Liz Smith | 04/15/2008 4:04 pm

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Who Still Cares? Millions Around the World Did. Some Still Do

The last time I posted something about Princess Diana, I got a lot of razzing and people bothering to care enough to write in, asking: “Who cares?”

But I was interested in the following from my good friend Dominick Dunne’s column in May’s Vanity Fair magazine.

He describes a phenomenal memorial erected in Harrods by Mohamed Al Fayed to the memory of his son, Dodi, and the late princess. Dominick, who covered the recent expensive London inquest into Diana’s death, which ended, of course, without our finding out anything new that we hadn’t known back in 1997, has this to say:

“Like the conspiracy theory surrounding their deaths, their romance, too, was orchestrated by Mohamed Al Fayed. The shrine to the eternal love of Dodi and Diana in Harrods, the most famous of English department stores, owned by Al Fayed, is a popular tourist attraction. People line up to look at it. They speak in whispers, as if they were in church, instead of next to the Egyptian escalator in the basement of the store. The shrine, which is tacky but curiously touching, consists of a fountain, two large portraits – one of Dodi and one of Diana – and floor-lamp-size candles, the scent of lilies in the air. Under a glass pyramid is a crystal glass from which one of them had drunk champagne in the Imperial Suite of the Ritz Hotel (in Paris) just before they died, and the so-called engagement ring, which Dodi had bought that afternoon at the jewelry shop down the street from the Ritz. Diana never wore it.”

Well, I’m betting very few of us are going to go all the way to London to see this memorial, not with the English pound punishing the dollar the way it is doing these days (and the English pound is now being punished by the Euro). London is now the most expensive and, some say, desperate city in the world.

So in the interest of covering all bases, I decided to bring the memorial to you, courtesy of wowOwow. I’d love to know what you think about it?

My personal "P.S." is, if you ever find yourself in Harrods department store, to pay very close attention to the Egyptian décor of the escalator. That is worth going there to see. And don’t miss going to the Harrods toy department.

Note: Don’t forget to read my nationally syndicated column!!

55 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Suzanne, I also work in a male dominated business. We build things, and all of our employees are men. We have had women but they eventually start their own businesses. I have to fight at some outlets to get my turn to buy molding or doors or whatever, they just think I’m a housewife looking around. But once I establish the altitude - they know I am there for business. I have sons and no daughters, so I am constantly infused with mantribe. Yikes!!! I just think my expectations for the site were different. I just figured, open myself up and see where it takes me. I don’t go to all of the questions, because they don’t all interest me. I think the point is, that as women, we make the site. Look how much our posts got responded to. So it evolves itself and we are all doing that. Sorry about the turn of events with your lawsuit. Just keep your head up high. You are worth it. When I was in corporate America, I exposed some dirty dealings and at first they are glad, but then they all get nervous, circle the wagons, and then put it back on you. That was in the late 70’s, but fortunately my father gave me a lot of great advice on how to deal with the situation, because he understood male corporate mentality. Anyway, good luck, but start a website. Maybe start working on a business plan for one. I hear your anger, but I also hear your strengh.

By Frannie Em on 04/16/2008 6:29 pm

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Frances, Thanks for the encouragement. I am not at all angry however - a little disappointed in our judicial system and women’s unwillingness to support other women. AS for this site- no anger or resentment about them making money at all- if you re read my post I hope it is clear. I was just asking what their visions statement and mission statement were. I did find on another blog that they want accomplished, successful, educated women who have lots of life experiences - seems like an oxymoron if that is their target market and they keep posing so many triavial topics. Accomplished stimulating intelligent women don’t have time for how many men did you sleep with. Imagine Andrea Mitchell, Cokie Roberts, Madeleine Allbright, female ministers, female doctors, school principals, CEO’s etc to take time out of their busy days to plaster their answers to those questions all over the internet. I agree that women logging in will either make this site a success or not and can to some degree make the site. However, the direction of the site is ultimately controlled by the WowoWow investors. And they answered my email not with a response- but loud and clear with todays topic. They want to be the internet Cosmo.

By Kay Sara on 04/17/2008 8:55 am

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I wholeheartedly agree, Terri. I hope it is of some comfort to Mr. Fayed

By elaine s on 04/16/2008 11:38 am

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-Susan, Thank you, I totally agree. When I saw these women on Charlie Rose I got so excited about the premise of their website. So much so, I recommended it to my book club (30 women, 1 man). There have been some topics that peaked my interest, but on the whole a lot of it seems like lightweight fluff. If I want to respond to an article about what to wear to be, I’ll read Cosmo, or another one about Diana (sigh) I’ll read People. I was so hoping for something with meat . Something that would challenge our brains. Make us think, and give consideration to others differing views. There are many, many avenues for fluff WOW, please give us something more.

