Children of privilege
By Patrick Kelley
Originally published 02:26 p.m., March 4, 2008
Updated 02:26 p.m., March 4, 2008
Britain’s royal family has always puzzled Americans. In the United States, we have become used to hereditary wealth and hereditary power — sometimes in the same families — but the idea of hereditary duty has languished.
Oh, in this country, Old Money tends to talk a lot about the duties and responsibilities of wealth, but the duties seem to be mainly social and the responsibilities mainly political. When a child of such wealth talks about “giving back” to the nation, it often takes the form of running for political office — a career in the U.S. Senate, say, or a couple of terms in the White House.
Hard duty, certainly, but most people would find the pay and perks comfortable.
Then there is Britain’s Prince Harry, newly returned from combat duty in Afghanistan after being outed by an American political-scandal Web site. After being denied the chance to serve in Iraq with his unit because of a public outcry, he conspired with his superiors to go to Afghanistan instead. His status as a target of special interest to the enemy was nullified by a media pact to conceal his assignment from the world.
When he returned to Britain last week, the prince said he was glad to have gone and disappointed that the story got out, forcing him to be pulled off the line, and that he was determined to return to combat duty with his unit. He sounded just like any soldier in a similar situation.
“At the end of the day,” he said, “if you’re not there and someone from your regiment or a mate of yours, if something were to happen to them, realistically you would feel indirectly guilty.”
His brother, Prince William, heir to the throne, will soon be on active duty with the Royal Navy.
The royal brothers are setting a good example for the children of privilege everywhere. They remind us that in exchange for wealth and power, they owe to their nations and the world more than mere political involvement.
They also have a duty to share the trials and suffering of their fellow citizens.
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Very well said, Mr. Kelley. I thought the same when I first heard the story of young Prince Harry. That kind of patriotic and honorable thinking used to prevail in the USA, but I fear it do longer does. Most young people today, and even many adults, feel they owe nothing to their country. Ask not what you can do for your country; ask what your country can do for you. Our world is changing. The results sadden me.
March 4, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
You are exactly right, Bjnemp. Fox News did a short segment a few months ago where they went out and asked kids on the street, if they felt they owed their country anything. Nearly every one of them said they didn't owe their country anything, that the country owed THEM.
To borrow a quote:
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years.
Great nations rise and fall. The people go from bondage to spiritual truth, to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back again to bondage."
We're headed there fast, I'm afraid.... :(
March 4, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Open_eyes - I'm afraid you are right - we are headed there fast.
I have one question for Mr. Kelley. Does he feel that only children of wealth and priviledge "owe" their country? For some reason that is the vibe I got from this and I think that is entirely off. I think it comes down to comments like those above that ALL people should want to do what is good for their country. Granted a celebrity's actions are going to be looked at in a different way, and yes I think the brothers are setting a good example, but shouldn't we all strive to set a good example regardless of where or from what we came?
March 4, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Confused about Royalty? What about the porn ads on your website? Sure didn't expect to see that on this website.
March 4, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
roger (anonymous) says...
The children of the poor and middle class still respond to the call of duty. Have you forgotten the young men and women serving in an all voluntary military today? If you have forgotten them you might do something for them to show your gratitude. It seems that at least in this country the poor are closer to royalty than the rich.
March 4, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
neighbor, what are you talking about?
March 5, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Renegade (anonymous) says...
I think there's another side to the Prince Harry story, that is important.
The PRESS in England knew about Prince Harry being in Afghanastan, and never wrote a word about it!!....
but, the Press from another Country, and our own USA,(Drudge Report) had to break the story...causing Prince Harry to have to leave his regiment and return to England...before he was ready (his words).
The other part of the story is that there is someplace in this world where the Press,put the safety of their country and someone other than themselves, first!!!....
I think the Prince Harry and the British Press,, and the Royal Family, should all be commended.
March 5, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Great point, Renegade. We live in a country, sadly, where the NY Times will spill any national intelligence information they find, any covert operation, and basically blab to everyone any intelligence edge we may have, effectively rendering it useless. If we could only transport them back about 50 years, then they would be held on treason charges. But not today, not in America. No, we have Berkely, instead.
March 5, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Create, the Lyon Co State Bank ad normally over on the right side of the page showing Ms Larie is changing to a popup ad and picture of a scantily clad "stripper" on my monitor showing a view from her thonged backside. I ran a virus scan of my computer, dumped temp files and cookies etc thinking perhaps one of my kids may have opened a link they have been warned not to click on, I found nothing. Obviously if you're not seeing it, it could be in my computer, This morning I see it's back on here, and I don't see it on other websites. It may be time to get the latest ad-aware program again.
March 5, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Whew! I'm glad we got the porn rumor figured out on the Gazette web home page. I stared at that photo of Larie and Lori for 8 hours straight and saw nothing that could be even remotely defined as porn. I think I have a crush on Lori now, though.
March 5, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Found the problem tonight in my software files and pulled it's plug. Going to have hire a techie to get rid of all of it, it has files that cannot be deleted. People have way too much time on their hands when they can sit down and figure out how to make these programs work. I am a bit concerned that the program file was made 3hrs prior to anyone being home. My apologies to the Gazette, I guess I was hoping it was their system that was compromised instead of mine.
March 5, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
neighbor, I'm so glad you explained all this. Like Bj, I stared at the image of Lori and Larie too. In fact, that's a lovely house in the background and the ladies' suits are crisply pressed as well. No crush for me though, I want that house!
March 6, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )