"'...if Dennitza does tear loose...it still won't be the enemy. It'll still deserve whatever we can do to help it survive. I'm not that fond of Terra anyway. Here is much more hope.'"
-Poul Anderson, Sir Dominic Flandry: The Last Knight Of Terra (New York, 2012), p. 527.
It is ironic to reread that passage in England today. Three days hence, Scotland will vote on Independence.
Flandry says not, "There is more hope here," but "'Here is much more hope.'" A perfect sentence - apart from the verb, four words of four letters each and with double alliteration: "Here...hope" and "...much more..." And no word is wasted.
I must see whether it is possible to post any more colorful details about the Dennitzan ychani, the Merseian immigrants. Scotland has an "Asians for Independence" Campaign...
1 comment:
Hi, Paul!
And I am not in favor of Scotland seceding from the UK. Even if some in Scotland don't care about honoring one's oath of allegiance to her Majesty, I can think of pragmatic reasons why secession has its downsides. First, Scotland does not have a very large population, not much over five millions, so I have my doubts the Scottish economy and tax base will be large enough to pay for the exensive welfare and government run health care systems. The taxpayers in the other 59 millions comprising the rest of the UK won't agree to continue paying! Second, why are SIXTEEN YEARS OLDS being allowed to vote on something so crucial as the breakup of the UK? How many 16 years olds will have the maturity and knowledge needed to vote responsibly? I think the Scottish Nationalists insisted on this to get votes from KIDS who will think it's "cool" to secede from the UK. Third, what will Scotland do for money if it can no longer use the UK pound? Fourth, I don't think the bankrupt so called Euro Union will bail out a likely to be soon busted Scotland. Fifth, can Scotland provide for her own military defense? Or will the UK be expected to continue doing so?
I could go on and on listing the disadvantages of secession, but this is enough.
And, btw, Dennitza did NOT break away from the Terran Empire!
Sean
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