“A just king is the shadow of God on earth. All should seek shelter under the shadow of his justice, and rest in the shade of his favour.” (Baha’u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 111)

“Although a republican form of government profiteth all the peoples of the world, yet the majesty of kingship is one of the signs of God. We do not wish that the countries of the world should remain deprived thereof. If the sagacious combine the two forms into one, great will be their reward in the presence of God.” Baha’u'llah, Tablets of Baha’u'llah, p. 27)

“Let none, however, mistake or unwittingly misrepresent the purpose of Bahá’u'lláh. Severe as has been His condemnation pronounced against those sovereigns who persecuted Him, and however strict the censure expressed collectively against t…hose who failed signally in their clear duty to investigate the truth of His Faith and to restrain the hand of the wrongdoer, His teachings embody no principle that can, in any way, be construed as a repudiation, or even a disparagement, however veiled, of the institution of kingship.” (Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 70)

That said i think that in my previous post, what i was trying to uneloquently say, is that the part of monarchy that i am not supportive of is where it may strengthen the class system, as i am still unequivocal in my support of meritocracy and democracy, but that my understanding has changed that this may not be incompatible with monarchy.

Also, i still feel that the current values of meritocracy and democracy represented by Obama and Zuckerberg etc. are some strong current symbols in the US today.

Its impossible, with the impending Royal wedding, not to be aware of the Royal family in the UK at the moment.

As such, ive been thinking a little bit lately about the 2 different ‘royalties’ in the UK.

One, in the US, is a meritocracy, a middle-class guy, well (and i mean partially Harvard) educated who created through  his own talents a multi-billion company with huge popularity and based on his skills to identify a market and build a website to fill a niche.

Another, is a pure hereditary, system of an aristocratic family, with inherited wealth and title and privelege – i.e the windsors.

Let me be clear, i wish no ill will on either, but it seems to me that the opportunity and the feeling that ‘anyone can make it’ and there is no class baggage and let me also add simlarly less racial baggage (Mark Zuckerbergs girlfriend is Harvard educated and Chinese-American, Kate is English, White, Middle-Class) – for all that people are saying its a ‘normal’ ‘middle-class’ girl becoming a royal, theres not much that has really changed in the traditional way of things in the UK, in this particular institutional regard.

I really do wish the soon to be wedded couple, much happiness on a personal level, but on an institutional level – it seems to me that the US is rapidly moving ahead and charting new territory, creating wealth and prosperity and, with the first african-american president and technological innovation, while the UK and Europe are in some aspects stuck in tradition and conservatism.

Let me say, as a current student at the oldest English speaking university in the world, Oxford, i really do appreciate the tradition, and having come from a middle-class, ethnic minority background in the UK am thankful for opportunities provided me, so i’m not saying this statement about all of British or American society – but really more to do with social aspiration and the possibilties of achievement represented by these 2 individuals. (Yes, i know Britain had a female prime-minister first I am also studying as a software engineer and so appreciate the technical advantages that the UK has.

I’m proud of my Britishness(within the context of being a world citizen), but am happy (and with my recent acquisition of a greencard and impending move to the US) very much looking forward to the potential of the ‘New World’ and taking full advantage of the meritocracy that the Zuckerberg/Obama royalty represent.