Burke.Word

Last night, as at other State of the Union Addresses, the Vice President led all the Senators from the Senate Chamber to listen to the speech in the House.  In Britain things are a bit different – and symbolically far less cordial.   The Parliamentarians of yesteryear ritualized the House of Commons’ distrust of the King/Queen.  By tradition, when the Queen’s representative (the “Black Rod”) tries to enter the House of Commons, he finds the door promptly slammed in his face — a symbol of parliament’s independence. He must then knock on the door with his mace (the Rod) to gain entry.  Pomp, circumstance and “nobody’s home!” (look at 1:27)