It´s a sad royal Thursday MKF 12/2/04

[urnofosiris]

Ok I know it is still Wednesday for a lot of Kittens, but Thursday arrived over an hour ago where I am at. It´s been a while since we got a fresh daily thread and I want to use this one to say that 6 and a half hours ago Prince Bernhard, father of our Queen, has died of cancer at the tender age of 93.



He was German born, had his share of extra marital affairs, was handsome and charming, spoke his mind, bent the rules, was a bit of a walking contradiction at times, but an altogether admirable man, or so I think.

On March 24th this year, his wife, our beloved (former) Queen Juliana died, aged 94. With genes like that Queen Beatrix should live to a 100 at least.

I am a firm supporter of our monarchy, so despite my attempts at humor I am sad that he is gone. He had as rich a life as one could wish for, he was a living part of history, it really is the end of an era for my country.



Today almost all the news will undoubtedly be about this. What is Thurday like for the rest of the kitties? Please report, this is the daily thread after all.

Edited by: DrG at: 12/1/04 4:29 pm

[Ghostwriter]

DrG, sorry to hear of the loss of Prince Bernhard. It sounds like he lived a rich full life. My thoughts will be on you and your countrymen/women. My Thursday will be much like my Wednesday, nothing special to report other than work.

[Gatito Grande]

Quote:

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I am a firm supporter of our monarchy

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Garfield, call me a clueless small-r republican Yank, but could you explain this? Why would this man be any more or less admirable w/o the unearned word "Prince" in front of his name (and whatever unearned goodies---or undeserved burdens, for that matter---that accrue w/ the title)?



GG "the content of our character", as MLKJr said. Not skin color, not sexual orientation, not gender, and not family-origin (noble or not) either: that's what works for me Out



Nevertheless, I am sorry for your loss, G: if he was a good man, and will be missed, then that's what matters.

[seurat]

G, I'm sorry to hear about Prince Bernhard, although I have to admit that I knew next to nothing about him. I think it's hard for Americans to get the whole idea of monarchy. As a Canadian and the product of a house full of devout Royal watchers it's pretty easy for me to understand. My mother actually met our present Queen many years ago when they were both school children, and feels a deep connection to Her Majesty to this day. I've inherited some of that feeling, but all bets are off when Prince Charles succeeds her. Can't stand him.



Meanwhile, we are still in Wednesday evening territory here and normally I would save any discussion of my Thursday plans for our beloved friend the Thursday thread. But since you asked Garfield, I'll be going out to see the lovely Feist play a show, about the fifth or sixth time I've seen her. Hope you are all lucky enough to have something equally fine to do with your evening.

"Life's complications and frustrations/they disappear when the music starts playing/I found a place where it feels alright/I hear a record and it opened my eyes/do you remember what the music meant?" - Speakers Push Air, Pretty Girls Make Graves

[skittles]

G, I'm sorry for your country's loss...(& yours) .. when it is someone who we hear about frequently & someone with whom we share at least a common heritage (of sorts) it is difficult when they are gone.



I hope that Queen Beatrix lives a very long & full life.... and at least to 100 if not longer.

skittles



Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more… He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew.. and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

[russ]

I'm sorry to hear of your country's loss, DrG. In Canada we feel a close connection to the Dutch royal family, as they spent some time here in the 1940s. My mother spoke fondly of Queen Juliana, and was saddened by her death last spring. We remember them each spring when the tulips bloom in Ottawa. Indeed, the end of an era as that generation passes on.



GG, it's hard to explain monarchism to you republican types, but it's not so much that the title makes a person more admirable. It's more a sense of family; that the head of state is also head of our national family, and so we feel the loss as of a distant, but fond, relative.



Here in Canada we've lost royalty of a different sort. Today we mourn Pierre Berton: journalist, broadcaster, popular historian, author of fifty books on a multitude of subjects. Pierre will be greatly missed; his passing also marks the end of an era.

Russ



When we love and give it everything we've got, no matter what the consequences, we are doing what we were put here to do -- Geneen Roth

[urnofosiris]

Quote:

---

Garfield, call me a clueless small-r republican Yank, but could you explain this? Why would this man be any more or less admirable w/o the unearned word "Prince" in front of his name (and whatever unearned goodies---or undeserved burdens, for that matter---that accrue w/ the title)?

---

I was expecting this questions actually and I made my comment on purpose because I would like to explain why I support our monarchy. First of all, you will never hear me say that he or any other royal is more or less admirable than anyone else simply because they are royals. I won´t hesitate to criticize (or mock) one if their actions call for it. I find this particular royal an admirable man because of what he has done in his life, which is too much to explain.



As for the monarchy itself, well that is easy for me. They are part of our history, a living reminder of our past and present and future. A billboard for our country. A constant in a sea of change. They bring a sense unity. Presidents come and go (and oh boy, don´t you wish some just *went*), but a queen or a king stay. Clearly not forever, but for a long time. Like Russ said, it is a sense of family. We are a tiny country and it has been a very long time since it had any real power in the world, fine by me, but when a foreign leader comes to visit, it means something when the Queen welcomes them. Just google a picture of our current Prime Minister "Jan Peter Balkende" and you will understand why I would prefer a leader of another country to meet our formidable Queen as head of our state instead of our version of Harry Potter.



