American musings on the Jubilee

[Ponderingwindow]

I’ve been watching the threads on the Jubilee with a bit of mild interest. Mostly that some people are a annoyed at celebrating the monarchy and this royal family in particular. I do understand that perspective.

As an outsider, I don’t quite understand the fixation on the actual stated purpose of the celebration though. Perhaps it’s because I’m American and we turn everything into an excuse for a bit of patriotism. From the outside, it just seems like the Jubilee is really just a celebration of the UK and the whole Queen part is just the excuse for the party. Especially with Covid and Brexit and all the other badness, it seems like a bit of community building would be welcomed by everyone. Does it not work that way there? Do people maintain focus on the stated meaning and not the greater symbolism?

I haven't decorated either. We live on a hill so one of the beacons is being lit on our road, then we have been invited to a jubilee barbecue over the weekend. As we don't usually do very much I am looking forward to socialising.

"From the outside, it just seems like the Jubilee is really just a celebration of the UK and the whole Queen part is just the excuse for the party. Especially with Covid and Brexit and all the other badness, it seems like a bit of community building would be welcomed by everyone."

Most people irl seem to feel this way ime. I'm looking forward to our town party in the park this evening, had a selfie with a life size cut out of the queen in the pub yesterday. 4 days off, a party weekend and a sense of community is just what we need.

The USA as we know it was created by immigration in a comparatively few years during the 19Century. With no monarchy or grand families and with the dispersion of power to States they intentionally focussed on The Flag and patriotism to bring cohesion. I think there was a resolve among most immigrants to let go of their past and start afresh.
The enslaved and their descendants have different views and motives which I will not comment upon.

How do you know which families on your street are working class? Do they doff their cap at you when passing on the street? 🙄

Flag waving in UK often taken as racist
.so people are too embarrassed to do it, even with good intentions

Being openly patriotic in England is seen as either a) a rah-rah Tory pursuit b) very working class and not something educated people stoop to

Or (according to mumsnet) being a member of Britain First/a fascist/ being racist/being xenophobic.

Yep the "badness" in the UK OP there are no issues in America are there?

I don't know anyone who regrets having some extra days off work. I also don't know anyone who gives a shit about the jubilee. I don't know of any street parties or festivities where I live. But the pubs and cafes will be full and people will be catching up with friends and family.

There's tons of things I like about being British. Living in a mature democracy, with an independent judiciary and free press. The diversity and tolerance, the creativity, humour and irreverence. The humour. But its really hard in a modern day democracy to understand the role of a hereditary monarchy and to imagine, that by chance of birth, you should care about a group of not especially bright clothes horses and shower them with esteem. I met Princess Beatrice last week and honestly I was just joshing around with her - she's just a slightly awkward young posh girl in a pretty frock. And the Queen, who I've also met, is a bit of a grumpy old lady.

I really don’t think that’s very fair, there’s nothing wrong with loving your country, it can be good it can be bad but it’s not fundamentally one or the other.Part of America’s patriotism includes the American dream for immigrants and the idea that anyone can become an Americian, and a lot of the racists there want the Southern states to leave the USA. They are more obsessed with being “European” than American.
Honestly my experience is that English people are pretty quick to talk down England, which can be sort of charming and endearing but actually they also often make it clear they look down on other people for being proud of their culture or their country, which for lots of people in the rest of the world is quite alienating.

I haven't decorated and I'm not a royalist but I have a lot of respect for the Queen. Though I'd celebrate anyone who had spent 70 years working.

It must be so refreshing to live somewhere where to be someone that enjoys and admires the the Queen's service aren't immediately accused of: cap doffing, forelock tugging, curtsying, Tory loving, ephebephilia forgiving sheep.

For those of us who simply want to enjoy the upcoming weekend it's a pity that there are some who resolutely won't, but that's your choice and that's OK. It won't happen again in any of our lifetimes so please stop trying to piss on our chips.

MN isn't representative of the country by any means.

Most people are at the worse neutral to it all, but like my DH will watch bits on the TV. (currently watching trooping of the colours)

We aren't having a street party but are going to a friends birthday tommorrow with a red, white and blue theme.

There's a massive range of feeling about the Queen/Jubilee/ Long bank holiday weekend. As I see it, everyone can make it what they want it to be, even if they don't (like me) like the Royal Family. Why not make it into a get together, after all, lots of people who don't celebrate Christmas/aren't Christian will still use the Christmas holidays (or Easter) as a chance to get together?

Yes, I think that's a good analogy. Xmas in June!

I grew up in America for part of my childhood although I’m British. I find it really sad that Britain doesn’t celebrate in the same way. I have really fond memories of things like neighbourhood 4th July celebrations, pig pickins, pot luck, homecoming football games where the whole community comes together. It just doesn’t seem to happen here and I think people are missing out.

Luckily my family still have a lake house there so we get to go. All the houses on our stretch of the lake sit out on their jetty’s or boats to watch the fireworks over the lake.

@upinaballoon we certainly did in the late 00s when I was at high school.

Lol that is hilarious. Poster books trip to Italy to escape “patriotic nonsense”. Italy having its own patriotic nonsense. Have fun!!

And in response to the OP - I’m from an ethnic minority background as are many of my neighbours. Live in well heeled London suburb, most neighbours highly educated. We’re having a full on street party with flags and bunting. Excuse to meet neighbours and have a bit of community fun. Many elderly neighbours as well who hardly left the house during lockdown.

Brilliant 🤣

Better tell our inner city streets that are having them, (Roads blocked off) that they shouldn't be.

Absolutely, unfortunately that is human kind for you, and its still happening in bits of the world that no one bothers to report about.

And Im not 'ashamed' of our history, its a factual thing, I dont have an emotion about it, it is what it is, just like it is for France, Spain, Portugal, the Dutch, Italy, th list is endless.

Most people get a day off work. A bank holiday. What's not to like. If you have a cul-de-sac party, it's pleasant, after covid we could do with some jolly.
If you don't like it all, don't participate. Easy.

For me, the monarchy isn't representative of Britain, it's about inequality.
And that isn't something I'll celebrate.