"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," wrote George Santayana. This piece by Jonathan V. Last offers further evidence that Santayana was right. (Thanks to Arts & Letters Daily.
Hi Willis: I largely agree. I certainly agree that a lot of twaddle has been generated about empires. I suspect the best thing about the British Empire has nothing to do with what it was or did, but what it spawned -- us, Australia, etc. I think its influence on India, while decidedly mixed, is proving on balance to be positive. The Brits do seem to have been better at empire than, say, the French. And I don't think America will ever become that sort of empire. We're often compared to Rome, but politically and economically we have more in common with Athens (no cause for congratulation there). That said, I still think there is something to the notion of trahaison des clercs. As someone who lives in a big eastern city and regualrly encounters the reflexive anti-Americanism of self-styled intellectuals, trust me: It can get on your nerves. I can still be moved -- as I was last week at a concert of the Curtis Symphony -- by a rousing rendition of the national anthem.
Hi Willis:
ReplyDeleteI largely agree. I certainly agree that a lot of twaddle has been generated about empires. I suspect the best thing about the British Empire has nothing to do with what it was or did, but what it spawned -- us, Australia, etc. I think its influence on India, while decidedly mixed, is proving on balance to be positive. The Brits do seem to have been better at empire than, say, the French.
And I don't think America will ever become that sort of empire. We're often compared to Rome, but politically and economically we have more in common with Athens (no cause for congratulation there).
That said, I still think there is something to the notion of trahaison des clercs. As someone who lives in a big eastern city and regualrly encounters the reflexive anti-Americanism of self-styled intellectuals, trust me: It can get on your nerves. I can still be moved -- as I was last week at a concert of the Curtis Symphony -- by a rousing rendition of the national anthem.