Above the Fray

In light of the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the ensuing ceremony and pageantry, The Frumpy Professor, aka Pipe Tobacco, has asked me about Canadian attitudes toward the monarchy.

There are 43 countries with a monarch or the equivalent as head of state. The list includes the following countries that all seem to manage fairly well:  Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Frankly, even though I am a born and bred Canuck, I don't really know what the Canadian attitude is. Until I learn differently, my opinion is that we don't share a single attitude and that, for most part, whatever opinions that we do have are mostly likely not very strong ones. Obviously, there are those loyalists who love the monarchy and those at the other extreme who repudiate it for its colonial heritage and present opulence, but it seems to me that the rest of us are bunched somewhere in the middle, between the two camps. 

Personally, if people want to have a monarch, it's fine by me. We probably are a little taken aback by just how ostentatious the pomp and ceremony is in Britain, but we accept the Canadian adaptation, which is to have a less lavish Governor General as the monarch's representative on these shores. If we or Britain were to dissolve the institution entirely, I think that I would feel a sense of loss. 

I had never thought of the institution much, and still haven't really, but the passing of Her Majesty and the resultant ceremonies have made me think just a little bit. Then, when Mary mentioned in passing that it is her opinion that a constitutional monarchy is the best form of government, I thought a little bit more. Just a little bit, mind you, for I don't want to strain the brain too much.

I think it is apparent that this queen, for I am am not convinced that I can say the same for her forebears, carried out her duties with class and dignity. In the midst of an era of rapid technological and societal change, she was always there, like a rock of stability. She was steadfast, honourable, gracious, reliable, and apolitical. While I am sure that she had her own opinions, she remained reticent about expressing them, or at least she has been for a very long time.

A constitutional monarch can carry out many honorary and ceremonial duties that might be onerous for some other political leader, for she, or now he, can remain above the fray (which is what I have just decided will be the title of this post). The monarch can go to a ribbon cutting ceremony, for example, and few will be triggered as they might be by the presence of a politician with whom they might vehemently disagree.

We had a very nasty case recently where our deputy prime minister was accosted by a very verbally abusive couple in Alberta. It was an ugly incident that was almost universally decried. For whatever reason, the couple was triggered by her politics and decided that they should vent their anger in a most foul and unacceptable way. My guess is that the presence of a neutral representative would likely not have aroused any ire at all.  

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/30/canada-deputy-prime-minister-abuse-chrystia-freeland

More practically, also consider the demands inherent in running a country. A constitutional monarch or their representative can allow a leader more time to attend to the rigours of their taxing jobs than having to expend as much time in quite so many time-consuming public appearances. Also, as noted, there could be less upset for many.

When I see how alternative types of government are being pushed beyond acceptable boundaries, I do consider that there is some value in having a titular head of sate who is steadfast, resolute, dignified, apolitical, and Above the Fray.

Meanwhile, I have asked if Mary would share her thoughts more fully, for they are likely to be more well-honed than mine. I don't know how long she has held her view that a constitutional monarchy may be the best form of government, but I am pretty sure that it has been longer than two weeks, which is what it has been in my case. If she does post something, I will let you know.