The children went back to school today after the longest Easter holidays ever – with two bank holidays thrown in for good measure. But as I struggle to get back into a routine I am not helped by the fact that last weekend was one of the weirdest ever. If you were a visitor from outer space who arrived on Earth late last week, you would have been gobsmacked at just how ‘uncivilized’ and peculiar life on earth really is.
The weekend began with the best of stories – love – with the marriage of the beautiful girl, Catherine Middleton to her Prince Charming. Her new husband, William is of course the son of the late Princess Diana – one of the most famous and most loved women on the planet in the 20th century. The spectacle of the Royal Wedding lifted hearts and focused our attention on the human need for love and connection. It also perhaps has brought some healing to the house of Windsor who for the last few decades seems to have been wracked by scandal and divorce and rifts. Friday was the best of days... we the world watched Britain do what it does best – pageantry and ceremony and we shared, at a distance, the celebration and hope that a good wedding should evoke.
Saturday was uneventful and was followed by Sunday and the beatification of Pope John Paul II. How to explain this concept to our visitor from Outer Space? I kind of doubt that God holds with the making of saints. I feel fairly sure that hierarchies are very much a human idea and dare I say it, a male one at that, even if it is a hierarchy of goodness. I don’t remember Jesus scoring the disciples on their ‘goodness’. But back to our friend from outer space - even if we could explain the concept of sainthood, venerating a vial of blood might just cause problems. As for retrieving his 6 year’s dead body to bring it to the church again – what’s that about? Can we also explain the simple wooden coffin amid all the priceless splendour of the Vatican? What’s the message there? The men who put this ‘show’ together are all the most ardent followers of Jesus Christ, apparently. Have they forgotten that he was a radical free thinker who lived in a humble life in Israel 2,000 years ago? Does anyone really think he would be happy with the goings on in Rome – at any time, never mind last weekend? Anyway that was Sunday!
Roll on Bank Holiday Monday and we all awake to the news that US Special Forces have, after 10 years of searching, finally tracked down, killed and buried Osama Bin Laden. All this happened in the space of a few hours. The internet goes wild with speculation and the chatter on Twitter reaches a new high as word spreads. The talk is of Navy Seals, Black Hawk Helicopters and photos of the US Administration watching live the events unfolding in a hereto unknown town called Abbotabad in Pakistan. I can understand the urge for New York City to celebrate but nevertheless scenes we saw of chanting and flag waving are something we are far more used to seeing from Middle East. But more than anything else I was struck by one of those pictures from the ‘situation room’ in the White House. Gathering around, in an informal group were the men of the American Administration all watching the live events from Abbotabad. In the centre of the picture was Hilary Clinton, the only woman and the only person present registering shock and horror. Her hand is clasped over her mouth and her eyes wide open. At times like this I really do wish that the Feminist Movement had really changed the world of politics and that women were in charge of a different way of doing things. And I am reminded of a quotation of Ghandi “an eye for an eye, renders the whole world blind.”
Actually never mind our friend from Outer Space... I am punch drunk from the events of this weekend. I suddenly feel as if I am not of this planet... after the uplift from watching and enjoying the Royal Wedding, the weirdness of the fast tracked beatification of Pope John Paul II with vials of blood and retrieval of his dead body and then the killing of Osama Bin Laden I am feeling very strangely alien on this planet I call home.
As always, Barbara, your perspective is bang-on. I fear I might be developing a bald spot from all my head-scratching over the last few days!
ReplyDeleteA princess, a saint (well nearly) and a martyr, all made in the one weekend. Amazing stuff.
ReplyDeleteHad exactly the same thought as I watched Hilary Clinton.
ReplyDeleteI also fear that not only will OBL's killing not reduce the risk of terrorism I feel it may increase the problem.
It was not like the death of Hitler - he had led a massive nation bent on world domination. Al Queda is merely one of many many Jihadist groups spread out throughout the world (though many leaders are based in Pakistan). Getting rid of OBL is probably akin to killing off the original bedbug that started the infestation while still being left with thousands of them to bite you at night.
Haha! This made me laugh. Being Canadian and this not overly familiar with either ritual (although my fellow countrypeople seem to have gone mental with the Royal Wedding), it is all very confusing.
ReplyDeleteYour observations are spot on Barbara, I am totally with you.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Absolutely. So stupid - two days ago Osama Bin Laden was a pathetic fugitive hiding in a suburb, his billions useless and his influence virtually gone. With his assassination, America has made him a martyr who will inspire thousands of people to violence.
ReplyDeleteThe story of the brutal superpower hunting down the saint, and his young wife leaping in front of him to try to save him, will become a new legend, giving his death mythic power and resonance.
I was so shocked that Barack Obama, whom I once admired, should watch this assassination as it happened. Hideous.
Life is like that, Barbara. Lots of it doesn't make a lot of sense. Who knows but the alien's world might be even more bizarre than ours. Seriously I know what you're saying, and you're right.
ReplyDeleteA weird few days alright!
ReplyDeleteTrying to explain some of the last few events to Murray has been fun I can tell you!
A packed weekend indeed.
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