I don't understand the Princess Diana Adulation

[dex]

British princes honor Diana with concert - Yahoo! News

I really never understood the adulation of Princess Diana. Put aside she was a member of the British Royalty and the British can morn their royalty the way they wish for a moment.

What did she do that made her life exceptional and worthy of such attention?

Is this a case of "The Emperor's New Clothes" i.e. that no one is willing to speak up and say she didn't do too much realy.
The Emperor's New Clothes: Tales of type 1620

I think it is the case of people projecting a great deal upon someone born into priverlage; married into the royal family and died young.

Did she really do anything more than what a celerberty might have (e.g. Angelina Jolie).

Please set me straight if I'm wrong.

[Danny]

you're not wrong dex, I agree, plus think the people obsessing on her would be better off obsessing on ER forum topics - would pay dividends I think...

[Robert the Red]

Her public persona was (a) a classic beauty (b) graceful (c) compassionate. Of these, I think (a) was the most critical, in that if she looked like Charles' current wife, she'd have been a 3 day sensation, then been dropped.

[CuppaJoe]

You’ve caught me in one of my guilty indulgences. The library doesn’t carry magazines about royalty so occasionally I treat myself to a copy of the very expensive (here) "Royalty" or "Majesty." They tend to be poorly written but full of photos and stories about past and present British royals and their relatives. I stayed up all night to see Charles’ and Diana’s wedding; I don’t think we’ve seen that high a level of reporting since, especially about the history of the royals. I’m very tired of tripping over that awful Matt Lawer interview with the boys and did not bother to watch the Diana special on Sunday. Oh, to be retired, and pick up a different out-of-town newspaper or magazine every day for the all important leisurely visit to the coffee shop.

[brewer12345]

Ick, royalty. People venerated simply for existing - yuck.

[talltrees]

...to worship and venerate something they perceive as greater than themselves. Throughout human history it's been the worship of gods of various sort. In modern culture, it's descended to the worship and adulation of celebrities.

The Brits have Diana. Are we that much better with our obsessions over Paris Hilton and Angelina Jolie?

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by talltrees ...to worship and venerate something they perceive as greater than themselves. Throughout human history it's been the worship of gods of various sort. In modern culture, it's descended to the worship and adulation of celebrities. The Brits have Diana. Are we that much better with our obsessions over Paris Hilton and Angelina Jolie?

Hey, the unwashed Merkin masses have lots of useless pop heroes. They need something besides a 6 pack and a fundy revival/tent meeting to get them through their days. But I don't think any of us would claim there is anything noble or great about it. And at least their objects of slobbering devotion weren't destined to be such just because of who they momma wuz.

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I do not understand Americans who give any royalty the time of day. My opinion is the same as Mark Twain, who thought that the flag of Great Britain had no more legitimacy than the Jolly Roger--that royalty were simply the biggest pirates in the country.

I also bristle at inherited wealth.

(Of course, if I had been born in other circumstances, my opinion would be different. )

[BigMoneyJim]

Someone recently told me that Paris Hilton is the USA's surrogate royalty. Sadly I think he's right. The Kennedys were (and somewhat still are) royal analogues. I don't get it, but I see that it happens.

By the way, one of Social Knowledge's other forums is a forum about the Royals. There's a link to it in the lower left of the page.

[Danny]

Paris & Diana and _______ are all a plot by our government to keep us distracted and uninvolved in the critical matters of the day...otherwise we might get and they would have to call out the and us silly

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by talltrees Are we that much better with our obsessions over Paris Hilton and Angelina Jolie?

Do lesbian, threesome fantasies count?

[bosco]

I find this thread amusing. Buncha yanks saying they don't understand the veneration of people "just for existing."

C'mon, be honest. Wouldn't the country have been better off if Ronald Reagan had been a figurehead king? Then everyone could have venerated him, and he wouldn't have had the power to empty out the mental hospitals onto the streets, run up huge deficits, and be manipulated by the likes of Ed Meese and the other crooks in his administration. He could have made his cutesy anecdotal speeches and not had his absent-minded finger anywhere near a nuclear button.

just kidding....sorta

[talltrees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTien Paris & Diana and _______ are all a plot by our government to keep us distracted and uninvolved in the critical matters of the day...otherwise we might get and they would have to call out the and us silly

You just might be on to something.

[unclemick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by talltrees ...to worship and venerate something they perceive as greater than themselves. Throughout human history it's been the worship of gods of various sort. In modern culture, it's descended to the worship and adulation of celebrities. The Brits have Diana. Are we that much better with our obsessions over Paris Hilton and Angelina Jolie?

Buddy Holley Lives!

The heck with Elvis.

heh heh heh - the only member(and president) of the 'no good music since the Beach Boys club.'

[OAG]

Princess Grace Kelly of the dictatorship of Monaco was the same thing about 30 years ago. She was even a bi-national. It seems every generation has its War, Heroes; both real and political, and I guess we have to add the Princess (both actual and otherwise) adoration factor now.

DanTien: has hit one nail on the head --- distraction of the masses.

[CuppaJoe]

Imagine if the royals were taken out of Shakespeare. No Hamlet, no MacBeth, and gone would be my favorite, "Henry IV, Part 1," etc. etc.

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosco I find this thread amusing. Buncha yanks saying they don't understand the veneration of people "just for existing." C'mon, be honest. Wouldn't the country have been better off if Ronald Reagan had been a figurehead king? Then everyone could have venerated him, and he wouldn't have had the power to empty out the mental hospitals onto the streets, run up huge deficits, and be manipulated by the likes of Ed Meese and the other crooks in his administration. He could have made his cutesy anecdotal speeches and not had his absent-minded finger anywhere near a nuclear button. just kidding....sorta

Are you from moveover.org

[Khan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclemick Buddy Holley Lives! The heck with Elvis. heh heh heh - the only member(and president) of the 'no good music since the Beach Boys club.'

"rock-n-roll's been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died"
-"American Graffiti"

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclemick the only member(and president) of the 'no good music since the Beach Boys club.'

Hey UM...beach boys are playing a concert this week at one of the casinos near my house.

Beach Boys at Jackson Rancheria (Wednesday, July 11, 2007) - Upcoming

My high school driving instructor was named Ed Meese.

[bosco]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude Are you from moveover.org

don't know what it is, and the link doesn't work. so apparently not...