"and remember, it all gets darker from now on!" Nice of you to give us a preview of your speech from the steps of Downing Street when you become Prime Minister.
So he’s basically a cross between Dominic Sandbrook and Tommy Robinson.
This may be the single best line ever written by anyone on Substack. I do hope Sandbrook is a reader and replies! (Love his books and the Rest is History). Even better, I hope Tom Holland is a reader and quotes this to Sandbrook at some point in a future RiH episode!
Yes. "Enslaved person," "enslaver" instead of "owner," all that stuff. One historical novel I recently read kept describing characters as "Black" if they were, say, from the Caribbean, and even more weirdly in the context, would describe characters as "White," with the capital letter.
You are right about the 1990s. People remember Brit Pop, and such- My youngest brother got struck with a hammer in a mugging as a first year. . Dad remembered fighting on building sites dying down as he got older.
I also think there was some quiet ethnic viligantism going on in some places in London. Since then
Re: There is a much stronger rational case for monarchy
Maybe for constitutional monarchy. Giving one man or woman ultimate power can be refuted by naming some names: Charles the Simple, Ethelred the Unready, Hakkim the Mad, Pedro the Cruel, Charles the Bad, Bloody Mary, Ivan the Terrible, Selim the Sot...
Re: Male self-esteem really stems from a sense of accomplishment in some form, and for this to exist there must be failure, too.
But should failure mean falling all the way into the Abyss, or be limited to bouncing down a couple of levels?
Re Portugal should have been richer per head of population—yet its economic performance was far less impressive.
Well, Portugal got rich too soon. It was the first of the European nations to cash in on the vast opening of world trade that began in the 1400s and came to full flower in the 1500s and 1600s. And that was before there was much new tech and industry to invest in- so a lot of the money went into fabulous Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture.
Re: the tendency for post-2013 history books to use ‘enslaved persons’ rather than ‘slave’ really grates.
Yep, more pointless "Conehead" euphemisms befouling the language.
Re: Percentage of American parents who wish the following had never been invented.
I'm surprised it's so low for Smartphones. And what in the world is up with the 9% who wish there were no bicycles?
on the male accomplishment thing, many of the basic protections have disappeared, declined or become more expensive, marriage being the obvious one. Supporting and raising children is an achievement, and gives a man a sense of worth and meaning - more than anything I imagine.
I can't cycle. I have problems with balance. So I missed out and that fun as a kid. Also as a pedestrian cyclists are a nuiscance. They ride on the pavement etc
"The Conquest of 1066, in which the Bretons played a significant role, reintroduced a lot of Celtic features into the English language, according to this 2023 paper. Sent by reader Aidan Barrett. I’m fascinated by the Norman Conquest, including its effects on our language and our social class. On that subject, I’ll sign off with a book plug."
I am quite fascinated myself. I have possessed a fascination with etymology dating back to childhood in the 2000s.
Looking up the Old English words for modern terms is an interesting experience. It feels kind of like if one was adopted and finding out one's real name every time. Here are a couple of Twitter accounts a follow related to that subject.
A big issue as per Crane Brinton's "The Anatomy of Revolution" is that the moderate reformers usually work with the more radical types to overthrow the ancien regime. But whereas the moderates have a stopping point, the fanatics march to their own tune and will turn on the moderates when they are no longer needed.
(1) the modern housing in St Petersburg looks just like the old housing in St Petersburg (miles of semi-identical blocks marching off into the distance), just tarted up with jazzy panels. You’ll find exactly the same architectural style (albeit on a smaller scale) if you ever change onto the Stansted Express at Tottenham Hale.
(2) That German poster is indeed lovely, and the church in the background is the Gedächtniskirche in Berlin, which we subsequently bombed to buggery. The stump of the tower still stands, with modern accretions like Coventry. It’s also where an Islamist drove a car into a Christmas market a few years ago.
On Iran, it’s always fascinating and complicated, so Islam was perhaps an imperialist Arab project, or, as Tom Holland put it superbly, an Arab ’Manifest Destiny’ to gloss over the miraculous Arab conquests after the death of Mohammed with a divine veneer! However, Iranians were among the most active and creative participants in that project (arguably, the Turks were the ultimate winners).
As someone from the Middle East, I would ask the following:
- The fall of the Islamic regime would bring an end to a long and bloody period in the region's history, during which radical, revolutionary, and transnational ideologies and actors wreaked havoc! So it’s a good thing!
-But can we minimize the damage caused by the regime's downfall or weakening? Iran is not Iraq or Syria, but it’s better to be cautious!
