Specter 0 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Englishman Paul Johnson is one of the great living historians. I own and highly recommend his history of the 20th century “Modern Times”. I thought I’d share with you his writing about America recently, in The (London) Spectator: “The plight of Europe is such that, whenever I have the chance to talk to young people now, at any age from 12 to 20, I always urge them to make their future in America, particularly if they are clever and energetic, qualities essential for a vigorous life over there. America has everything Europe lacks. It has the world’s most dynamic economy, making impressive gains in productivity while expanding the number of jobs at the rate of a quarter of a million a month. It is growing in numbers, attracting the world’s best immigrants, and with a healthy birth rate of its own. Population is just topping 300 million and will be 425 million by mid-century. It has a democratic spirit at all levels of society so that people really feel they create and participate in government. In science and philosophy, in painting, sculpture, music and literature, it makes Europe seem provincial. It has nearly 4,000 universities, including all the world’s best. Most of all, it has a belief in its own future, a confidence that the world can be made, and will be made, a better place, not only materially but spiritually. It is the nearest we have in the world to The Good Society, and my only regret is that I did not make my home there 30 or 40 years ago, when I was still young enough to weather the change. Instead I have to make the best of enjoying the bits of England that are left, morsels of culture, dignity and civilisation not yet gnawed or gobbled up by the rodents of New Labour, the yobs and celebs, the hobbledehoys of mass entertainment and the picklocks and con men who dominate that combined brothel and mortuary, the Palace of Westminster and all its sinister and unsavoury purlieus.” Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dick Splash 23 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 It has the world’s most dynamic economy, making impressive gains in productivity while expanding the number of jobs at the rate of a quarter of a million a month. Yet it's population seems to have no job security to speak of unless one is in a Union! It is growing in numbers, attracting the world’s best immigrants.... Yeah!.....the Bosnians are big favoUrites of the locals here. ....and with a healthy birth rate of its own. ....and Socialised Medicine to support it ..... Eh?.....'ang on a minute. It has nearly 4,000 universities, including all the world’s best. ....and the best are affordable for 'everyone'. Most of all, it has a belief in its own future, a confidence that the world can be made, and will be made, a better place, not only materially but spiritually. WORLD?.....WORLD?.....people around here couldn't point to the 'World' on a map. Instead I have to make the best of enjoying the bits of England that are left, morsels of culture, dignity and civilisation not yet gnawed or gobbled up by the rodents of New Labour......← tis true......and it's not Just the current government. The UK's lost a lot of its identity in even the last thirty or so years. But, cultures come and go I suppose, and I've seen enough hundred year old plus barns, farms and houses demolished here, in the last three years in the name of 'dynamic economy' and progress to feel comfortable about. And if developers and entrepeneurs aren't careful, there won't be any identity left here, to distinguish it from a town two thousand miles further East! DS Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zebb 7 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 If he doesnt enjoy living here he can always move to America, no great loss to us.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky 1,224 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 If he doesnt enjoy living here he can always move to America, no great loss to us.... ← LOL, he did and does! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zebb 7 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Thank goodness for small mercies, now if we can only get rid of all the other whining, snivelling ingrates we might be getting somehwere..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rocky 1,224 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Criekly we'd be pretty lonely, whining is part of the british way of life these days! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tyovan4 4 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Criekly we'd be pretty lonely I wouldn't mind coming over and giving you guys some company! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gav80 0 Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 (edited) He makes some half decent points about America, but I think he's a little hard on the UK there... After all, every country has its problems. I have to make the best of enjoying the bits of England that are left, morsels of culture, dignity and civilisation not yet gnawed or gobbled up by the rodents of New Labour, the yobs and celebs, the hobbledehoys of mass entertainment and the picklocks and con men who dominate that combined brothel and mortuary, the Palace of Westminster and all its sinister and unsavoury purlieus And yet he mentions nothing of US violent crime... And surely anything derogatory that can be said about Westminster can also be said about Capitol Hill? Or indeed just about any other seat of government in the world... And it's rich that he talks of "celebs" and conmen like it's a worse problem in Britain (sorry, he seems fond of saying England) than it is in the US... He obviously has his head where the sun doesn't shine. Good riddance. Now if we can just get Queen Lizzie 2 to revoke his citizenship too...... Edited March 31, 2005 by Gav80 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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