I have written three first paragraphs and two almost complete posts, plus made a vegetable hash and cheese and onion soda bread. I then had a breakdown where I really didn’t know if I ever wanted to blog again. It seems so inconsequential as the world falls apart and I don’t feel up to the task of either changing the course of history or amusing people as the end of the world heaves into sight.
For once, I wish I was younger. Much younger that is – about 20 – this is about my future career as a historian rather than the belief that I could cure my knees by going back in time by 15 years. I wan to be young enough to get a history degree and go to conferences about how Donald Trump brought the USA to its knees.
No man, as Donne said, is an island.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
There’s a reason Trump is seen as a breath of fresh air. It’s easy to break the rules when you are new to something. It’s a lot harder to build something up. It may be a good idea to listen to Churchill on that one.
‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’
Winston S Churchill, 11 November 1947
Now, Churchill had his faults. Ego, poor grasp of strategy at times. racist by modern standards, alcoholic, self-publicist, and a mother from the USA. Nobody is perfect. He did, however, turn down two titles.
However, he saw active service on the North West Frontier, the Sudan, South Africa and the Western Front. After his capture by the Boers after the armoured train attack he was referred to by the train driver in glowing terms, saying there was “not a braver gentleman in the army.” Although he frequently made false steps he was not afraid to try again. He didn’t get the nomination for the 1947 Nobel Peace prize although he was listed, and he didn’t get the Peace Prize on his second nomination either. He was disappointed. I can understand that. he didn’t, however, use it as an excuse for stealing land off an ally. In 1953 he received the Nobel Prize for Literature. He wrote 43 books (in 72 volumes) including a novel, a book on painting and several volumes of speeches. Trump’s name appears on 22 books, though fourteen of them seem to be written by other people. Yes, I was surprised too. Who’d have thought after all his socialising, golf and litigation (it’s because of the litigation that I decided on “socialising”) he would still find time to write eight books and undermine the constitution of the USA.
So – one of the exam questions I would be setting in the future if I had a chance.
Churchill and Trump – compare and contrast.
Or for those light-hearted moments – Churchill, Trump, Enver Hoxne – Snog, Marry, Avoid?
Anyway, time for a laugh now. Buy your MAGA hat here.
No pictures today. Look at like one of those times something bad happens and they don’t do theme music on TV.
There is a Maori prayer I think of from time to time.
A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa 1989 p.185
That made ann interesting read – and, of course, diversion. 🙂
Assuming you found the Evening Prayer, it is a good one for times in which there are so many known unknowns as well as unknown unknowns.
Page 185 is the daily sentences to what is listed as a Night Prayer – on p184 it includes
“It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.”
Is that the one?
Yes. I first learned of it from a New Zealand blogging friend, many years ago.
🙂
If there had been social media during the time of Churchill, how do you Think that would have played out? I always wonder how people would have faired
There are a wide range of possible outcomes here. If we had social media in UK in the 1930s we would quite possibly have sided with Germany anyway. Not so much the philosophy, just that the uniforms were much smarter.
Churchill in his early years would have been the darling of the internet, in his latter years a pathetic figure as he posted on Twitter whilst drunk in his bath.
Regardless of social media no great man from history will ever survive the scrutiny of hindsight, particularly when, these days, his main crime is that he is a man.
It’s a great subject, and one which you could base a modern media career on. 🙂
It could make for a funny book ….what famous people would have posted on social media…
Yes, and dead people can’t sue. 🙂
So get on with it….that’s worth a post ..what Churchill would post on social.media….
It will take a bit of planning . . . 🙂
I wouldn’t exactly call myself a fan of Churchill, but compared with Trump, he was an exemplary leader. And when Churchill was voted out of office, it seems as though he left without encouraging an uprising.
Quercus, so many of us here are brokenhearted by the course of this country has taken. I’m seriously considering getting a walker so that I can participate in protests. And yet so many still seem to support him. What is wrong with people? There seems to be a terrible mean streak running through a lot of people in this country.
It seems to be happening all over the world. We have been gradually taken over by organizations that promote fear and racism as a way of scaring people into voting for them.
The problem is that as countries become more nationalistic, other countries have to do the same to fight back. Failing to do this risks being seriously disadvantaged.
And so, in an ever accelerating spiral we see our world go down the toilet of history.
Alas.
Actually I am relieved that I won’t live to see the impending disaster – but afraid for my descendants
So very, very sorry. And so ashamed of my country.
All empires eventually fall. Ours did
Yes, but do we have to cause so much damage in the process? Am thinking of getting a walker so that I can take part in protests.
Not at all. I hope you do manage to participate, Laurie
🙂
🙂
Yes, the end of empires is a constant theme through history. The end of the world, however, is a new experience . . .; 🙂
This is the problem. You shouldn’t have to feel this way – most of your country is still good. It’s just a few politicians that are causing the rot.
Thanks for the support and understanding, Quercus. A low, low time for the U.S.
I have similar thoughts. I had once hoped that I would be leaving a better world than I entered, but this looks unlikely. 🙁
I have finally been convinced, after many stupidities, that I cannot solve all of the USA’s problems and the problems that the USA is exporting so I will from now on just post photos and poems and stories and sit back an wait for the world to implode.
It just seemed so depressing and pointless. I briefly considered taking up drinking again but hat would only make me feel depressed and pointless with a hedache. 🙂
Blogging is both unimportant and important. In the face of literal madness, keeping some normality going is worthwhile, in my view.
I suppose so. I remember being very concerned when the USSR went into Afghanistan, particularly as the British Army had been beaten quite comprehensively by the Afghans. “What sort of idiot,” asked, “would try to invade Afghanistan?”
Leaning into nature does help neutralize stress during such times as these. Your blog contributes mightily to this cause. Thank you!
I will have to pull myself together and try harder. 🙂 Everything will seem beter in Spring.