Wednesday 17 March 2021
The arch-enemy
In spite of illness, in spite even of the arch-enemy sorrow, one CAN remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small
Edith Wharton’s autobiography - A Backward Glance (1934)
Good advice and in later life the arch-enemy probably is sorrow. Progressives now try to make it worse by shoving guilt at us, the arch-enemy of the modern age. Guilt is the one they use to beat down centuries of solid achievement. Avoid both seems to be the message now.
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7 comments:
The "unafraid of change" bit has the potential to be overlooked, but it is, I think, equally important. Because a lot of things are going to be radically altered, and we are not going to be able to do very much about them. So yes, stay interested in the bigger picture, but don't let it get to you.
Banging on about myths again... the big Western myth has been the Hero's Quest. Young sprog accepts a challenge, wins through numerous trials, brings the prize (wisdom/maturity/treasure etc) back home. How many media reports follow this issue/trial/win narrative?
And yet the Hero's Quest is only really about the young finding their place in the world (think Harry Potter). How often is the narrative about the challenges that older people face? We don't need young guilt thrust at us as the only narrative, we older people want myths of our own, helpful myths about the value and rewards of 'true grit', myths about facing later life issues of health and loneliness. You do find occasional books about this but they don't appeal to most younger people, and so don't sell well.
I'm thinking of badging the myth as 'The Grandfather's Tale' or 'The Grandmother's Tale'. I don't see them ending on a high note... but they could end well.
When you read of thick kids saying that their 'ambition' is to won the lottery, it won't be surprising that the ones with enterprise and graft will almost get that prize anyway!
(Sorry, should be WIN the lottery)!
Sam - I agree, that bit is equally important. Major changes are in the pipeline and it is worth remembering that this has always been the case. We adapt because we have to.
Ed - I wonder if Boris sees himself as being on a Hero's Quest? First the coronavirus then carbon neutral. Does he see himself as already wearing a small version of the Golden Fleece on his head? At least 'The Grandfather's Tale' is likely to be grounded in reality.
Scrobs - that reminds me of the 1974 BBC series called The Family. So awful I couldn't watch all of it. Must have made an impression though, because I still remember it.
On a Hero's Quest? Doubt it. More likely Johnson has realised that he cannot be loved and admired (Churchill) and has settled for being feared. In recent days he declared that "Western values" (Churchill) may not be up to the task of dealing with the threat of disease in coming years, so we need to more closely align with the Chinese (Communist Party).
Mr Fisher - yet it may be that those around him also feel there is something heroic about the green industrial revolution and he feeds off that. I almost hope so.
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