On Being a Monarchist
I thought I would post an entry on being a monarchist, or rather on letting others know that I am a monarchist. Monarchists are such a rare breed here in America and hearing the experiences of another would perhaps have helped me admit to myself that I was a monarchist, that it was okay to think the way I did and that I didn't have to fear others' reactions.
When I first felt my faith in this Republic failing and my interest in monarchy as a more viable form of government, I was still in the military. I was deathly afraid to let anyone know lest I be persecuted by my fellow soldiers at the least, and at the worst be discharged (in retrospect my fears at the worst were rather unfounded but nonetheless truly felt). I let a few select friends and classmates know of my monarchist leanings, and of course found the blogosphere as an outlet for my beliefs. As time passed--and I was eventually discharged from the military due to a line-of-duty injury I incurred during a drill weekend--I began to let more people know of my beliefs.
As more time passed, I found that no one thought I was a freak, a lunatic, or crazy. In fact, to this day when I tell people that I am a monarchist the most common response is "What's that?" Most Americans simply don't know anything about monarchy as a working form of government. I explain my exact beliefs. They think it's unusual, different, interesting, even eccentric (but I must admit I can be rather eccentric at times), but no one has taken offense at my beliefs. Even with this blog (with the exception of a few uncharitable--and down-right jerk lunatics) I have not come across anyone who intellectually disagrees with me that does not respect my beliefs--they may disagree with my views, but they respect me for taking the time and effort to express those beliefs.
I don't know if any other monarchists here in America or any where else that monarchy is treated in a less-than-enthusiastic manner have experienced the same fears of expressing monarchist beliefs, but if so take courage. Letting the world know you are a monarchist isn't nearly as hard as it may seem (but I do advise you to be prudent in what you say and to whom you say it lest it hurt your current or future employment options). Don't be afraid to be yourself. If monarchy is to see a resurgence in this world, monarchists like you and I must be willing to let the world know that we are out there!
11 comments:
I haven't been a monarchist for nearly as long as I've been an American, but my experience is about the same. Those who know me well have debated with me some, but very respectfully. Then again, their ability to disagree cordially is the reason they got the chance to know me well! I suspect that those who are more casual friends don't really believe me. Well, at least that means they don't attack me!
Also, I think almost all Americans believe it's impossible for our country to become a monarchy... just as the Greeks and Romans believed until a handful of years before it happened. Most people won't be hostile because they don't think what we want is a possibility.
I am a college student advocating monarchism at the University of Texas. Most of the people that I talk to on campus, have similarly never heard of monarchism.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12441360385
Nick,
Any idea where someone can purchase some flags of monarchies past?
Actually I've met more than one monarchist in recent years. It seems people are beginning to search for alternatives to our failed "democracy" here in the states.
Godfrey
Godfrey,
You could try googling the desired monarchy of the past, or try eBay. The Imperial German flag I proudly hang on my wall (the real flag of the Empire, not the war jack commonly found on eBay and elsewhere on the internet) was unavailable on eBay. I ended up finding mine on Germany's eBay site, but even that was a little difficult. Most sellers don't have an English translation (luckily I speak broken German so it wasn't too much of an issue), and many sellers only shipped within Europe. It took quite a while before I found a seller who shipped to the U.S. So try different countries' eBay sites, and don't give up!
Well, you are not alone. The curious thing about monarchist is that we are often accused of being romantics. Not so. It is Deomacratism that is founded on romanticism, a very dangerous and pollyannish optism about human nature in its "natural" state. Monarchism is about the rational realities of human society, which are that society is a network of ordered personal relations based on the family and that the good of society must take account of human depravity and seek to minimize it while promoting virtue. If a society is to be one and well ordered, then it must subsist in relation to one person, and that is the monarch of that society.
Perhaps you should compile a list of monarchist titles--both classic works and more modern ones. I would certainly appreciate it.
I too am a Monarchist. My website is www.anglicanthought.com. Don't let the name fool you though! I am a papist and am learning under the pastoral provision crowd.
It seems Monarchism is quite popular in traditionalist Catholic circles, especially SSPX and sedevacantist ones. I admire monarchism, but such atavistic ideals I think are too impractical to be addressed with much attention. Though the Biblical basis of government is either monarchism, theocracy, or anointed absolutism. I don't have much faith in the republican state that the US believes itself to embody, and it is probably true that monarchism is the most divinely human form of government.
Quite good but I don't think you can legitimately call "pacifism" a MODERN heresy...
That would make Jesus a heretic, and the entire early Church. Not to mention St. Martin of Tours, St. Francis of Assisi, St Marcellus...and so on.
Regards
Andrei
PA
If Jesus was a pacifist, then why did He drive the money changers from the temple? Wouldn't He have just asked them kindly to leave?
if you are a catholic monarchist, I think you will be interested by this forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Catholicmonarchists/
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