tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449697140204377101.post9065126548966801367..comments2023-04-22T10:55:19.894-04:00Comments on Liberated Dissonance: Christopher Hitchens on the royal weddingJoe Barronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638252347181688694noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449697140204377101.post-89161225615738890542011-05-14T15:31:40.318-04:002011-05-14T15:31:40.318-04:00I'm not sure Hitchens has it right. Constituti...I'm not sure Hitchens has it right. Constitutionally the hereditary monarchy of the UK may be an absurdity, but if you think of it as a state-owned enterprise, it starts to make sense. Never mind what the product is exactly--nostalgia, fairy tales, etc.--the firm is doing very well. Seen in that light, Kate is marrying the president-in-waiting. And she doesn't really have to have kids, as the firm has heirs lined up around the block ordered according to its ancient by-laws. The job is really to be attractive and correct, which she seems to be pulling off quite well so far. Her financial future is certainly more secure than mine.Eric H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449697140204377101.post-28142394646604365372011-04-29T18:05:33.401-04:002011-04-29T18:05:33.401-04:00And making a LOT of personal appearances to cut ri...And making a LOT of personal appearances to cut ribbons, dedicate wings of hospitals, open new roads, etc. There are limits to how long he'll be allowed to fly the rescue helicopter, after all.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449697140204377101.post-41577886798731618542011-04-29T17:51:59.736-04:002011-04-29T17:51:59.736-04:00It does seem like a nice match, but nice matches h...It does seem like a nice match, but nice matches happen all the time. The job itself consists largely of waiting around for your parents to die.Joe Barronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16638252347181688694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4449697140204377101.post-14643203283088182212011-04-29T17:14:56.221-04:002011-04-29T17:14:56.221-04:00My favorite line is "This love [of the monarc...My favorite line is "This love [of the monarchy] takes the macabre form of demanding a regular human sacrifice whereby unexceptional people are condemned to lead wholly artificial and strained existences, and then punished or humiliated when they crack up."<br /><br />I think these two actually like each other and want to be married; too bad about his family, future job, etc.Lisa Hirschhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14014924958428072675noreply@blogger.com