Why Do People Care?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/royal-wedding-what-royal-wedding/?ref=opinion

In an exclusive online commentary from the Times, David Brooks and Gail Collins converse about the Royal Wedding.

Gail Collins: Then you can explain why people are so excited about this. Is it because the rest of the news has been so awful lately? I can understand the desperate desire for diversion. My household is really, really engaged in the basketball playoffs this year, and I cannot help feeling this is partly because the alternative is gas prices, tornadoes, and Mitt Romney.


David Brooks: I hate to brag, but I’m interested in the basketball playoffs (it’s so interesting to watch N.B.A. players actually try), Mitt Romney and Kate Middleton all at once. I’m kind of a Renaissance man in that way.  As for why people care, let me think for a second. Could it be that people are interested in those who are phenomenally good looking, unimaginably wealthy, globally famous and who get to live in a string of lavish palaces for the rest of their lives? Could it be that human beings are really interested in beauty, wealth, fame and terrific real estate?


Gail Collins:  The one part of this that really bothers me — aside from the fact that I now know that the mother-of-the-bride has her future son-in-law as her cell phone screen saver — is that a disproportionate number of American little girls seem to nurture an ambition to grow up to become princesses. This is much worse than little boys nurturing an ambition to grow up to play guard for the Lakers.  It’s a non-job. If Kate Middleton wants to be a good role model, she should go study dentistry or something.


David Brooks: I don’t see what’s wrong with having Prince William on your screen saver. I have Richard III on mine. Provides daily inspiration.


How do you feel about the royal wedding?  Personally, as a little girl, I always imagined being a princess.  What little girl doesn't?  Why not let them pretend to live that life, until they grow up into reality.  Don't we all wish that we could pretend to be someone we aren't at some points in our lives?  What about right now?  Therefore, yes the royal wedding can be an escape from the everyday American life, at least for a while.