The Queen and I
A visit from the Queen seems to bring out the silliness in even the most staid closet Anglophiles. If you don’t believe me, read David Brooks’s column, “Where History Reigns” in the New York Times today.
For my part, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about, but I couldn’t resist perusing the list of guests invited to the White House for the state dinner. I’m not sure what an “equerry-in-waiting” to the queen does, but I guess he would need to be invited. It also makes sense that former ambassadors to Britain would be on the list, as well a few politicians and journalists. I suppose inviting Calvin Borel, the winning jockey of the 2007 Kentucky Derby, makes sense, given the Queen’s fondness for horses. But Peyton Manning!! I could see inviting Sir David Manning, the British Ambassador to the United States, but Peyton Manning, the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts?
At first, I found the fact that Peyton Manning had been invited to the White House deeply puzzling. Then I remembered my meeting with Pope Benedict last year. Standing in line to shake hands with the pope, I prepared what I would say during our brief encounter. I would say something about how valuable the conference on genomic medicine had been; how important it is that the Catholic Church is taking a leadership role in thinking through the ethical issues in genomics, etc.
When I began my brief spiel, Benedict’s response was priceless: “So,” he said, “you’re from the States.” I felt that I was in the middle of the scene from the baseball movie, Bull Durham, where the infielders gather at the pitcher’s mound, presumably to talk about how to pitch the next batter or how to align the defense. Instead, they are talking about what they should get a teammate for a wedding present. I was prepared to talk theology; Benedict was talking accents.
Maybe it does make sense to invite Peyton Manning to the White House or to the Vatican, for that matter. At least it makes sense if, like the players in Bull Durham, Manning doesn’t take himself too seriously. Even queens and popes need a break from self-serving politicians. Who knows, the pope might even find Manning’s accent worthy of note.
Any truth to the rumor that Peyton Manning promised the Queen that if she’d go “down and out long” he’d put the ball on her fingertips?
Paul,
All of us take ourselves too seriously. The reason we love celebrities is that we are reserving our adulation when we “make it.”
The pope is basically a celebrity. Why else would he get more money (Karol W) for his CD than any other author.
Clergy have always been part of celebrity. Even with reality settling in after pedophilia, celebrity will probably return. Unfortunately.
So the pope will speak about genomics when he sees fit and then that role will be allowed.
If he were allowed to pursue excellence as a pope as he as a quarterback, then Manning would make a great pope. Like that other unlikely guy name Angelo Roncalli.
The nicest thing you can do for any celebrity is not to meet her/him, and if by accident you do, to take no notice of the fact. What impelled a sensible person to stand in line to meet the Pope?
I met the historian A.L. Rowse once at a reception after a lecture in Cambridge. (I know Rowse doesn’t trump HRH or the Pope, but he WAS on Johnny Carson one time.)
He had just revealed the Dark Lady was Amelia Lanier (sp?) and that Shakespeare was a heterosexual.
But all he wanted to talk about at the reception was how they make Cornish pasties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
I think about him every time I stop at Muldoon’s Pasties in Munising.
Every big Vatican conference I’ve attended offers the opportunity for the speakers to meet the Pope-sometimes in the first two rows of the Paul VI hall, or sometimes in a smaller hall. And a photographer trails, shooting continuous film, and the next day you can buy the pictures of you and the pope from the Vatican photographer inside the Santa Ana gate.
One time I spoke at a conference, and Pope John Paul II was very ill– they had to cancel the audience. So to make it up to us, they let us in the Vatican museum at night–just our conference group–including the Sistine Chapel. It was amazing. My favorite book as a little girl was “From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,” “”about a young girl who hides out overnight at the Met. I have to say, I thought about it!
As far as the audiences go, I do say I feel sorry for the Pope –especially an introverted pope. It must be hard to work up the energy for that , day to day, knowing what else you have to do, and also knowing how important it is to the people whom you meet.
I am against papal audiences, papal pageantry, using the title “Holy Father.” What benefit do they have?
Sadly when popes speak loudly it is to its own clergy who are really helping others.
The current Commonweal criticizes Mugabe and the Catholic bishops in Zimbabwe. “Until recently most of Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops were silent about Mugabe’s misrule, but on April 1 they released a pastoral letter describing the government as “racist, corrupt, and lawless.”
Sadly, the Anglican bishops still support him. Very sad.
How long did the Catholic bishops wait before finally condemning Mugabe. Karol waited till 2003 to criticize him.
Here is a Catholic president absolutely killing his people with neglect and murder.
Only Africans and others of great neglect should be entitled to papal audiences. At least the focus will be where it should be.
The only pope I’ve experience with in this regard is JPII; I wonder if Benedict is more restrained in this regard.
I’ll find out in November.