Kate and England

[dps@otter.hpl.hp.com (Duncan Smith)]

I am slightly surprised to find that in the context of the various
'isms' (Nationalism/patriotism/jingoism) no-one has mentioned
_Lionheart_ which, although neither implying nor endorsing any of
the 'isms' in any way, yet manages to evoke a somewhat misty-eyed
romantic view of England. Nevertheless, at some point these views
merge; the spectrum of opinion is of course continuous between the two.

While Kate treads the line between pure love of her country for what
it means to her and a more overt patriotism very successfully,
yet there is a definite tang of the military about the 'black
Spitfire.' The Spitfire is, as any Englishman will tell you,
a national icon, and a particularly resonant one for someone
from the Southeast of England over which most of the Battle of
Britain was fought.

Duncan