Scott Tibbs
Unjustified bitterness at Queen Elizabeth
By Scott Tibbs, September 19, 2022
It is sad that we automatically expect people to be celebrating when a political figure dies, but that is the norm. The death of Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom was no exception. Dancing on the Queen's grave on the Internet is a morbid spectacle of degeneracy.
The excuse for the macabre celebrations was Britain's colonialist past, but that is just a cover. The vast majority of people defending their behavior know it is a faulty argument. The Queen saw the dismantling of the British Empire during her "reign." I put "reign" in quotes because the British royal family has no real political power. So not only are people celebrating her death for things that happened well before she was born, she had no real authority to do anything about it in the first place.
As for the British Empire, obviously it did some very wicked things. That is common to every empire that has ever existed, because building an empire always involves subjugating conquered peoples. But the British Empire did spread democratic principles, spread free market capitalism that lifted many out of poverty, abolished slavery, and most importantly, helped spread Christianity around the world. It is historically ignorant to only focus on the bad and not recognize the good. I bet the people of Hong Kong wish they were still under British rule.
I have heard many commentators talk about how public admiration of the British royal family is far superior to our American idolatry of celebrity. While that has some truth to it, the royal family have been celebrities for generations now. In some cases, the royals have used their celebrity status to grow their personal brand and fame. Some of them have tarnished both the monarchy and their own offices with their behavior.
With that said, the British monarchy is important to many people as a historical and cultural institution. When you openly wish for Queen Elizabeth to die in agony or when you are saying you are glad she is dead, you are not being an "edgelord" and you are not making a legitimate political point. You are being a jerk. Beyond the fact that we are all made in the image of God, this is someone who has family and friends who are deeply mourning her passing. Maybe you could have a little respect for them, instead of making it all about your own narcissism?
Opinion Archives
E-mail Scott
Scott's Links
About the Author
ConservaTibbs.com