Well, peeps. I’ve spent quite a bit of time investigating and watching much of the latest “Harry and Meghan” outpourings on Netflix, so you don’t have to. (A Nigerian prince will be contacting you shortly and directing your gratitude-filled donations to me. Please follow through. Trust me; I deserve them.)
As many of you know, I’m a subscriber to Britain’s Daily Telegraph site. It’s the favorite newspaper of the royals, and the only one–in my younger years–we were allowed to read (after the servants had ironed it, of course).**
Most of the Telegraph’s coverage (and almost all of the reader commentary) as it relates to the Song of the Sussexes has been fairly rational, with the exception of one Bryony Gordon, who seems to have been rainbow-pilled™ by the Duke and Duchess at some point in the story.
A few days ago, in one of the Telegraph’s (paywalled) columns, Bryony writes of the Sussex’s “bravery” in “whistleblowing,” of the Duke’s desire to shed his “self-loathing,” because he found himself too weak to help his wife in her mental-health struggles, of the fact that he was “angry and ashamed,” and that he “hate[d himself] for it.”
Strong Weak words for a Prince of the Realm, particularly one who’d served his country honorably in combat (Afghanistan) for many years, and who’d championed “mental health” as one of his most visible and heartfelt patronages. (I pass over his additional revelation that the mere fact of his brother “shouting” at him in a family meeting caused him feelings of terror. Glory be. Soldiers, like lots else, ain’t wot they used to be, I guess.)
As is often the case, Bryony’s column was not opened up for comments, so we will never know what the Telegraph’s loyal readers made of her piffle.
Harry’s confession of his inability to provide his wife what she needed, because it was “so much more than I was able to give” is heartbreakingly sad. Ditto, that of Meghan’s mother. (Note: Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother, who’d so far at least preserved a dignified silence on this issue, weighed in on the multi-million dollar Netflix production.) She’s a certified (Master’s degree) social worker who was–provably–absent for many years of her daughter’s life and development while her dad paid Meghan’s way. And yet Doria suddenly finds herself able to speak out about the signs that she–apparently–missed in her daughter’s mental-health journey, while Meghan ridicules, dismisses, and throws her father under the bus.
No further comment there.
Another story on the Telegraph site asks the question Where Did Prince Harry’s Mates Go, in the context that the Sussex moanumentary™ contains many clips of Meghan’s “friends” supporting her, but none of Harry’s long-time mates weighing in. Where are Harry’s friends, anyway? Inquiring minds (mine, especially) want to know.
All of this inspired the following comment on my part, on the Telegraph site, and which–so far–is gathering likes and which–so far–hasn’t been whacked:
Crimenutely. I’m reminded, when I read the Bryony Gordon article we’re not allowed to comment on, of Satan’s remarks in Paradise Lost:
“Me miserable! Which way shall I fly
Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?
Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell….”…remarks made by a jealous imp, who has discovered that God has bestowed the ultimate honor on His own Son. (Not that this analogy has anything to do with the “hierarchy” of the royal family. No, siree.) He (Satan) can no longer determine what’s real and what isn’t, what’s true and what isn’t, and what’s good and what isn’t.
Insisting that “reality” can be found in selfishness and self-centeredness fails every time.
Turning one’s pain outward and using it to actually help others (Diana, for all her faults was quite good at this), and not re-hashing and re-living every exquisite moment of torment (in Harry’s case, so many of them captured–so conveniently–on film and on video, LOL!), is the only way through and out the other side.
“If you’re going through Hell, keep going”–Winston Churchill
Sadly, Harry’s stuck on an endless ‘rewind’ loop of his own making.
As I’m fond of saying, one of the benefits of the (now much derided) classical and liberal education is that one learns that so much in literature, from childhood on, might not be “real,” but it’s “true.”
We can learn a lot from those dead white males. And we should.
And then we should keep going, through to the other side.
Anyone who might be interested in what I’ve said previously about the language of literature being “true” even if it’s not “real” may see it here: https://ricochet.com/582347/shadow-lands-and-cyber-worlds/. I don’t think I’m wrong.
**Joke. Get over it, please.
PS: This isn’t a post on the value of the British monarchy. It’s a post on the sad valuation by woke and ignorant Westerners on our heritage, and where we find ourselves today.
Jeremy Clarkson’s remarks on Megan were apt, even if he was roundly roasted for saying what needed to be said.