He will warn that the rise of China means that the world can no longer take "the forward march of democracy for granted", and that Britain must unambiguously be on the side of what he describes as "civilian surges" for democracy. Continued here.
Interesting that the Milliband would mention China, but not Zimbabwe, isn't it?
Well, having received my Valentine's Day present by reading the world's most intelligent and peace-loving leader saying '"Prosperity and peace are in the balance", I shall neither write this man suffers from stupidity and megalomania nor comment his words, but leave this to Archbishop Cranmer, in whose piece you will find following nice anecdote, which I shall soon - in a other context - find the opportunity to recall:
'When Sir Charles James Napier [in the India of the early 19th century] was confronted with Hindu demands for a lifting of the ban on suttee. And the general famously replied: ‘You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.’And now's your turn, His Grace.
Strange that it has taken soooooo long for the blogosphere diaspora to pick up on such a significant thinking.
ReplyDeleteThe massive change in direction was made 9 months (at least) ago, and everyone missed it.
In fact, I doubt the full consequences have yet to be understood, let alone debated.
Oh well!
Anon,
ReplyDeleteDo I need to mention I do not like 'Yes, but ...'-sentences?
Still, sometimes even I can't avoid them. Will you forgive me? :)
Yes, you are (perhaps) right. But how many blogs do, better: can we read?
As I do suppose you are mainly focusing on the British or let's say English writing blogosphere you will know there are quite a few interesting bloggers. And: There are quite a few other languages to find in the blogosphere ...
Each blogger has, or is trying to find his own style; each has his special interests, etc.
Why would I have named my blog Omnium? The name offers me the chance to write about everything. And I do have many interests. Actually I'd sometimes like to write ten, twenty or more posts a day, on completely different topics.
But there are still some other thing to do, and: I am maltreating another language than my native tongue.
Oh well, explaining why this or that 'is just impossible' can be extremely annoying. Why not trying to find a way to make 'things' possible?
Do you have an idea?
Perhaps every blog should end with a "yes, - but" type of ending.
ReplyDeleteThat would TEND to invite more reasonable discursive comments, and maintain a livelier discourse than I find in many places.
That builds synergies, in that other commenters respond to each other, as well as the original blog, and the discussion widens.
It does however demand attention. Pissing contests between commenters have to be stamped on.
The final "yes - but" must be carefully written, so that the blogger does not appear to be incorrect, and consequently stupid.
He would have a cliff to climb from that point on.
I need hardly add that you seem to have the style and verbal acuity (as demonstrated in your words of 3:39 AM) to avoid the said pitfalls :)
Given time, and a good following the pressure to post blogs regularly will thus fall, as the discussion takes a wider course which obviously takes longer.
The flying visit, - one liners, are just stupid.
That a group of supposedly intelligent people would agree to such rot, it just is beyond logic.
But, well, what do I know?
You lot are the professionals.
Anon,
ReplyDeletethanks for the suggestion(s). I shall seize them and see what happens.
Due to your remarkable patience, I shall continue tonight's thoughts here. :)