dedalus Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 The Red Queen can be seen as an archetype: Off with his head! (It was said that as a young man Henry was sweet-natured; a claim with a hollow ring for Richard Empson or Edmund Dudley, ministers to his father, whom he executed as soon as he came to the throne.) Later heads were to be chopped galore: two wives, among others, and Thomas More. Messengers bearing news of defeat were often slaughtered at a ruler’s feet (as was the unfortunate scribe who read Cicero’s reply to Marc Antony before the open Roman Senate, as were other bearers of unwelcome news who were quickly deemed responsible.) There is a long historical tradition of sending truth-tellers to perdition. Science in its way is the new criterion supplanting an old religious imperium here and there, not all over the world, for many regions have banners unfurl’d to protect dogged old dogmas. Where? Islam and parts of the USA, where millions fear to look beyond some ancient Book. Pagan Greeks would have been astonished had they been so admonished as the elderly Signor Galileo. Independence of mind we find is an affront to the state with its history of hysteria. Now in our more civilized times we deal with equally impudent crimes in rather much the same way (We maintain our judicial and our extra-judicial executions, even lopping off heads in Saudi Arabia, a whiff of the Good Ol’ Days, send dissidents to mental asylums, hang teenagers in Iran, try to get journalists fired, use PR people to start smear campaigns, trumpet out filth and innuendo, send villagers to Guantanamo, drive honest people to suicide, bring the whistle-blowers to trial.) Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks? What the hell has he said that wasn’t true? But it wasn’t for this lowly man to do. And he is gay! O God, how well that will play … Wake up, I’m thinking … Whatever we hide or throw under the covers comes back to haunt us, just as young lovers open their hearts to keep love from sinking. Open our hearts? Yes, I think so in the end. It is the only way we can hope to defend the freedom we hope to live in. Quote Drown your sorrows in drink, by all means, but the real sorrows can swim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank E Gibbard Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Very true on many fronts polemic with a big historic scope. Good one Bren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Great thoughts all the way through, from the title to the last period. Messengers bearing news of defeat were often slaughtered at a ruler’s feet There is a long historical tradition of sending truth-tellers to perdition. NBT in this TTP. (NBT = nothing but truth) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_con Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 astonishing! I am impressed, once again by your talent, and breadth of wisdom. I was contemplating 'Truth to Power' and considering writing a poem, dropped in to PMO, and saw this very delightful piece. Thank you! As always, call e a fan... Keep it up, Many Thanks, Juris AKA Dr. Con Quote thegateless.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen M. Callirhoe Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 some haunting lines here that ring some liberty of truth to it in a brendan sorta way. always enjoy your weaving of words. victor Quote Larsen M. Callirhoe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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