News from abroad

I recently heard from my cousin in Denmark, telling me details of their new king. I saw news of this on television, but my cousin could elaborate as her grandson is a Royal Guard and was a close and important part of the celebration.  He described it as an overwhelming experience. Wearing his red gala uniform, he stood just below the balcony where the announcement was made.

Queen Margarethe announced her abdication of the throne and her intention to hand it over to her son, Frederik, the first time ever in Denmark that a king or queen has abdicated before death. People were shocked at this news as she has been a very popular queen for 52 years, since 1972 when her father died. It was reported that health problems contributed to her decision.

The official abdication of the Queen and the hand over to King Frederik the10th took place in the Danish Parliament Christiansborg, very close to the Royal Palace Amalienborg. The royal family traveled to and from in horse-drawn carriages. Over 300,000 people waving small Danish flags packed the streets, showing how popular the former Queen Margrethe and King Frederik and his wife Mary are with the Danish population.

King Frederik the10th

Frederik and his wife Mary (from Australia)

This all sounds very lovely with the Danish population so involved and so excited about this national event. But it speaks to me of a very sharp and distinguishable contrast between their country and ours. 

When was the last time we saw 300,000 people pack the streets of our capitol waving U.S. flags? Well, I recall January 6, 2022 and it wasn't pretty. I recall other times as well, equally not pretty. Riots, demonstrations, corruption, divisions of all kinds are what we seem to be showing the world. That is the news they get. We need to be able to hold our heads up because right now we are a shameful embarrassment. 

How do we turn this around? Maybe we need a king or queen? Maybe we shouldn't be electing our leadership? I don't know. 

All I do know for sure is that our country and we as individuals need to put our best face forward, stop the political squabbling, all of us, remember the word r-e-s-p-e-c-t and practice it. Each of us. Every. single. day. Call me Pollyanna.

This is not a political post for the right, for the left or otherwise because I will never get into that here on this blog. It's just a wishful desire to see good, peaceful and celebratory news dominate our news headlines. That's all.

Thanks to cousin Hanne for her news from Denmark. We celebrate with them.

And, once again, thanks for reading my random words.