On a recent visit to...
Illustration
On a recent visit to the United States, the Queen of England was hugged by an African-American welfare mother in Detroit. Since the Queen was a guest in this woman's home, having apparently asked to see how poor people live in America, the hug was the sign of an enthusiastic welcome. The Queen, however, appeared shocked, and noticeably pulled away. Members of her retinue were aghast - for one does not touch the Queen, it is just not done. Apparently no one told this to the woman in Detroit, who simply said, "Whoever comes into my house gets hugged." In that hug we saw the rich fruitfulness of that "poor" woman's life. We saw the simple and beautiful gifts of love and affection, of mistakable welcome.
For all the nobility of her ancestry, for all the good and worthy causes she supports, has the world ever seen the Queen of England show half the love and affection which was shown to her by this single parent, raising her children in the ghetto, ready to give a hug though she had nothing else to give? I wish the Queen had hugged her back. But she did not. It was the descendant of slaves whose life bore fruit that day.
- Curley
For all the nobility of her ancestry, for all the good and worthy causes she supports, has the world ever seen the Queen of England show half the love and affection which was shown to her by this single parent, raising her children in the ghetto, ready to give a hug though she had nothing else to give? I wish the Queen had hugged her back. But she did not. It was the descendant of slaves whose life bore fruit that day.
- Curley
