The Australian republicans are funny. No, that’s not correct, that would assume they have a sense of humour. But they make Monarchists smile, when they start complaining about divisive politics. They, of all people should know how divisve they can be.
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| Prince Harry among the Abbott family. |
What upset the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) was
Prime Minister Tony Abbott welcome to Prince Harry last Saturday in Sydney. He
said: "I
regret to say that not every Australian is a monarchist, but today everyone
feels like a monarchist. You grace us as your family has graced our nation from
its beginning. It is quite fitting on a day such as this when we think back
over 100 years of the Royal Australian Navy that you are here as the crown
is a symbol of continuity, decency, stability in our public life."
It was clear – and Tony Abbott knew that in advance – that the republicans would not agree and they would opject to every single word of his speech. And they fell into the trap and started a protest. Had they kept silent or made a funny remark about their inclusion as secret Monarchists, well, they may have gained some points. But they behaved as could be expected. ARM’s chairman Geoff Gallop called Mr. Abbott’s welcome speech "totally inappropriate". "The Fleet Review was a day for all Australians to celebrate, whatever their views on the Constitution, and certainly not a day for divisive comments from the Prime Minister. It is in order to defend Australia, not Buckingham Palace, that the navy exists. Of this the Prime Minister needs to be reminded."
The Romans knew: Si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses (In English: If you had remained silent, you would have remained a philosopher), but keeping silent is not the republicans’ cup of tea. And certainly they do not want to be seen as philosophers.
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| Prince Harry was a crowd puller in Sydney. |
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