No... the other one!
It is apparently quite rare for a Liberal Democrat to profess not a grudging acceptance of the monarchy, but an outright love. Before it became a political issue, I used to joke with my friends that I was a Gurkha in a previous life. I almost do approach good ol' Liz with that same reverence.
That attitude is a source of deep embarrassment for some of my family. It also leads me to be rather conflicted. I have some sympathy with Irish nationalism (of the non-sectarian kind), a political belief which does not allow for love of a monarchy. Nonetheless, this is who I am.
I am a liberal democratic Irish-nationalist-supporting monarchist... and a Catholic! Holy crapsticks, that's a walking bag of contradictions if I ever saw one.
You know, there is something worthy of incredible respect, to know that our Queen has sat on the throne for over fifty years. She has seen Prime Ministers come and go. She has seen corrupt politicians come and go. She has seen the role of our nation decline year after year. She has seen unrest, profiteering on the back of poverty... she has seen it all.
And you know, I'm sure it takes an iron will to remain absolutely silent. It is the Queen's role to make her feelings known to the Prime Minister at their weekly meetings, not to make public declarations against a Government. So after fifty years, for her to have never broken that silence, is worthy of respect.
I don't think I could adequately express the admiration I have for the Queen. Its almost sickening, too! Like a Japanese manga fangirl obsessing over Sephiroth (eew). That is one reason why I am opposing the (possible, preliminary, maybe-not-presented) Lib Dem motion about the monarchy. And its going to get a teensy bit sentimental.
Isn't it nice to have a unifying force at the top of the country? Love her or hate her, she's there. She's at the head of the Government, and fulfils those neccessary State gubbins, without actually being political. What would we have instead? An elected President? Another elected politician... fun.
This is one of those things, which people want because they're embarassed by their monarchy. It doesn't matter. The monarchy has no power, the monarchy draws in money, the monarchy means political games do not affect relationship between the Head of State and Prime Minister.
There are other reasons, but I'm sure I'll put them into a speech I hope to give against the (possibly not even existant) motion in conference.
Until then... up the Monarchy!
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