Word: griefs
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Princess Diana's funeral was of this order. Of course it was a spontaneous outburst of grief for a much loved young woman who died too soon and with hideous violence. But if it was also something of a demonstration, it was not necessarily a demonstration of anything except howling grief...
...intimacy was an illusion, is the grief an illusion as well? Or how exactly do we assess the emotional truth of these outpourings? A moment of poignant communion in the Family of Man? A cheap exploitation of sympathies one centimeter deep? Or is there a third possibility? Something to do with mortals and gods and goddesses...
...moment examine the nature of Diana's fame. One might call it a collateral celebrity, because it relied on no discernible contribution (except to the gaiety, and now the grief, of nations). Lady Diana Spencer attracted the love of the introverted heir to the English throne. And that was all. Brightness of eye, whiteness of tooth, a colluding smile, a certain transparency, a vividness, an exposed vulnerability: it was enough for him, and it was enough for us. Madonna sings. Grace Kelly acted. Diana simply breathed. She was a social-page figure who became a cover girl. One can soberly...
TONY BLAIR His canny understanding of the public's grief will boost plans for political modernization...
With the death of a lovely if maddening princess, out it has all poured. Something, as the old song said, had to give, and perhaps this fantastic display of public grief, so vulgar in many ways, so unconvincing in others, has to it some spiritual element after all. Perhaps in their hearts--or so I hope--the British people see Diana as a fellow victim of degraded times, and have instinctively seized upon her death as the moment for a fresh start...