"The world" is happy, I'm grumpy

[thistlechaser]

It really annoys me that America is so obsessed with "the royal baby". This is a silly question, but: Have they all forgotten history? The whole revolution we had so that we wouldn't have royalty? I bet most of these people would gleefully put themselves back under royal rule.

The evening news, a 30 minute show. Ten full minutes was spent on the baby. Next story? Plane crash on a NY runway. Got 30 seconds of airtime.

Sigh.

I feel the same way about celebrity babies (and relationships). Why do people care? Do they consider these people better than them, thus they want to know everything about them? I suspect/worry that's the case. Talk about bad judgement... How about wanting to know more about scientists? Why fawn over someone who can throw a football far, instead of over the guy who is working on a cure for cancer?

I know these aren't original questions or unique grumpiness, it's just this whole darned baby thing that set it off. They had a healthy baby? Great! But so did hundreds of other people today.

Comments

*personal* history touchstone

[bastets-place.livejournal.com]

My family comes from England, only a few generations back (think WWII-era) as well as a lot earlier than that. I grew up with stories of war and pilots and romance in England.

Move forward a bit, and you see a young Ellen lying on a burnt yellow colored shag carpet rug-hooking something in brown and orange, watching a royal wedding. I don't remember much more than how pretty she was, and how pretty her dress was, how young she looked, and how horrible I thought it was that all these "not her family" were watching her wedding, how much I would have HATED that many people watching me.

Move forward a little bit more, and you see an older, exhausted, new-mom Ellen in a rocking chair with a baby that refuses to sleep unless held, and then only for an hour or so at a time, watching the news because watching almost any late-night fiction involves things that trigger a great fear. At that same time, a certain ex-princess dies in a car accident, leaving behind a lot of rumors and a pair of sons.

Now, the eldest of those two boys got married, and I looked at possibly two pictures of the happy couple, giggled at the hats worn by some of the guests, and wished them well. I know those boys better than I know many of my own cousins.

I have a fascination with fashion. I don't wear it (jeans and t-shirt ahoy!) but I love to look at pictures of people who set trends in much the same way I like to watch television specials about aboriginal tribes- a fascinating look at a different culture, I simultaneously envy some of the fun-looking stuff and am thankful to not have to suffer from some of the not-fun looking stuff. So I have seen A LOT of pictures of this particular young woman. Her shoes, her coats, the dresses that she wears can be interesting and (nicely enough) she seems to be a human and actually wears clothing I might wear, should I actually ever want to wear something other than jeans and a t-shirt.

Now, that young woman and the young man that she married have had a baby. My Fiancee and I want to have a baby. My daughter is almost old enough, herself, to start down that path. So, yes, I find it very interesting. As a very proud American, I cried hearing about the baby, and I hope very much that he grows up to be as well adjusted and happy as possible.

You see, this isn't some far-distant, unknown and unknowable family having a baby into an impossible situation that triggers a lot of envy and hate. To me, this is a continuation of a story that includes *me* in a lot of ways.

Re: *personal* history touchstone

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing that! It makes a lot of sense.

"a fascinating look at a different culture"

I can understand that, especially if you like fashion as well (I don't).

and how horrible I thought it was that all these "not her family" were watching her wedding, how much I would have HATED that many people watching me.

I think that is part of it, too. I would also HATE it (oh so much hate) if people paid that much attention to me.