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COVID Theatre Across the Atlantic
The funeral of Prince Phillip, husband of the Queen, was one of the most moving royal events of the last few years. This was perhaps the most iconic shot of the entire event:
She was utterly alone. For many watching the proceedings from home, the sight of the newly widowed Queen Elizabeth II, who will turn 95 next week, was perhaps the saddest image of the day. https://t.co/afjqGsf3Rv
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 17, 2021
What struck me about it, from the separate seating for “household bubbles” to the masks was the question: Why? Of course, it’s for appearances. Families across England and the world cannot mourn together in the usual manner, and so, the Queen isn’t either. But the difference is, the entire family has famously all been vaccinated. All of the COVID stuff at the funeral was thus just theatre. They had to do it “for appearances.” But what appearances and what message does the fact that the Queen and her entire family are still masked and distanced post-vaccine send?
Masking and distancing after the vaccine send a very clear message, and it’s, unfortunately, one that our Great Dr. Fauci also keeps promoting: That vaccination changes very little of our day-to-day COVID lives. He did it again today on the Sunday shows:
CHUCK TODD: “Why does a vaccinated person have to wear a mask?"
DR. FAUCI: "You dramatically diminish" possible Covid infection with a vaccine, but vaccinated people could still carry infection.”
pic.twitter.com/2Cqt5K68qM— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 18, 2021
The Royal Family wanted to send a message about safety by still adhering to COVID protocols, but it would have been even more powerful had they showed the world that they could mourn as usual thanks to the vaccine.
Published in General
She is a monarch. Not caring about anything about her.
Fauci didn’t like the slapdowns he’s been getting from Rand Paul or Jim Jordan. And DeSantis is absolutely mocking Fauci when he said “If you’ve been vaccinated, you’re immune. So act like you’re immune!”
So naturally, Fauci runs to the nearest media outlet where he can spew his lies unchallenged.
This is how we should be dealing with Fauci.
Sadly, the virus has become a political football. Elizabeth will not play. If she had done anything other than what she did, it would have appeared that she was taking sides. As long as the UK government has these policies, she will go along until the UK government undoes them.
Her refusal to take sides has been one of the most difficult parts of her life, but she’s done it for the good of the country.
The masking after vaccine theater is bad enough if it was just that. But it goes further as a sign of our powerlessness in choosing how to evaluate risk and safety and normalcy in opposition to government power. And scientists like Dr. Fauci who refuse to acknowledge any debate between liberty and safety are trying to leverage moral superiority by perpetuating an environment of fear. You’re right @bethanymandel that it speaks volumes when anyone worried more about the potential backlash from mask-scolds than in truly following science and exercising reason and sensibility – whether it’s the Queen, Joe Biden, or our friends & neighbors.
Elizabeth is the “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.” However, a new religion has taken hold in her realm. I’m quite certain more people believe in the NHS than the Church Of England. So perhaps she plays along.
She is a lovely woman and has remained true to her coronation vows, but she is a figurehead.
“the NHS is the closest thing the English people have to a religion” — Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Chancellor of the Exchequer (1983–1989). However, he may be more known in the United States as the father of celebrity cook Nigella Lawson.
It was very sad to watch, the music was beautiful and the words I remember most were “he was a defender of the faith”.
This is so true. Remember the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics — a reenactment of the entire history of that storied island with the final, climactic event being the creation of the NHS.
Nick Gillespie at Reason said: Even the “Bowlsheviks” at Mother Jones Incredulous at Opening Ceremony Celebration of England’s NHS