Queue Up Like Beckham

Why did a celebrity queuing up like everyone else make global news?

LAST week George Clooney enthused that Australian state governments did the right thing by locking citizens down during the Covid outbreak.

Of course, Clooney was given a special exemption by the Australian government, so the lockdowns didn’t really affect him. Lockdowns for thee, but not for me!

In other news last week, former English football captain David Beckham lined up for more than 13 hours for a chance to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II.

He was offered a “fast pass” to the front of the queue, but said no.

In a world filled with self-entitled celebrities and political elites, news spread like wildfire that one of the most famous men in the world was queuing for hours like everyone else.

The media went crazy when they realised Beckham was standing in line … just another face (albeit a very, very famous face) in the crowd.

The coverage went global.

The ABC reported …

“David Beckham qeueues for 12 hours to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall.”

Yahoo news reported …

“David Beckham hailed after shock gesture for Queen Elizabeth II”

Sky News Australia reported …

“Teary David Beckham waits 13 hours in queue to honour Her Majesty”

The reports became more and more dramatic.

I read articles claiming Beckham had waited 12 hours, 13 hours, 24 hours, 2 days and others that claimed he started lining up 4 months before the Queen’s passing.

The cynics immediately dismissed Beckham’s patient queuing as a publicity stunt. Of course, the same people would have immediately jumped all over him had he jumped the queue.

But it wasn’t a publicity stunt.

It was just gentleman quietly respecting the fact that his ability to kick an inflated piece of leather between two poles did not make him a more deserving human being than you or I.

Such self awareness among elites is these days so rare that it immediately became worldwide news.

At a time when global elites warn about carbon emissions before boarding their private jets, complain about rising sea levels before purchasing waterfront mansions and, in George Clooney’s case, rave about the necessity of hotel quarantine while they themselves are housed in a sprawling country estate, Mr Beckham’s humility was a breath of fresh air.