I am often reminded of Kipling lately. One I just heard capably performed by Leslie Fish: The Old Issue (the lyrics). You can get this and other Kipling poems set to music from her web site.
The specific words that got my attention:
He shall take a tribute, toll of all our ware;
He shall change our gold for arms—arms we may not bear.
He shall break his judges if they cross his word;
He shall rule above the Law calling on the Lord.
Looking back at history, the Parliament had once saved England from its king. Then the Lord Protector had to save England from the Parliament. And once Cromwell died, the English invited a foreign king to rule them again. Kipling again:
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began.
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool’s bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;
I suspect that the coming US events will resemble his verses.
I have a Funny Feeling we are already there. After all, giving the Muslim Brotherhood Rulers of Egypt a 100 M-1A1 Abrams Tanks and UpGraded F-16 Fighters reminds me a lot of Kipling’s “Dane-geld”!
Before I started school my father started me out on Rikki Tikki Tavi, Toomai, and Mowgli, then snuck in the “grownup” Kipling stuff. Bless him.
My grankids will be there in three years or so. Ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Oh, and OT:
Ah,yes: The Gods of the Copybook Headings will NOT be denied!
“To govern” is the antithesis of freedom, and all governments are established to self-perpetuate … They never stop growing. So, as government expands, freedom fades. Moreover, there are those who are content to live their lives focused upon their families and friends, being productive and honorable regarding their own responsibilities. Then there are the others … Many others.
Among the others are those who seek power and influence over the lives of their fellow men. We should always be suspect of these. Always. For they will join the government to expand their ideas and passions, and while doing so, they will remove freedom.
There comes a time when revolution is necessary … When the constructs of political, power-driven man must fall before the demands of free men. It always happens. And yes, as you have suggested, it will happen once again in America.
And the reason that the English recalled Charles II (born at St. James’ Palace — hardly a “foreign king”) was to save themselves from Cromwell’s heirs and successors. If the Almighty Nose hadn’t had the good sense to die when he did, the Third English Civil War might have been fought to dislodge him from power.
I actually confused him with the successor of James II.