History cannot be made without making headlines, so it's hardly surprising the Queen's arrival in Ireland has dominated today's national and international news. From the 85-year-old English monarch's first few steps to her choice of outfit, the world's media appear to have found significance in each trivial detail of the royal visit. For many papers, the morning headlines focused on Queen Elizabeth's first official step into the Republic. "One small step…and a giant stride into history," said the Daily Telegraph. "One's small step for ma'am," said the headline in the Sun. "One small step for a monarch," read the London Independent. – The Irish Times
Dominant Social Theme: This good and gracious lady has trod the green sod. Let the healing begin. Ultimately, all nations are one and the same. Let us overcome divisions and strive for globalism.
Free-Market Analysis: It really is too bad. Ireland, with only five million Irish remaining in it, has been virtually eviscerated by the European Union and its globalist financial strategies. To tempt the Irish to join the EU, a good deal of money was spread around liberally; Irish elites were basically bribed and Irish citizens were subject to an immense propaganda campaign based on the idea that the EU would provide increased prosperity forever.
Of course it hasn't worked out that way. The world economy crashed and Ireland, predictably, along with it. Now the Irish face years of so-called austerity as the International Monetary Fund in cahoots with Brussels' Eurocrats has lent Ireland the money it needs but only if the Irish pay more taxes, reduce government services and sell off national assets. Yet, these are internal matters and remedies should not be imposed on Ireland as they have been. The result: increasingly compromised sovereignty and yet one more step toward global governance.
Speaking of steps toward global governance, Here She Comes …. Queen Elizabeth II! Clad in any one of her innumerable costumes, walking in her odd, robotic way, she and her husband Prince "I-want-to-return-to-earth-as-a-virus" Philip trod the Old Sod for the betterment of the New World Order. Here's some more from the article excerpted above:
Reports focused on the symbolism of the day, paying particular attention to the colour of the Queen's outfit. "There was the Queen in green. There was yellow for the fluorescent jackets of the police lining the streets and black, the colour of the balloons released by some protesters," said the London Times. …
"Royal charm offensive has Irish smiling eyes," said a headline in Der Spiegel. Columnists and commentators from across the world described the event as it unfolded in front of them. News Letter columnist Alex Kane called it the "Casablanca moment" and "the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"The warm welcome accorded to the head of state is both a symbol of reconciliation that has since taken place, and a step that will strengthen Anglo-Irish ties," the Financial Times said. BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt described the event as "the once unimaginable becoming the norm". The Queen's arrival even caused BBC political correspondent Mark Davenport to become lost for words. "'Hugely symbolic' …
Other newspapers commend the "ring of steel" surrounding the city. In the Belfast Telegraph, commentator Liam Clarke turned his attention to the protesters. He said they are "in denial and can't accept that the conflict is over, despite the evidence of their eyes."
The international press seems to have left no area uncovered. The Guardian even enlisted the expertise of author and body language expert Peter Collett, to dissect each move. He noted that when President McAleese greeted the Queen "there was no bending of the knee or dipping of the head, nothing that might suggest an unequal relationship between the two countries."
This latter conclusion is somewhat laughable to us. The Queen is the wealthiest woman in the world, worth nominally some US$50 trillion as she has title to vast tracks in various Commonwealth Countries. Of course what she can actually dispose of is more mundane; arguably she owns much of her assets in name only, but own them she does, or so it is reported.
The ring of steel comment is perhaps not laughable but certainly ironic. As is increasingly the norm in Europe, the official dialogue diverges from the "reality on the ground." Despite the determination of the mainstream press not to report on them, there have been demonstrations, especially in Dublin. And empty streets, bereft of well-wishers, speak volumes about the lagging Irish enthusiasm for this event. The Queen can dress up in as many bright dresses as she wishes, but these do not obscure the violent history of Ireland nor its current difficulties.
We are not sure why Britain or the House of Windsor chose this moment in time to make such a symbolic trip. The story is a simple one; she was invited and therefore she came. But perhaps with the EU foundering and Britain itself facing various economic difficulties, the powers-that-be needed a diversion.
Here is another supposition. Coming on the back of the Royal Wedding, the Queen's visit was perhaps to provide a twofer of power elite positive publicity. Instead it may mark a further awakening of Irish resistance to the phony austerity under which the nation currently suffers.
