In which I plant the seed of republicanism in my daughter

[cjwatson]

Children's literature and television is distressingly full of kings and queens and princesses and princes, and Judith (6) has picked up rather too much of that for my liking. So, when she asked me something about that on the way home from astronomy tonight, I decided to seize the teachable moment and explain to her how most countries don't have kings and queens any more, and that this is because when you have just one person in charge then what happens if that person isn't very nice?

J: But the Queen is nice. She fixes cars.
Me: Right, but not all kings and queens of this country have been nice.
J (incredulous voice): Reeeeeally?
Me: Really.
J: Some of them didn't fix cars?

Comments

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

Missing the point somewhat!

The reason she knows about the Queen fixing cars is because it was a 'princesses can do practical things'; the reason she knows we think the Queen is probably a nice person is because friends of mine who are more monarchy-friendly get confused between dislike for the institution and dislike of the person, so I have to say 'no, I'm sure this Queen is a lovely person, but I still don't approve of the job' often.

[gerald_duck]

Sorry — it sounded from Colin's account as though Judith had managed to reason "People who fix cars are nice. The Queen fixes cars. Therefore, the Queen is nice."