Árdís - 01.01.1953, Blaðsíða 39

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
37
The Crown
By I. J. O.
Elizabeth II has been crowned Queen of the United Kingdom
and Her Realms and Territories. She is not exalted above us
by Divine Right, nor is she a person of our own choosing. She has
become our Queen by the Right of Birth.
The Crown is a symbol of standing above creeds and parties.
In essence it is the exalted example as opposed to the hazards of
ruling by the mailed fist and fleeting greatness of dictatorship.
The stability and continuity of the national history of England, is
proved by the fact, that Elizabeth II was crowned by the same
ritual as that with which her predecessors have been crowned
for a thousand years.
As Canadians, we feel the great significance of the fact that the
Crown is the core and symbol of Commonwealth unity. Even if
last year introduced variety in the Queen’s titles, the unifying
influence of the crown remains the same. The Commonwealth is
an association of people as well as of countries. Despite their
difference in race, creed, language, literature, law and economic
influence they are all drawn together by that symbol of loyalty
which is the Crown. The Commonwealth is far from perfect. But
we rejoice that throughout all its affairs blows the cleansing wind
of democracy, based on freedom of speech of religion and the press.
The parliamentary institutions of the Commonwealth countries
are the guarantee of democratic strength. At the head of these
institutions is a monarch who is outside of and independent of
politics.
The pageantry and glamour of the Coronation is past, but the
strength of the Crown remains. As we read about the Coronation our
thoughts went back to the time when England stood alone during
World War II. We, again, admired the courage of the unknown
thousands who saw their country bombed, and their homes ruined
and yet had the courage to carry on. Today there are “roses growing
among the ruins”.
May the reign just begun be one of peace and restored brother-
hood throughout the world. Long live the Queen.