Some blog readers might wonder whether the current blogger has any non-blog existence but in fact he should be otherwise engaged with Latin reading, a Latin class, family outings and a meditation group for the next three days so let us end this weekend with a bang.
The United Kingdom is currently conducting a General Election shortly after a Scottish Referendum so it is good to read a sure enough political speech in Poul Anderson's Starfarers future history. According to its spokesman, Alvin Brent, the North Star Society is convinced that the Americans and their allies have been betrayed by a very impressive alliance of conspirators:
the Federated Nations;
the intellectuals;
the media;
the politicians;
the bankers;
church leaders;
corporation executives.
Because "'...they bleated about peace...'" (p. 47) and squealed about nuclear weapons but favored our enemies, "'...we withheld our full strength...'" (p. 48) while brave Americans and Australians died. You must right these wrongs, "'...take possession of the stars for humankind...'" and "'...go onward to possess the universe!'" (ibid.)
Questions to the speaker:
What is the North Star program?
Should nuclear weapons have been used?
Should wrongs be righted by favoring "us" instead of our enemies?
Should human beings conquer other races?
I will be content to explore the universe in cooperation with other rational species - although they might question our rationality!
11 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I rememeber that speech of Alvin Brent as well. Some of what he says is superficially attractive but would need to be either rejected or severely revised on serious examination. Moreover, as Brent would be gone for at least 10,000 years (Earth time) with the Envoy expedition, why should he CARE any longer about the political controversies of the Earth of about AD 2200? Such things would be long forgotten dust and ashes after the Envoy returned!
Sean
Sean,
He thinks that his hearers' descendants will build a glorious future to which he will contribute on his return.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Understood! But, after TEN THOUSAND years? How likely would it be for Brent to find anything even UNDERSTANDABLE by then? Sheer madness on his part!
You mentioned the upcoming UK General Elections. Were I British I would be very strongly inclined to vote UKIP, from feeling the mainline Tories had become too "wet."
Sean
Sean,
But UKIP, having begun as a single issue campaign, have become very anti-immigrant and xenophobic.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I am by no means an expert on UK politics, but the impression I have gained is that many, many Britons are angry at the main parties of both left and right, because they believe their fears and concerns, some of them legitimate, are being ignored by the established parties. If responsible leaders of both left and right continue to scorn or ignore these concerns, then many voters WILL turn to alternate parties, some of whom will be nasty outfits.
For the UK's sake, I hope UKIP is not as bad as you think, that it learns caution and accepts the need to make compromises while still striving to satisfy legitimate fears and grievances.
Sean
Sean,
You have a good grasp of what is happening. Where I disagree with some Britons is in what constitutes a legitimate concern. That Polish people work in a local factory, that people from African countries maintain our National Health Service, that many Asians own local shops and restaurants - these are matters for rejoicing, not for concern.
Signing off for a while,
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Of course! I'm sure most of the people in the examples you gave are harmless and useful persons.
What is increasingly causing anger with many Britons are scandals like the authorities ignoring or covering up true horrors such as Muslim gangs in Rotherham sexually abusing young girls. Cases like these and questions on the rightness of unrestricted immigration are legitimate concerns.
But you are going away for a few days, so have fun!
Sean
Sean,
Not going away. Just having day trips and trying to make time for activities other than blogging!
I have met people who think, "If I criticize a black man, I will be accused of racism." They have got it all wrong, of course. They need to stop primarily noticing the guy's race and start seeing him as a person.
Paul.
Sean,
Unfortunately, the abuse cover-up goes right up through British society into the Establishment, and in Ireland involves the clergy, so it is not confined to cases were the perps are Muslims.
I oppose all immigration controls, believing in free movement of labor and free trade, but I realize that this is a minority position!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Understood, what you said about day trips and finding time for other activities.
I agree, the obsession about not being "racist" is bad and harmful to both whites and backs. A black man accused of murder should be treated precisely the same way as a white suspect accused of the same crime. The cases should be tried and judged only on the facts and evidence presented, with no regard for such piffles as skin color.
Sean
Kaor, Paul!
Of course I agree corruption and abuse can be found anywhere! Including, alas, in the clergy. My own Archbishop of Boston, Sean O'Malley, was one of the Apostolic Visitors appointed by former Pope Beendict XVI in 2010 to investigate the scandal in Ireland and make recommendations on how to remedy it.
I have to disagree with you about immigration. If national sovereignty is to mean anything then it has to include the right of any nation to set the terms and conditions by which foreigners can legally enter. I do agree with you about free trade, of course.
Sean
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