- I think the emergence of Israel as the foremost regional power is a good thing—for now—as most states do not perceive it as an ideological or territorial threat (unlike Iran or Turkey). However, can Israel work successfully with other states to form a sustainable de-escalation equation?
Peter Brown is also interesting about how the civilisation of Islam effectively became Persian after the rise of the Abbasid dynasty. The suppression of the native religion there was much more total than the religion of the eastern Romans, which went on much as before.
I don't think many would lament the end of the Iranian regime, but I don't know if there is any scenario where it isn't followed by chaos and conflict. Obviously very worrying for the surrounding region, and Europe's leaders will be terrified at the prospect of any refugee wave.
I'll add Peter Brown to my long list of books to read!
No, not another wave of refugees, please! I was in Vienna last month , and it was so orderly, clean, and safe (unlike parts of London). The local population seemed content with their lives, unlike most of the UK! A big factor, might be I guess the absence of massive immigration!
Oh leaders of Europe don’t ruin the remaining bright lights in your continent! I need constant doses of high culture!
You have made a great progressive case for monarchy by noting how the most sacred value for progressives is protecting victimized minorites and historically monarchies have a better record of that.
One can also make the case of how monarchies are effective anti-fascist and anti-theocratic entities in a way. Of the three main Axis Powers of World War II, the two that came out relatively well had monarchs to stand up to their hardliners. Italy's king sacked and arrested Mussolini (the Germans later rescued him though) and Japan's Emperor defied the ultra-nationalists who were leading the country into disaster (they did attempt a coup against him though - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABj%C5%8D_incident).
In terms of anti-theocracy (though this might be more a liberal than a progressive sensibility), Roman Emperors were known to depose rouge Pope's when they were potential sources of trouble (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Martin_I) and in the Islamic World, monarchs are often the last bulwark against fundamentalist zealots of various stripes.
"and remember, it all gets darker from now on!" Nice of you to give us a preview of your speech from the steps of Downing Street when you become Prime Minister.
So he’s basically a cross between Dominic Sandbrook and Tommy Robinson.
This may be the single best line ever written by anyone on Substack. I do hope Sandbrook is a reader and replies! (Love his books and the Rest is History). Even better, I hope Tom Holland is a reader and quotes this to Sandbrook at some point in a future RiH episode!
"As a Grandpa Simpson-style aside, the tendency for post-2013 history books to use ‘enslaved persons’ rather than ‘slave’ really grates."
Especially in historical fiction.
do they actually have characters from the past using the phrase??
Yes. "Enslaved person," "enslaver" instead of "owner," all that stuff. One historical novel I recently read kept describing characters as "Black" if they were, say, from the Caribbean, and even more weirdly in the context, would describe characters as "White," with the capital letter.
You are right about the 1990s. People remember Brit Pop, and such- My youngest brother got struck with a hammer in a mugging as a first year. . Dad remembered fighting on building sites dying down as he got older.
I also think there was some quiet ethnic viligantism going on in some places in London. Since then
Re: There is a much stronger rational case for monarchy
Maybe for constitutional monarchy. Giving one man or woman ultimate power can be refuted by naming some names: Charles the Simple, Ethelred the Unready, Hakkim the Mad, Pedro the Cruel, Charles the Bad, Bloody Mary, Ivan the Terrible, Selim the Sot...
Re: Male self-esteem really stems from a sense of accomplishment in some form, and for this to exist there must be failure, too.
But should failure mean falling all the way into the Abyss, or be limited to bouncing down a couple of levels?
Re Portugal should have been richer per head of population—yet its economic performance was far less impressive.
Well, Portugal got rich too soon. It was the first of the European nations to cash in on the vast opening of world trade that began in the 1400s and came to full flower in the 1500s and 1600s. And that was before there was much new tech and industry to invest in- so a lot of the money went into fabulous Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture.
Re: the tendency for post-2013 history books to use ‘enslaved persons’ rather than ‘slave’ really grates.
Yep, more pointless "Conehead" euphemisms befouling the language.
Re: Percentage of American parents who wish the following had never been invented.
I'm surprised it's so low for Smartphones. And what in the world is up with the 9% who wish there were no bicycles?
drivers I guess.
on the male accomplishment thing, many of the basic protections have disappeared, declined or become more expensive, marriage being the obvious one. Supporting and raising children is an achievement, and gives a man a sense of worth and meaning - more than anything I imagine.
