Well, actually I had just been after - sic! :) re-reading it only a couple of weeks before, which was the more interesting, as the reader had the advantage to know more about the past 13 years than the contributors while writing their essays.
John Hume, f.e., could not know that in 13 years time there'd be a heated discussion whether a majority of the Irish in the(ir) second referendum about the so-called Lisbon-Treaty within one year should vote "Yes" or once again "No".
Still, his essay Everything is Political in a divided Society could easily be written in September 2009.
Judge yourself.
Here's a short excerpt taken from “Arguing at the Crossroads – Essays on a changing Ireland”, 1997, pp 105/106:
"[...] The renewal of Ireland is scarcely thinkable outside the process of the development of a political and cultural Europe. [...] It (the EU; sj) is the greatest example of conflict resolution in the history of humanity. Nations who for centuries invaded each other, occupied each other’s territories, expelled each other’s peoples and massacred each other, came together freely to bury their old hatreds. [...] But the fact that these nations have preserved their identities is even more encouraging. It proves that institutions can be created to pursue common objectives without sacrificing Europe’s diversity of culture and traditions.
[...] The more people are given responsibility for their future, the more they show their ability to take such responibility. The more people believe that their political institutions belong to them, the more effective those institutions will be.
[...] Working for a new Ireland in a new Europe [...] It is time to look honestly at the virtues and defects of our society and find new answers capable of preparing us for the challenges which lie ahead. It is time to paint a realistic portrait of society and to abandon the consolation of outmoded imaginary mental pictures. We need the courage to imagine new perspectives which will help us to formulate answers to the questions of social diversity, possible political institutions and the eventual resolution of our conflict."
Very interesting, thank you Sean. Every year brings us to new crossroads! Many of the political conflicts that occur here seem to result from people trying to reason or persuade with the use of abstractions that mean either something different to everyone, or virtually nothing at all. For example: "democracy", "anti-democratic", "security", "freedom", "identity", etc. Unfortunately, I don't think the human race can resist the consolation of "imaginary mental pictures", be they outmoded or not.
ReplyDeleteIt's me, Stan, who has to be thankful.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
Well, you do write what I think but am not able to (properly) put into words ... as if it were the easiest thing on earth.
On the other side: Your genius could cause a seanish depression.
As for you examples: They let me think of Talleyrand. Ah, and Molière. And Voltaire. Oh, Dante, too. ... .
Gosh! Once I'll write a post about whether linking to one's own postings is impertinent, or not.
I truly appreciate (whether it's done by you, Sean, or by a widget) being linked to another post which will help my understanding on the subject at hand. I'm also grateful for good comments à-la-Stan which clarify a few points. That's why I read blogs. To participate in an intelligent discussion on what it means to be human, and what we can do to improve our condition, in every area. (Not only political!)
ReplyDeleteI would be very lonely, and feel very isolated without some of you. Thank you for being there.
Claudia,
ReplyDeletearen't we all an island? And wouldn't we not seldom realise this eminently when being together with many islands?
The lovelier I find when serendipity lets me meet other islands who (sic!) ... and here the metapher runs out of the rudder. :)
Fortunately, you do know anyway, what I mean.
All is fine, as long as we accept to be connected with other Islands. Years ago, at a time of great isolation, I wrote for myself:
ReplyDeleteI fear
the one-island-Man
the poverty of his silence
the dryness of his voice
the dimness of his candle
the bigness of his room
the emptiness of his land.
It encouraged me to seek other visions than my own, limited thoughts. Grateful to be here.:)