There is more that is hard to explain, my love for our monarchy is my own, I did not get it from my parents. I remember my father mentioning it only once. When he was in the navy he had to stand in a honorary guard hours in advance to the arrival of Prince Bernhard. After waiting for a few appropriate minutes he decided to faint.



Russ, sorry to hear about his demise.

[Gatito Grande]

Ah, maybe that's why I don't get it: I'm an anti-nationalist as well (can't wait to erase those lines from the globe! )



Then again, maybe I'm just projecting my own (typically American) poverty onto you prosperous Dutch: I think "Damn if I'd pay for those 'to the manner born'!"



But mainly, I'm just Big Ol' Green-eyed Monster (literally, right skittles? ): I think "if there's to be a Royal Family, how come [I'm not in it? Why can't the little people support ME? (I'd be great at waving and battleship-christening---well, maybe not battleship-christening, as y'all know I'm a pacifist---but most of those other 'royal duties' )"



GG Y'know, the whole "IT'S NOT FAIR!" {whine, whine} Out



I'm just also more upset about my seminary pal Beth Stroud being put on trial for being queer. There's someone who earned her title of "Reverend," and the motherf*ckin' phobes are trying to kick her out . . . (see the Scary Religion and Homosexuality thread)

[Triscuit7]

My condolences, Dr. G, to you and your country. Prince Bernhard sounds like he was an intriguing man.



Although I am American, I like the idea of constitutional monarchy. I also think it's something the US hasn't quite gotten over and maybe even yearns for. Why else are we so obsessed with the JFK dynasty? We just want to choose our royalty....



Ciao, Melissa

******************



Do something totally irrational and let the enemy think himself to death. (Pyanfar Chanur)

[oneyedchicklet]

Mel,

JFK dynasty? Come on that would make er ah, Ted er ah, King. I don't think I can even handle thinking about that. If Kennedys were a monarchy, we'd be in big trouble because all we'd hear about is which scandle they are going through now. Oh wait, we hear that now. On a better note, the Governor of California would then be Prince Arnold. Hmm, that might work.



Anyway, I'm sorry for your countries loss Garfield. May God bless your Queen to a long and healthy life.



Love to All,

Barb

Now serving Bitter, party of one. Your table is ready.

Edited by: oneyedchicklet at: 12/2/04 5:45 am

[robotguru]

I add my condolances to the many that are in this thread. This actually takes me back to that fateful night when Princess Diana died in France, the woman did so much and it was unfair that she was ripped from us.



It sounds like Bernhard was a good man and will be missed.

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There can be no rainbow without rain, you cannot know true happiness until you know sadness first.

[urnofosiris]

Thanks robotguru, there can be no doubt that what happened to Diana was a far greater shock (here as well) and tragedy than losing an elderly royal after a long full life, but he will still be missed. Prince Bernard was no saint, but that was part of his charm, he was a very colorful interesting man. I believe a good one.



It is a little annoying (and oddly amusing as well) to watch the "experts" wet their pants in excitement over getting the chance to retell the same old gossip over and over. There was one dude that made me want to reach into the TV and yank him out by the ears to bitch slap him. He said something like (losely translated) "he gave life to 4 children/princesses" (thereby securing the survival of our monarchy). Now I admit to having slept through a few lessons in med school, but I am pretty sure he did not carry them around for 9 months and had them cut out of him. Not that he has not had his share of operations. He was indeed a medical miracle. He has been near death since the age of two more times than we can count.



Anyway, we do have people in this country who´d like to get rid of the monarchy. In fact my colleague and boss who I share my office with, is a republican. He considers the monarchy to be undemocratic (the queen does have a wee bit of political influence behind the scenes). As it is, around 86% of the population supports the monarchy and wants things to stay exactly as they are, percentages most presidents can only dream about. I do not see that changing any time soon. The royal family has been teetering on the edge of extinction for at least three generations, but Juliana and Bernhard took care of that. Plenty of royals nowadays. No reason for the monarchy to not continue for the next couple of centuries.

Edited by: DrG at: 12/2/04 12:25 pm

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



I suppose I'm a American Westerner to my boot soles* but since my wife is an old fashioned Canadian I understand the monarchist point of view. The Prince had a full life. He served his country through a very rough time, kept the newpapers busy, and managed to raise a decent human being in his daughter. I have to admit I didn't expect him to last the year out after Juliana died. Given the world today he truly will be missed as a touchstone to a more decent time. May his soul find peace.





Jixer





*An vignette purported to be true as an example:

19th Century visiting German noble-"I want to see your master."

Cowboy-"The son of a bitch hasn't been born yet."

[robotguru]

Gossip...good and bad i'm guessing, i still have to wonder what it's like for Princes Harry and William, especially with stuff like the Phil Burrell affair and the cassette tapes. May whoever is listening (yeah, i'll keep my God, you keep yours) save Bernard's daughters from that kind of ordeal.



I found out that day that irony sucks, i'd just come back from a trip to London with my aunt, even saw the Palace and the changing of the guards.

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There can be no rainbow without rain, you cannot know true happiness until you know sadness first.

Edited by: robotguru at: 12/2/04 3:24 pm