Monday, April 20, 2015

Hillary Clinton will not be "coronated" and is not running for Queen - so please stop! Just stop! That was no tiara she threw into the ring.

First of all, there is a good reason why, when you type the word "coronated' a red line appears beneath it.   It is not a real word.  It is a back formation (neither a good nor a necessary one) brought into usage by people who lack the facts.  At a coronation (no red line under that),  one is not "coronated" but rather "crowned" (no red line).   Elizabeth Windsor would be happy to explain that to you with admirable patience.
Second,  and most importantly,  this is not a monarchy.  Especially on Facebook and Twitter I am seeing people calling her "Queen'.  She will not be a queen.  Queens are either born into or married into these roles.  A queen by birth is a ruler.  A queen by marriage is a consort.  We are not a monarchy.  We divested ourselves of the British crown in 1776 and out first POTUS, George Washington, chose not to be declared  king and took on two mantles in doing so: head of state (role of a monarch) as well as head of government (role of a prime minister).  It has remained so ever since.  Hillary is not running for Queen.  One cannot 'run" for that title.  She is running for POTUS - a heavier and more demanding role to be sure and one for which she is eminently well-suited.
Third,  Hillary is not framing herself as one who will receive an automatic imprimatur  (a "coronation") from her party.  Rather  (properly) she is presenting herself aa a job applicant for a position only we, the voters, can extend.  If you are not British (in which case you know this)  but have seen the excellent film, The Queen, you know from the opening credits that HRM does not even have the power of the vote.  She is not among ordinary citizens.  Hillary is very much a citizen of great service.
Lastly, Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl - as the  Beatles sang long before many readers here  were born.   She would tell you, as she does not have to explain to her own people, that she never sought her title.  She has executed her role admirably considering that her earliest expectations were to live the life of a princess.  Hillary is seeking, not a title, but a job.
YOU, the voter, are the prospective employer.
Entering the campaign was only a first step.  Nothing is sure, nothing is set.  There is work to be done, and we have to help her do it.
That was no tiara she threw into the ring.  Let's not put one on her.  She never asked for that.  Can we please stop all the "Queen" and "coronation" talk?  That is sooooo 18th century!    Can we stop acting like it's all been done?  Let's get to work!