Celebration

06Jun10

Perhaps the greatest act of power is to relinquish it.

On June 6 1523 a new king was elected in Sweden who abolished the elective monarchy and established in its place an autocratic hereditary monarchy.

In 1809 and 1974 autocracy was gradually replaced with democracy. The monarchy remains, however, hereditary.

What does a celebration on June 6 represent? The reestablishment of an independent Sweden? Autocracy? Democracy? Revolution or reform?

Perhaps it is the recognition that our nation is one capable of change. Capable always of terrific and terrifying things but that as the pendulum swings back and forth we hopefully, however slowly, inch ever also forward.

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Tags: Future, Government, History