It was sad to hear of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. She was a remarkable lady. What intrigues me about the whole business is the antipathy many people feel towards our new king, Charles III. They think that because his son William looks like a nicer bloke, we can just bypass Chuck and make his son King. Sorry folks, it just does not work that way.
The royals are a family business that has been handed down for many centuries. Despite the beheading of Charles I, who was also disliked, the practice has been forbidden since. And even though the lineage has been refreshed when needed from the Houses of Orange and Hanover, it has been remarkably durable.
As kids in Canada, we were taught to sing There will always be an England, during World War II. Just how that helped English morale while being bombed by the Luftwaffe, I am not sure. I think that the fact that the royal family stayed in London during the war did much more for morale.
But the royals do nothing for Canada. We are not a real constitutional monarchy. We have a faux Governor General playing the role of head of state. We have the English monarch’s face on our coins and $20 bills.
Canada has a constitution suited to the needs of the late 1800s with only the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to modify it. We fail to recognize and relish the complexities and accomplishments of our country and our stature in the world of today. The world is at our doorstep, waiting for our invitation. We have arable land to farm, roads to build, businesses to build, homes to create for more people.
Canada is sanctuary. Canada is a land of forests and waters. Canada is a great country that can partner with the United Kingdom, yet it owes no loyalty or homage to that country.
Canada is a land of opportunity. It does not need royalty. It should never encourage tradition or privilege over the rights of all.
We can honour Elizabeth II for her charm, her selflessness, her attention to her duty. She was an example to us all. It is suitable time to end the monarchy for Canada.
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Copyright 2022 © Peter Lowry
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