By Mary Price on 04/16/2008 12:54 pm

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Thanks, Mary. I have recommended this site to some friends and they haven’t been impressed because of the fluffy topics featured. The depth is found in the blogging comments that often takes the fluffy topic off course to more meatier aspects and sometimes even totally unrelated issues.

By Kay Sara on 04/16/2008 1:13 pm

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Heyyy wait up, I heard my name, here I am, excuse my black cotton ribbed bleach dotted shirt and stripped sweats, —stripped with bleach, but here I am! What? Oh yeah I agree with The Conti 178.9 percent. Banquet is good but it should be diversified. Come on uptown girls hasn’t your trusty investment advisor told you this. But maybe this little market is just adjustin’ itself, right? Tomorrow will be better? Seriously I do agree with Suzanne C. I logged on this a.m. and thought ‘whhhattt?’ I’m sure Frances is fried from her busy day and lifings’ challenges. Most of us have built up so much scar tissue we could bleed to death and not even know it, right? The points I picked up from The Conti is to be sure to include enough topics to satisfy many groups. Not everyone wants to unwind or wind up the same way do they? I personally have found myself quite embarrassed at the shallowness of some of the women and the triteness of some’s perception to downright nasty as to individual people. It is obvious they were in on the wrong discussion. So they should have other topics to tittle on. Some of us hope that this website can help bring women up and we aren’t talkin’ about money or a slew of Phyds but that other value that packs a few degrees also: integrity in accountability as Women. Suzanne brought up the logical point of pressure on the innovators for safety in numbers as to profit and it is a point. Hopefully the investors remember it’s the right numbers that secure the safety. If investors are in the good ole boy and good ole clone girl club then they won’t listen to any of us except as a commodity and that’s too bad. The problem CAN be solved to include everyone. Such as headings on the home page:Topics, and in topics can be all the topics of U.S.A. crises such as economics, health, housing, aging, and I could go on. I have about 30 listed on my hard drive. Then we could click into the topic. There could be topics such as what Princess D was wearing when she died, and all those things the top 1 percent would rather we discuss. But I suggest to the investors that topics such as those can be picked up in about a trillion chat rooms all over the net. Best to just plan out a quality plan and in the long run both prophet and profit can come together. I can’t imagine people like Whoopie or my all life time favorite Lilly puttin’ up with total frival. So maybe we are in just a growin’ glitch, huh? But then again that Whoopie is puttin’ up with Frival on The View. I miss Rosey and would love to see Rosie, Whoopie, and Jane Fonda have a late night talk show. But unfortunately late night talk show for women would be a naughty like not goin’ on the golf course on Wednesdays huh? Hopefully it is just all a temporary glitch but something had to be said, just in case. There are those of us who are sturdy folk and want to find ways we can be of use to the planet. Of late (couple of days) I’m seein’ a whole lot more middle school lavatory gossip than I am feminine intelligence. And if Lilly and Whoopie, and Leslie are standin’ back there with their hands tied because of investors, —well maybe we just helped them out. Some Topics of Substance please for the Women of Substance. Thanks! Some women want to whine and have someone say ‘poor baby’. That’s okay. But there are some out here who wanna get in the ring and see what we can get done so the whiners can continue to whine and pine.

By The Ole Crone The Ole Crone on 04/16/2008 3:43 pm

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Thanks Ole Crone I appreciate your support on this. If you look at the articles and the number of responses- the meatier topics have higher numbers. And if you look at the comments on the fluffier articles - many of the comments are not really commenting about the topic. I think the activity supports more inportant issues. And Ladies, I am not advocating no light articles - just not so many. BTW Humor is found in even the most serious of life’s events. You cannot be all things to all people. Just let us know WowOWow what you want to be and to whom. I don’t want to feel like I have hijacked your website. Seems like a lot of hostility generated in response to this article and overall less responses the last few days.