I can't cycle. I have problems with balance. So I missed out and that fun as a kid. Also as a pedestrian cyclists are a nuiscance. They ride on the pavement etc
"The Conquest of 1066, in which the Bretons played a significant role, reintroduced a lot of Celtic features into the English language, according to this 2023 paper. Sent by reader Aidan Barrett. I’m fascinated by the Norman Conquest, including its effects on our language and our social class. On that subject, I’ll sign off with a book plug."
I am quite fascinated myself. I have possessed a fascination with etymology dating back to childhood in the 2000s.
Looking up the Old English words for modern terms is an interesting experience. It feels kind of like if one was adopted and finding out one's real name every time. Here are a couple of Twitter accounts a follow related to that subject.
https://x.com/theanglishtimes
https://x.com/wylfcen
"There are very few instances in history where the removal of a monarchy has led to better national outcomes."
Even Steven Pinker seems to at least agree that revolutions that usually remove monarchs usually don't end well.
https://m.youtube.com/shorts/8up6jWpSztU
A big issue as per Crane Brinton's "The Anatomy of Revolution" is that the moderate reformers usually work with the more radical types to overthrow the ancien regime. But whereas the moderates have a stopping point, the fanatics march to their own tune and will turn on the moderates when they are no longer needed.
Two quick points.
(1) the modern housing in St Petersburg looks just like the old housing in St Petersburg (miles of semi-identical blocks marching off into the distance), just tarted up with jazzy panels. You’ll find exactly the same architectural style (albeit on a smaller scale) if you ever change onto the Stansted Express at Tottenham Hale.
(2) That German poster is indeed lovely, and the church in the background is the Gedächtniskirche in Berlin, which we subsequently bombed to buggery. The stump of the tower still stands, with modern accretions like Coventry. It’s also where an Islamist drove a car into a Christmas market a few years ago.
Enjoy the sunshine!
oh wow, didn't know that. Added misery to the story
I am actually quite surprised that Bonnie Blue was married before 25!
On Iran, it’s always fascinating and complicated, so Islam was perhaps an imperialist Arab project, or, as Tom Holland put it superbly, an Arab ’Manifest Destiny’ to gloss over the miraculous Arab conquests after the death of Mohammed with a divine veneer! However, Iranians were among the most active and creative participants in that project (arguably, the Turks were the ultimate winners).
As someone from the Middle East, I would ask the following:
- The fall of the Islamic regime would bring an end to a long and bloody period in the region's history, during which radical, revolutionary, and transnational ideologies and actors wreaked havoc! So it’s a good thing!
-But can we minimize the damage caused by the regime's downfall or weakening? Iran is not Iraq or Syria, but it’s better to be cautious!
- I think the emergence of Israel as the foremost regional power is a good thing—for now—as most states do not perceive it as an ideological or territorial threat (unlike Iran or Turkey). However, can Israel work successfully with other states to form a sustainable de-escalation equation?
Many questions, no clear-cut answers!
Peter Brown is also interesting about how the civilisation of Islam effectively became Persian after the rise of the Abbasid dynasty. The suppression of the native religion there was much more total than the religion of the eastern Romans, which went on much as before.
I don't think many would lament the end of the Iranian regime, but I don't know if there is any scenario where it isn't followed by chaos and conflict. Obviously very worrying for the surrounding region, and Europe's leaders will be terrified at the prospect of any refugee wave.
I'll add Peter Brown to my long list of books to read!
No, not another wave of refugees, please! I was in Vienna last month , and it was so orderly, clean, and safe (unlike parts of London). The local population seemed content with their lives, unlike most of the UK! A big factor, might be I guess the absence of massive immigration!
Oh leaders of Europe don’t ruin the remaining bright lights in your continent! I need constant doses of high culture!
You have made a great progressive case for monarchy by noting how the most sacred value for progressives is protecting victimized minorites and historically monarchies have a better record of that.
https://unherd.com/2021/03/why-monarchies-are-more-tolerant/
One can also make the case of how monarchies are effective anti-fascist and anti-theocratic entities in a way. Of the three main Axis Powers of World War II, the two that came out relatively well had monarchs to stand up to their hardliners. Italy's king sacked and arrested Mussolini (the Germans later rescued him though) and Japan's Emperor defied the ultra-nationalists who were leading the country into disaster (they did attempt a coup against him though - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%ABj%C5%8D_incident).
In terms of anti-theocracy (though this might be more a liberal than a progressive sensibility), Roman Emperors were known to depose rouge Pope's when they were potential sources of trouble (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Martin_I) and in the Islamic World, monarchs are often the last bulwark against fundamentalist zealots of various stripes.