Letter to The Editor - We must not confuse worthwhile creativity and courageous independence with selfishness

To The Australian        Commenting on monarchy (11-12/1), Michael Schilling expresses a dislike of its "degree of social elitism and inequality by birth that should not be part of an ideal world." However, the truth is that human societies always need to enshrine their leaders in a blaze of glory that inevitably contradicts the foolish advocacy of political equality. People need elites to brighten their lives and stimulate their dreams. Think the wealthy, think celebrities of all kinds, think heroes and heroines. Schilling's invocation of "contemporary reality" and "individualism" is also questionable. Some realities do not change with time and the glory of monarchy is one of them. There is no comparable glory of republics. As for individualism, this is sometimes good but sometimes not. We must not confuse worthwhile creativity and courageous independence with selfishness.
  Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic