It certainly seems that the entirety of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth was thrilled to celebrate their Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this week. Elizabeth II has “ruled” her realm for sixty years. Great Britain honored the occasion with enough pomp to last another 60 years.

The Queen led a carriage procession through the streets. At London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, the Archbishop of Canterbury delivered a sermon; Prime Minister David Cameron gave a reading paying tribute to the queen. There was a 60-gun salute, a reception, and lunch. A million people gathered for a 1,000-vessel pageant on the River Thames. The Queen addressed her subjects from a balcony at Buckingham Palace as the Royal Air Force flew over her head in contemporary and vintage aircraft. Fireworks illuminated the sky.

The celebration included a concert on Monday night featuring Elton John singing “I’m Still Standing”; Stevie Wonder crooned “Isn’t She Lovely.” Paul McCartney sent her “All My Loving.” Other performers included Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, and younger artists like JLS and Kylie Minogue. (It was reported that bright, yellow ear plugs could be seen peeking from her ears. Oh well, not everyone is a fan.)

Each bite on the menus was recounted, each gown she wore detailed, and every person in her entourage documented by news crews from across the globe. Elizabeth’s son, Prince Charles (the man who may never be king), commented on how heavy her crown is, so very difficult to wear.

I suppose no less should be expected for the head of state of 16 countries. That’s quite a burden, poor thing. Somehow, I just could not get excited. Horse-drawn carriages? Trumpet fanfares? Serenades by no less that Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney (themselves royalty of a sort, at least in the world of rock)?

The Queen (her progeny included) is a very expensive symbol of nothing. She has lived a life of luxury and privilege beyond our imagination. Why adore her? Her only “talent” was to be born into a royal family. So what?

I keep thinking of our recent grads. The Golden Triangle has three universities within 30 minutes of each other, community colleges, and dozens of high schools, all producing people who have worked very hard to wear that mortar board and tassel. It may not be a 10-pound crown. But, they earned it honestly.

Now, the really hard part begins. There may not be any sort of employment for them. The rate of unemployment is 14% in our area; 8.2% nationwide. Many of these graduates will be forced to take jobs that are beneath their educational level – and feel lucky to have them. There will be no stumbling into cushy inherited titles for most of them.

These are the people we should admire, not only graduates, but also the people who work so hard for us; policemen, firemen, ambulance drivers, teachers, soldiers. We should give them a parade, and a bit of lunch, their own jubilee.

We are so impressed with royalty. We worship not only those who are royal by birth, but those on whom we confer faux titles and adulation: athletes, movie stars, political office holders, the glib and the greedy.

I hope the people of Great Britain are happy with their extraordinary events. (Please do not tell me how much it all cost. I may gag.) Do, however, remember to show some respect for all those who have worked so hard to earn our high regard and our (symbolic) crowns. They really deserve it!

Adele Elliott, a New Orleans native, moved to Columbus after Hurricane Katrina.

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