As Americans, we currently do not have a First Lady we can be proud of — instead, we have a woman who fashions herself a style icon, proud of her country for the first time in her adult life only because she’s being lavished more attention, riches, and power than she ever dreamed of. Since there is no permanent head of state in this country, the First Family assumes that role, collectively, whether they are prepared for it or not. Some First Ladies have been spectacular in their duties: Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush, Jackie Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Cleveland, Grace Coolidge, Dolly Madison, Abigail Adams, and other great First Ladies from the past.
We neither have, nor want, a royal family in America, no matter how much the Kennedy Family pretends otherwise. But the hit-or-miss roulette we play every four years with the people who live in the White House makes us appreciate those countries that enjoy dignified continuity, and are spared from suffering through four years’ of bare arms, strange sweater sets, wrestling belts, and inappropriate behavior from someone who is supposed to represent the very best of the nation.
The British are fortunate to have Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state — a woman who is proud of her country every day, who embodies class and grace, and spends every waking hour in service not just to her people, but to the very powers of good.
One of our grandmothers worked in Britain in the leadup and early days of WWII. Whenever any of you out there attack Queen Elizabeth or spit venom at the British monarchy, we are reminded of the stories we heard as children, of King George and his family, most notably Princess Elizabeth, holding the people together and giving them the strength to endure bomb after bomb smashing against their country. Buckingham Palace itself was bombed, during which the King and Queen were almost killed in a direct German attack. Yet, the Windsors never fled for Canada. They stayed firm in service to their people. Princess Elizabeth worked as a mechanic and driver in the army. They represented the very best of the British “Never Surrender” spirit, and we do not believe the war would have been won without them. Winston Churchill said as much himself. Our grandmother taught us to respect the Queen for all she stands for, and admire her for the love she has for her country and her people.
The Queen’s Christmas Message was always a tradition in our homes growing up, because of the immense respect our very American families have for Her Majesty, the Queen. It is immensely difficult to live an entire lifetime in the glare of the spotlight, forever having to be perfect every minute of the day, knowing you physically embody the character and spirit of your nation. We respect Her Majesty immensely…especially this last year without someone of similar patriotism and love of country occupying the ceremonial and representative role our own culture has created for the First Lady.
Class vs. Crass
Can you imagine what “The First Lady’s Christmas Message” would look like? Could Mrs. Utopia stuff enough of her grievances into a 7 minute clip to warrant even a forced smile?
God save the Queen.
Heaven help us all.
December 25, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Boyz you nailed it with your comments regarding Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She thinks in terms of service, rather than in being served.
It is that service to her people during a time of war that makes the woman who is now Queen an example to her people.
December 25, 2009 at 4:10 pm
So true!
Michelle Obama: Listen and LEARN! Make YOUR heart a manager not only for Christ but for your COUNTRY! It speaks poorly of you that we have to look to the monarch of the country from which we achieved independence in order to find inspiration, selflessness, sincerity, and genuine hope.
December 25, 2009 at 5:14 pm
err…a “manger”
December 25, 2009 at 4:00 pm
HillBuzz, if you’ll forgive me, I’d like to recount a story about Rose Kennedy that I can relate to. I’ve found it a hard row to hoe as the sole caretaker of my brother John, whom you all know has Down syndrome. Oh hey, if I were financially stable, had a home of my own, and some bucks in the bank, it’d be a lot easier. Notwithstanding that I don’t have any of those things at this time, or even a REAL job, I get down quite a bit.
I came across this anecdote related by Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy that I’d like to post, because it’s helped me open my heart today. Please indulge me:
“Make My Heart a Manger”
One final story and we are done In one of his books Jess Moody tells of meeting Rose Kennedy (mother of President John F. Kennedy) many years ago at a Bible study he was teaching. That night he challenged his hearers to make their hearts ready to meet the Lord because life is short for all of us, and no one knows what the future may hold. When the meeting was over, Rose Kennedy spoke to Jess Moody privately. “I’ve done what you were talking about tonight,” she said. She went on to say that as a young bride, she had been enamored by the power of money. She became selfish, living only for her own desires. Then she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Soon it became apparent that something was wrong with her daughter. Medical tests revealed that her daughter had been born with severe mental retardation and would have to be institutionalized for her entire life. Rose Kennedy said that she and her husband were devastated by the news. Then the devastation turned eventually to enormous anger at God. “How could you have done this to us?” she asked the Lord. The anger became a kind of corrosive bitterness that drained every bit of joy from her life.
