Comment du Jour

Royal Wedding—Why the World Cares

Why shall Americans across the fruited plain rise in the wee hours of Friday Morning to watch a Royal Wedding in London to see a British family which has thankfully not ruled America for 228 years? Why moreover are Americans, with strong republican (small r ) sentiments as we mostly are, so willingly enchanted and enthralled by the marriage of Prince William (second in line to the Throne) and Kate Middleton?

In a few words: tradition, pomp, ceremony. Let’s face it, the regal portrayal of Britain’s classy monarchical grandeur is still something with near global appeal. The House of Windsor (originally the House of Hanover and later Saxe-Coburg) re-branded with a more John Bull British theme in 1917 during WWI, embodies an enduring legacy of excellence, stability, and tradition.

While naysayers, including a strong a vocal minority in the United Kingdom itself, complain about the Monarchy’s cost, let’s face it, the Windsor Brand is wonderful for tourism, the tabloids, and a kind of national euphoric symbolism.

In a world of often crude showbiz and screen idols, where vulgar ostentatious wealth passes for class, and tawdry bling-bling values dominate the social scene, there’s something very reassuring about the elegance and continuity of the British monarchy.

Ask the obvious question. When Kansas school kids visit London what will be among their first stops? Buckingham Palace to view witness the changing of the guard along with other royal regalia.

Royalty does have a certain gilded “attraction,” even though the British monarchy is subject to strict constitutional constraints and does not have actual power to rule. Perhaps Queen Elizabeth II’s stoic sense of duty and commitment to tradition has reinforced the role of the Royal Family.

The attraction of a Royal Wedding is that of pageantry, history and pure glam; this is nothing new really, and in fact may hit a high water mark as the 24/7 media presents William and Kate’s marriage to well over a billion people worldwide, most of them from Republics.

To be sure there are a number of venerable European monarchies; Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden. For example, in Holland, the Royal Palace in the Hague is understated and decidedly low key. But the British Monarchy has managed to control the golden rule of publicity, despite past princely scandals (great for the London tabloids), and faux pas and still present the message as magna magisterial.

Royal Weddings have always been popular. The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana became a global media sensation in 1981, with 750 million TV viewers. The Wedding of Prince Andrew and Sara, Duchess of York in 1986 equally made headlines.

The subject has always captivated Americans at the box office too. In 1951 the movie Royal Wedding with Fred Astaire a big hit. A few years back, the movie The Queen, a portrayal of current Queen Elizabeth II, facing the tragedy of the untimely death of Princess Diana, offered a poignant inside look at the personal side of the Royal Family. Recently the film The King’s Speech presented a very sympathetic portrayal of George VI, the wartime King who was also father of Elizabeth.

But despite being able to choreograph the pomp and ceremony on demand, today’s Britain is a vastly changed and different country that that which George VI inherited at his Coronation in May 1937. Then Britain ruled one quarter of the world’s people including much of Africa, all of India, Burma, Malaya, and the West Indies. That is long past. Among the few reminders remain Bermuda and Gibraltar.

A memorable scene in The King’s Speech shows his Address to the Empire where BBC studios (I presume Portland Place in London) are ready to broadcast to Canada, Kenya, Jamaica, Malaya, etc. Today the BBC through a series of foolish and penny-wise cutbacks have trimmed most of the overseas shortwave services, including important language services to China, former Portuguese Africa, and Russia.

Despite a conservative government (very small c), Prime Minister David Cameron presides over a British economy in the doldrums as the undertow of a social welfare state has crippled the nation and moreover private initiative.

So in a year a trauma, tragedy, tsunami and conflict, the Royal Wedding offers a glimpse of fairy tale majesty, if only for a day.

Comment du Jour

NATO’s Transatlantic Divide Over Libya

As NATO warplanes blast targets throughout Col. Gaddafi’s Libya and enforce a “No Fly Zone” over the North African desert, much of the collateral damage appears to be diplomatic; especially between the USA and the French/British alliance flying most of the missions, as well as much of the Libyan opposition who complains that NATO air strikes are often too little, too late.

The Obama Administration, after indecisive diplomatic dithering, only signed onto the Libyan operation late in the game. The humanitarian compass pointed to protecting civilians in freed eastern Libya from the dictator more than the strategic aim of toppling the longtime tyrant. When the USA joined Britain and France in UN Security Council resolution #1973 passed on St. Patrick’s Day, the balance initially favored the rebels and the imminent overthrow of Gaddafi. A month later, there’s a stalemate on the military game board.

Initially the United States Air Force pounded Libyan air defenses and radar as a prelude to enforce the “No Fly Zone.” Then Washington shifted gears, and turned the operation over to NATO.

While six NATO countries (out of 28 in the Atlantic Alliance) among them the USA, Britain, Belgium, Canada, France, Denmark and Norway are flying sorties over Gaddafi- land, key NATO members Germany and Turkey sit on the sidelines and are politically sniping away. Thus there are divides inside NATO and across the Atlantic too over an unfocused operation in what has become a civil war.

NATO’s leaders call for “a few more aircraft” to fly ramped-up attacks on Gaddafi’s tanks and troops. Everybody is nervous about “boots on the ground,” namely sending in troops, supplies , and advisors, to help the rag-tag Libyan opposition fight more seriously.

It may well come to boots on the ground—and may I make a suggestion? France who is one of the few countries to diplomatically recognize the rebels in Benghazi holds the ultimate card. Beyond a very lethal Air Force, what about the vaunted and legendary French Foreign Legion?

These are troops specifically suited for this terrain, mission, and overall operation. A few battalions of the La Legion Etrangere, will bring a real meaning of “Boots on the ground” and will vanquish Colonel Gaddafi’s fourth-rate army.

Moreover, is this mission really just to protect civilians from Gaddafi or oust the Libyan dictator? NATO needs to be clear on both objectives.

Comment du Jour

Dutch Treat at the Frick

A hauntingly beautiful and important series of Rembrandt drawings are presently on exhibit at New York’s Frick Collection. While many people usually think of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) as the master artist whose oil paintings grace the world’s preeminent galleries, collections, and museums, the Dutch artist was equally admired for his drawings.

Sixty-five works on paper, among them Rembrandt’s drawings and etchings are on exhibit. The works are masterpieces of unparallel precision and form and relate the life and personalities of 17th century Holland. Equally the works of the Rembrandt School, artists such as Samuel van Hoogstraten and Nicolaes Maes, are among the sketches.

Among the most interesting drawings are self portraits of the Master, sketches which gaze at the viewer from the era of Holland’s Golden Age, 350 years ago, and into the present.

Naturally the Frick is known for its wonderful Rembrandt oil paintings—extraordinary pieces collected by American industrialist and philanthropist Henry Clay Frick a century ago. The famed Self-Portrait of 1658, (purchased in 1907 for $225,000), remains among one of the most famous pictures of the Master Rembrandt.

The exhibit Rembrandt and His School is on exhibit at the Frick (1 East 70th Street, New York),until 15 May. The exhibit is supported, among others, by the Netherlands Foundation.