By Kay Sara on 04/16/2008 4:18 pm

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Hey Ole Crone, No, am not fried from busy day or ‘lifings’ challenges. Nor do I get embarrassed by what anyone else says, that is their business, and they have a right to say whatever they want. What do I care. I don’t read all the posts - if they don’t interest me, I don’t read them. Suzanne has a great point, and she has stated it a couple of times so it is obviously important to her. That’s cool. She can press it as many times as she wants. Why not? It doesn’t take anything away from me, nor do my posts take anything away from her. You say some women want to whine, experience has taught me that whining is a waste of my time. If other women want to do it. I don’t care. If you need to do it, go for it. What business is it of mine. It isn’t even my business what you think of me. Life is too short and as I have gotten older seems to go by much faster. When you say ‘ring’ do you mean like - get in and do verbal boxing? Will that really change the world? I suspect you mean something else. What is it?

By Frannie Em on 04/16/2008 6:51 pm

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There have been topics on this site other than just fluff. Granted I wasn’t interested in answering what I wear to bed. I belief WOW is for all women, some women are still learning and growing. Whether fluff or controversial topics, it gives women from all backgrounds a chance to speak for themselves, read about a topic and learn. It’s interesting to read other viewpoints from my own, such as the question about Iraq the other day. But sometimes it’s nice to read a little fluff. I was very interested to see the Diana statue at Harrods. But I’m not interested in Britneys latest car accident.

By Barbara Taylor on 04/16/2008 3:49 pm

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Hi Barbara: Thanks for your comments. I never really thought about it until you brought it up, but I am actually one of those women who is definitely still learning and growing. In fact, I have never visited a website on a daily basis and contributed my thoughts until WOW. I was totally amazed by the caliber of contributors, the eloquence of the women; the sheer wealth of knowledge. At this point, I really just enjoy visiting all the topics, searching out names I recognize, taking in all the varying points of view. Admittedly, there are times when I don’t have a clue about people being quoted or events being referred to, but that’s fine (as long as it doesn’t get too pompous or self-serving.) I love politics, books, movies, and have just recently realized that most of what or who passes for celebrities in our current culture are not the least bit interesting (or am I just old?) On the other hand, I kind of enjoy hearing what women are doing on a more intimate, everyday level, too. So if Suzanne C. ever wants us to rise up and get involved and rebel, I’m willing to listen. Hey, I can’t find a job, have two daughters in their 20’s living dangerously without health insurance, and so on. But can we trust someone who doesn’t want to reveal what she wears to bed?

By Gianna Bracco on 04/16/2008 5:45 pm

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this is ridiculous…waaaaay over the top..altho, i do kind of believe around on one edge that the ‘royal’ family had something to do with the car crash…would ‘royal’ interference in the lives of ‘royals’ and their ‘commoners’ be NEWS or something…read about elizabeth, henry, mary, anne boleyn, etc…

By theCHEROKEErose on 04/16/2008 3:59 pm

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Cherokee, what is way over the top? This Statue article or my comment?

By Kay Sara on 04/16/2008 4:12 pm

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After reading all the comments I agree that Mr. Fayed has the right to put whatever memorial he desires in his own store. However, it would be less tacky if the statue was of only his son.

By Bonnie Oliver on 04/16/2008 4:41 pm

With all due respect, I’m not quite sure for whom you are speaking, nor do I understand why you would be embarrassed by someone else’s “shallowness.” My impression is that the WOW site is a work in progress. I’m not sure if your frustration stems from lack of substance on the site or that you resent WOW’s investors projecting, which I’m sure was said in jest, a billion dollar profit. These women owe us nothing, and you’re certainly not required to participate in any topic which you consider beneath your intellect. And I don’t recall paying any sum to participate. If the site does not succeed, there will be natural consequences, andif it fails to meet your needs, find another venue. I have the utmost respect for all the posters on the site;eventhough, I do not agree with everything I read. Unfortunately, we seem to be battling and bashing so that we can discuss weightier issues like world peace, tolerance, speaking truth to power, immigration, climate change. Now, I’m not going to suggest we all circle up and sing Kumbaya, but please stop with the screed directed at what these women are attempting to do. We have to be able to practice peace and tolerance on a small scale if we are to have any chance to encourage on a global scale. I sincerely hope that I have not embarrassed you with my shallowness. My suggestion for the site would be to start the topic of the page occasionally with “talk to us” and allow the first poster to express a topi for discussion…when that one is sufficiently tossed around, then another can be introduced. Keep what has been started and add “poster opinions of the day.” Perhaps that will satisfy a wider group, but I’m still pretty sure The Ladies get the profits.

By beth willis on 04/16/2008 4:55 pm