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| Lileks: "'nothing changes' is a sad gust of defeat. Things change, all right." |
| 2007-10-05 |
| This interview with Monty Python’s Terry Jones was interesting, inasmuch as Jones doesn’t venture into batshite unfunny jackassery as he seems wont to do these days. But he says: “I think my reading of the Middle Ages made me more politically conscious. I see the same people seeking power, and using the same techniques to keep power, whether it be propaganda, media control or religion.” We all learned in school about Pope Gregory VII’s canny use of the media, particularly his MTV-style illuminated books which employeed quick cuts and flashes of imagery and only took seven years to draw. “The one thing that is certain is that people don't change and the same untruths and reasons for going to war, for example, prevail now as they always did. In the late 14th century, Richard II tried to establish peace with France, but this flew in the face of the interests of those barons who made their money out of warfare, and who were adamantly opposed to Richard and who, in the end, managed to depose and murder him so that they could carry on making money despite the bloodshed and destruction. Nothing changes.” Well, if that’s what Mr. Jones says, that must be so. Didn’t have anything to do with undue taxation or the execution of his enemies, abolition of consulting bodies, succession issues, and generally irritation of the rest of the nobility. He wanted peace, and was killed, and so the war in Vietnam ground on for another – oh, right. I agree with Mr. Jones; Human nature is immutable, damn the luck – although I suspect a great many of Mr. Jones’ prescriptions rely on its endless mutability – but the nature and quality of societies change, which is why Tony Blair left office on his feet instead of being dragged into the public square to have his bowels unspooled, and Mr. Jones himself – who believes Chaucer was assassinated for political reasons – can speak his mind without fearing for his life. Especially since he took the right side on the matter of the Crusades – those rude God-bothering popish maniacs blundering into the civilized gardens of Islam, ad so on. What it is with these guys? You point out that America was the first nation to land on the moon, and they nod and say yes, well, the Sumerians first described the moon’s orbit 2000 years ago. Perhaps, but that’s like saying that marrying Sophia Loren is an equal accomplishment to watching her walk across the street. Historical perspective is one thing. But “nothing changes” is a sad gust of defeat. Things change, all right. Just wait. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #5 A Fable Two vultures were sitting in a tree. Suddenly all the animals starting running from forest. One vulture mangages to ask a rabbit what is going on? The rabbit replied, "FLEE, for lives MAN is at WAR!" The other vulture then said, "For thousands of years man has made war and only we vultures have proffited. Come my friend a feast awaits us." As they flew toward thebattle they were vaporized by a 20KT nuclear weapon. MORAL: In thousands of years, things change. Roger Price |
| Posted by: bruce 2007-10-05 20:22 |
| #4 And just on cue. Timing is everything. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-10-05 15:43 |
| #3 Not only that, Proc, but it's all Bush's fault, ya see? *PSSST, the plague was a Halliburton inspired conspiracy set up by Karl Rove and approved by Bush to wipe out those evil |
| Posted by: BA 2007-10-05 14:16 |
| #2 The human race has advanced so far, and it still has a long way to go. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-10-05 12:59 |
| #1 "Nothing Changes" Reoccurring waves of the plague? High level of birth and child mortality? Average life expectancy? Percentage of literacy in the general population? Hunger as a constant companion dependent upon the vagaries of climate? What constitutes our 'definition' of poverty? Ability to rush needed supplies and help to any remote corner of the world in the event of a natural disaster averting death tolls that hit historically hundreds of thousands? Right. Nothing changes. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2007-10-05 08:36 |