One night she and her husband had been scheduled to attend a social gathering. They decided at the last minute not to go when she realized that her anger had consumed her. She was afraid of what she might do or say if someone asked about their daughter’s condition. And that’s when it happened. A maid who worked for the family spoke to her. “Mrs. Kennedy, I’ve been watching you for the last few weeks and I’ve seen how angry you are. If you don’t do something, it’s going to ruin you. I think you should pray this prayer: “O Lord, make my heart a manger where the Christ child can be born.”
“Make my heart a manger where the Christ child can be born.”
Rose Kennedy told Jess Moody that she was so angry that she fired the maid on the spot. But that night when she went to bed, she couldn’t sleep. Tossing and turning, she couldn’t get that simple prayer out of her mind. Finally, she knelt by her bed, and in an act of deep surrender she prayed, “O Lord, make my heart a manger where the Christ child can be born.” In that moment, in the depth of the night, when she cried out in anguish, God heard and answered her prayer. “I’ve always been religious, you know. I’m a Catholic and I’ve always believed in Jesus.” But this was different. On this night, she opened her heart to Christ in a new way, and her heart did indeed become a manger where Christ could be born in her. Love replaced the anger that had gripped her soul. And the end of the story is this: She rehired the maid who stayed with the family until she died many years later.
December 25, 2009 at 4:40 pm
New York Times columnist calls Michelle Obama a “Barbie”
YEAH!
December 25, 2009 at 5:01 pm
You go, Granny Jan! Great video that you made!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went over to rate (5!), comment, and favorite.
Thank you for the Christmas gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 25, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Excellent work, Granny Jan!
That’s a keeper, and I’m passing it along to others.
December 25, 2009 at 5:38 pm
That was great!!! Perfect!
December 25, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Queen Elizabeth is truly a remarkable woman. Is there any other public figure who has set such high standards by conducting their duties almost flawlessly for so long?
One of my favorite movies is, “The Queen” with Helen Mirren. The dvd with commentary by Robert Lacey is especially interesting because he explains the constitutional aspects of the controversies after Diana’s death. I was glad that the movie was sympathetic to the Queen because the public treated her rather badly, imo.
December 25, 2009 at 5:59 pm
“The British are fortunate to have Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state — a woman who is proud of her country every day, who embodies class and grace, and spends every waking hour in service not just to her people, but to the very powers of good.” QE II = Class and Grace.
December 25, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Thanks so much for the video–Queen Elizabeth is an honorable woman. Her grace, class and duty to her people provide a steadying hand through life’s lessons. Let’s hope other leaders, or those in the position of leadership with no clue how to serve with principle, can learn from her.
She IS her country.
December 25, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I would only add that we, the members of the Commonwealth, are fortunate in having the Queen as our Head of State as well, as she is also Queen of our respective countries. It has been said that the Queen’s loyalty is to the Commonwealth, whereas Prince Charles, and presumably those who come after him, feels a closer kinship with Europe. We will not have an advocate of her calibre again, or not for a long time. She is the lynch pin that holds the Commonwealth together, and we are very conscious of that.
December 25, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I will give away my age and admit to being 10 when Elizabeth was crowned Queen. The Royal Family was held in high esteem here in the the US at the time. WWII was in recent memory and the brave actions of the Royals inspired many to emulate their selflessness.
Here, 50+ years later the Queen is doing YouTube videos as part of her Christmas greetings. The woman moves with the times, has more style, wits and grace than Obumbette. The classiness, the manners, the service to her country makes the Queen a true role model. We do not want a queen here in America, nor do we want someone who “thinks” she is a queen.
December 25, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Correction, make that 57 years later.
December 25, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Merry Christmas, hillbuzzians.
Has anyone mentioned that Obama quietly signed an executive order that gives INTERPOL free reign and immunity within the US? Screw the Constitution and our sovereignty.
Which means they can grab anyone in the military or the Bush administration for war crimes…especially if ‘The Won’ signs back on to the ICC..which means ‘the world’ can put any American citizen on trial.
