On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn got her head lopped off over trumped-up (no pun intended) accusations of treason, adultery, and incest, though of course the real reason had to do with her inability to provide King Henry VIII with a male heir to the throne (a female heir considered too scary a proposition.) Such was the problem of trying to ensure an orderly transfer of power back in the day. You know, I sometimes get frustrated with democracy. After all, there's been some huge blunders committed on Election Day, but all it is I have to do is look at a picture like the one above reminding me what we're trying to avoid that restores my faith in popular sovereignty.
Oh, and another thing is we've totally gotten over our fear of a female succeeding a male as head of state.
Um...er...hmm...Well, at least they kept their heads.
Yes, they kept their heads, but given enough time in office, your present Dear Leader might change that.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's what I'm afraid of, David. Enjoy the peaceful transfer of power (and it was barely peaceful in 2021) while it lasts.
DeleteWhat we could have had.
ReplyDeleteAnd what we still have to be vigilant about avoiding, Boud.
DeleteI can't help but think of the tv series character Audrey Forbes-Hamilton saying, "Democracy is all very well, but why give it to the people".
ReplyDeleteWell, Andrew, plutocrats are technically people, too, so I guess democracy is about giving it to MORE people.
DeleteThe more things change, the more they stay the same?
ReplyDeleteI dearly hope not, Debra.
DeleteThings would be so different just now eh?
ReplyDeleteI'd be a serf just now, Ananka, though I may be a variation of one anyway.
DeleteGlad they still have their heads. If the asshole in chief had anything to say about it…
ReplyDeleteOh, Mitchell, if he could he wouldn't just bring back public executions of his enemies but also sell gold-plated souvenirs at the event.
DeleteAnd he’d call them solid gold.
DeleteHello Kirk, The nerve of that Anne Boleyn, not having any male children! It seems, though, that in some other countries or times there might have been more subtle ways of dealing with this. For instance, a Lucrezia Borgia-style poisoning would have got the same result with less bad/awkward publicity, there could have been a state funeral and mourning, then Henry could have gone on his merry way.
ReplyDelete--Jim
p.s. In case the irony did not show through, I am appalled at the way Henry VIII handled things, but they say that after a certain point he was not in his right mind.
Fear not, Jim! The irony did indeed shine through.
Deletep.p.s. %*&%^@%&^% Google accounts that keep reverting to anonymous!! --Jim
ReplyDeleteThere, the frustration shown through.
DeleteThank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Linda.
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