Lately I have been fascinated by the current onslaught of television shows depicting versions of the British Monarchy with movies about Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II.  As a huge Shakespeare fan I have also immersed myself in the PBS reissued movies called The Hollow Crown, specifically the history of the ascension and demise of Henry VI followed by the taking of the crown by Richard III.  Granted, not everything by Shakespeare has corroborated truths but the historical chronology is mostly accurate.

It is beguiling to watch all the fighting between the political families demanding their place in the order of rule along with the Dukes, and Earls claiming their right of lineage to the throne.  The constant imprisonments, banishments, lying, midnight murders, children hiding in the Tower (pun intended), deceitful dealings between courtiers – why I might as well be watching the current state of American democracy, not 15th century England.

Our current state of government lineage is as if Richard III and Dogberry (obvious Shakespeare references) had conceived a child together and their DNA united personalities became a President – intentionally wicked and unknowingly stupid.

With that backdrop of political climate in mind, my wife and I will be among the throngs of fellow pitchfork and torch carriers (ok, just banners & buttons) coming Saturday after the Friday coronation. Our first king since King George incited the need for our revolution.  We will be marching with many who are simply expressing their fears and concerns for human rights and dignity. In the end, Richard III was undone by his own greed and self-importance, and Dogberry had no idea he was an idiot. Future generations will note this as a mere hiccup in our democratic process, but those who remember the great sacrifices in their lifetime to achieve basic human rights for women, persons of color and religious freedoms have a moral compass leading them to at least make a statement for those in fear of losing what has been achieved so painstakingly over decades.

As a young adult in the sixties, I watched many of my generation support those whose ideals were molding the framework of freedoms long sought after. Now as a person in my sixties it is only fitting that I show respect to those who worked so hard and gave so much to get us to a level of human rights that even now are just baby steps in the evolution of what should be.

For me this is not a political statement.  The election process over my lifetime is always wrought with disappointment along party lines, and we always figure it out.  This was not a political victory or defeat. This was a travesty of deceit, manipulation, and disregard for basic rights. I simply light my torch to show support for those now being thrown back into the dark.