This person pretty much sums up my thoughts. I'll let him speak for me (although my position is probably a bit more moderate).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TzM1TO2pb4
He's also English while I'm not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TzM1TO2pb4
He's also English while I'm not.
My argument is that it's just as probable that the media is feeding into a desire that a large portion of the population holds. The line to see QEII's coffin was 5 miles long, with a wait time of 13 hours. Clearly some people really were interested in the queen.
My point is that I see the attitude professed by the author of that video a lot "Why would anyone be interested in the monarchy? It's just stupid propaganda, I should be about as interested in them in the Kardashians." There is always a subtext of that opinion along the lines of "If you're interested in the monarchy, you're just a stupid sheeple." And the weird thing for me is that, while I kinda agree with that assessment, I think I would be the stupid one if I were so clearly dismissive of an institution that is held in such regard by a huge portion of the populace.
I think he was just criticizing the tradition as a whole because of the effects it has. But I might be mistaken.
> And the weird thing for me is that, while I kinda agree with that assessment, I think I would be the stupid one if I were so clearly dismissive of an institution that is held in such regard by a huge portion of the populace.
I don't think so. I was raised Catholic and I think the religion is stupid. It might have had a purpose in the past as a tradition, but that doesn't change that I think it really is stupid. Saying something shouldn't the dismissed because many people believe in it is a logical fallacy (Argumentum ad Populum).
I'm not a monarchist but I queued (11.5 hours). I wanted to pay my respects to her as a person who had been a central figure in Britain for my entire life. I also believed that many other people would feel the same, and it was a chance to be a part of this large ad-hoc community.
I also believe that for all the faults of the monarchy, and considering as an example the massively polarising debate around Brexit, that the British would not be able to easily create a better system without setting off some intense and destructive national tensions.