.
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threatswatch.org/analysis/2009/12/wither-sovereignty/
CONCLUSIONS
In light of what we know and can observe, it is our logical conclusion that President Obama’s Executive Order amending President Ronald Reagans’ 1983 EO 12425 and placing INTERPOL above the United States Constitution and beyond the legal reach of our own top law enforcement is a precursor to more damaging moves.
The pre-requisite conditions regarding the Iraq withdrawal and the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility closure will continue their course. meanwhile, the next move from President Obama is likely an attempt to dissolve the agreements made between President Bush and other states preventing them from turning over American military forces to the ICC (via INTERPOL) for war crimes or any other prosecutions.
When the paths on the road map converge – Iraq withdrawal, Guantánamo closure, perceived American image improved internationally, and an empowered INTERPOL in the United States – it is probable that President Barack Obama will once again make America a signatory to the International Criminal Court. It will be a move that surrenders American sovereignty to an international body who’s INTERPOL enforcement arm has already been elevated above the Constitution and American domestic law enforcement.
For an added and disturbing wrinkle, INTERPOL’s central operations office in the United States is within our own Justice Department offices. They are American law enforcement officers working under the aegis of INTERPOL within our own Justice Department. That they now operate with full diplomatic immunity and with “inviolable archives” from within our own buildings should send red flags soaring into the clouds.
This is the disturbing context for President Obama’s quiet release of an amended Executive Order 12425. American sovereignty hangs in the balance if these actions are not prevented through public outcry and political pressure. Some Americans are paying attention, as can be seen from some of the earliest recognitions of this troubling development here, here and here. But the discussion must extend well beyond the Internet and social media.
Ultimately, a detailed verbal explanation is due the American public from the President of the United States detailing why an international law enforcement arm assisting a court we are not a signatory to has been elevated above our Constitution upon our soil.
December 26, 2009 at 9:56 am
To me, that is the scariest thing he’s done yet. Good grief, the American people don’t even know about it.
December 25, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Our faux first lady, the wannabe Jackie O, is too busy staying at a $9 million Hawaii mansion for Christmas while the unemployed of the USA go broke. She’s renting it for $4,000.00 per night…..poor little rich girl. Do you think she tells Barry to just “let them eat cake”??????
December 25, 2009 at 9:07 pm
You are right. MO is a CRASS act.
December 25, 2009 at 10:58 pm
That is a wonderful video of Queen Elizabeth. I knew she was in WWII but forgot what she did, thank you for reminding me.
M Obama has no class, everything for both of them is I did this or I did. I cannot watch either of them and I get sick when I hear him on a commercial on being a father. He is the most overexposed person on earth, ever.
December 26, 2009 at 8:29 am
Found: Michelle Obama’s X-Mas Message!
“Yo. Merry X-Mas you pissant Americans”.
/
December 26, 2009 at 8:31 am
The difference between MO and the Queen is that one has dignity, the other doesn’t. Michelle thinks that she is the style setter, but she can’t begin to understand what style, taste, a sense of decorum mean.
If she hates whites do much, how come she had her nose thinned and her lips reduced, just like a white person’s?
And please, for the love of heaven, everyone stop saying she is beautiful! She just isn’t. She’s an ungainly opportunist who is ugly both inside and out.
December 27, 2009 at 12:29 pm
When Queen Elizabeth addresses the British People, she actually has something to say, some meaningful message to impart. We, on the other hand, have a leader(?) whose ego compels him to deliver a litany of prime time lies on a daily basis.
Question: When was the last time you saw a random photo of Prince Philip “hanging out?” Never. Just isn’t done. However, we on this side of the Pond are subjected to the FL’s mundane activities on a daily basis. I’m surprised we don’t have to watch her in the loo.
December 28, 2009 at 8:31 pm
I was surprised to see this on this site and happy. For many years growing up, in our family too, it was an annual thing to watch the Queen’s message on the tv. I have huge respect for the Queen and I will mourn the day when she passes on. I have no respect for Prince Charles and less than nothing for Camilla. The only hope for the monarchy is to skip Charles and to William and the Queen seems to know that, from recent reports. I hope the Queen has many, many more years in her though, and I will continue to sing with gusto: “God Save The Queen”!