God Save the Queen! The Special Relationship & US Federalism

This past weekend marked the end of the four days of celebration for the entire United Kingdom marking the 70^th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign—an event likely to bring much commentary in the weeks and months ahead. And for this American who loves his country but has more than a bit of Anglophilia it’s been a thrill to be in the U.K. celebrating this grand lady’s remarkable career. The dignity, gravity, and personal probity of Elizabeth II represents that older English understanding of duty, patriotism, sacrifice, and service that is both admirable and all too often lost in today’s world. A true Christian, she radiates a resilience that goes beyond the mere proverbial stiff upper lip. As I stood on the bank of the Thames and watched British military planes in formation fly over London—the last of them trailing red, white, and blue—in salute I couldn’t help but be moved to greater love for the old queen, the mother country, and my own. Read Full Article »