Live and let Di? ... Mark Steyn

Washington Times ^ | 7 Oct 2007 | Mark Steyn

[Rummyfan]

Last week, a London court began pondering the vexed question of whether Diana, Princess of Wales was, ahem, murdered. There was so much public suspicion, declared the coroner, Lord Justice Scott Baker, that it was time for the rumors to be either "dispelled or substantiated."

So who killed her? On the night of Diana's death, there were apparently two top agents for MI6, the British secret service, on the loose in Paris, and possibly a third, if you believe Henri Paul, the chauffeur, was also on the spooks' payroll. That's the theory of Mohammed Fayed, Messr. Paul's employer and father of the princess' last boyfriend Dodi. Mr. Fayed asserts Diana at the time of her death was carrying Dodi's baby, and thus the car crash was arranged because Buckingham Palace decided it would be unacceptable for Prince William, the future king, to have a Muslim step-brother, a Muslim stepdad, and a soon-to-be-Muslim mom.

[ichabod1]

Thank God it wasn’t the eldest son.

[ichabod1]

I don’t see it.

[Badeye]

As it relates to the monarchy, yep.

I don’t think that makes Prince Chuckie feel any better about it.

[Badeye]

There was a much better ‘side by side’ comparision via the Brit papers a month or so ago.

[ichabod1]

Actually, he was probably happy about it because then he had something on her, a free ticket out of the marriage.

[Badeye]

I doubt it. There is so much more to it than a way out of a bad marriage...like the two son’s.

[ichabod1]

Yeah, I think I saw it. I understand what people are saying, it may even probably be true, but i’m not getting it from these pictures that are being posted.

Ay God, does that Harry ever have the ruddy cheeks though. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a kid with ruddier.

[chit*chat]

Behold, the Reasoning of Oprah. Men who cheat are dishonoring their vows, women who cheat are making a anguished plea. Of course she would sleep around on such a cad.

A man who deceptively takes marriage vows with no intention of keeping them - even as he takes the vows on the alter - certainly ranks as the prime villian to me.

Diana's subsequent behavior was a reaction to this ultimate betrayal of her trust. She was not the first offender here.

That said, you are correct - they were both amoral adulterers. And I happily defer to the Almighty to make the ultimate judgement.

[LexBaird]

Diana's subsequent behavior was a reaction to this ultimate betrayal of her trust. She was not the first offender here.

"But Mom! He hit me first!" Di was an adult, and damn well knew going in what she was liable to be subjected to. She wanted the fame and fortune, and deliberately married into it. It's not as if she was in a forced marriage.

But, more than that, I object to the common tendency for people to defend bad behavior, because they "understand". Men give the "you dog, you" backslaps, and women give the "just looking for love in a loveless relationship" canard. Both are excusing behavior they would never tolerate in their own spouse.

[finnigan2]

“I’ve always thought that Papa Fayed’s interest in this episode had more to do with protecting his son’s name, and smearing the House of Windsor than it had to do with finding “the real killers”.

- I’ve always believed that Papa Fayed’s quest for vengeance directed against the Royal Family in particular had more to do with the fact that even though he has lived in England for many years and has bags of money, he has always been denied citizenship and has never received any honorary titles or other royal rewards. This decision, for whatever reason, must have been made a long time ago to freeze him out of the upper echelons of polite society and he’s been itching for payback ever since.