so far removed that it is as alien as the cultural practices of Mongols or Bedouins.
That said...
Few things:
1.) Why even have a House of Lords? From what I can tell (in my admittedly scant reading), they don't do much, have little government oversight, and aren't even made up of actual Lords anymore? What up, pookies?
2.) The Queen looks terribly frail these days. She almost reminds me of my grandmother (albeit with more bling), so stooped and shrunken by time. Helen Mirren deceived me with her fantastic Elizabeth and I'd like a refund (and Helen Mirren in a bikini, please).
3.) Christopher Eccleston is a much hotter Norfolk than the actual Norfolk and again, I'd like a refund (and Helen Mirren in a bikini.)
4.) Srsly, Britain? Stop calling the Electoral College complicated. Just reading about your government has exhausted me. I can't imagine actually trying to vote for your MPs and the Queen doesn't have power, but she does? Look. This is me. Exhausted. Send Helen Mirren in a bikini (and Chris Eccleston in a bikini, while I'm at it).
5.) There's door slamming? Is this the ceremonial "Na-nah, you're not the boss of me"? Britain, I LOVE YOU. SEND HELEN MIRREN AND CHRIS ECCLESTON (in bikinis) SO THAT I MAY SHOW MY LOVE. XOXO