Another Patton quote that I used to post before FB and X banned me for calling chump a Nazi lover. “Fixed fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man.”
Oct 22, 2023·edited Oct 22, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
Thank you, Greg
"Dulce et Decorum est" - Yet more bullshit to further empower the rich and already powerful.
An infinite stream of lies from the powerful, to protect their power. For a million years, man has been this way, but why?
(Warning: Super Rant follows 😉 )
*** Answer: Evolution Cannot See the Future
She cares not for goodness, only for viable offspring.
... so she produces a wide range of behaviours and skills for the best chance at some of the parents begetting successful offspring. Hers is a genetic gamble against good or bad times coming.
She fosters greed as well as charity, trust as well as abuse, and provides a range of genetic characteristics to best survive in an unknowable future, e.g. conservative versus liberal.
A billion years of evolution has created a spectrum of humans, from insanely greedy through to hopelessly charitable.
During famine and bad times, the selfish and greedy are perhaps more likely to survive and pass on their (selfish) genes to the future.
During good times and plenty, the charitable build societies and civilisations freely and openly for the good of all, and in such a society most human's genes (including the selfish) are likely to be passed on to the future.
We might not imagine having children with greedy personna, but if we were starving, we might have no choice.
Greed is a natural result of evolution, and the greedy tend to survive and perhaps reproduce more often.
The pressures of evolution both creates and then destroys advanced civilisations.
When science is driven mostly by profit, the greedy will pervert it for more profit, regardless of destructive side effects, and the civilisation destroys itself in pursuit of ever more profit and greed.
Only significant education of the masses can avert this fate, but education of the masses thwarts the power of the super-rich.
Remind me of a comment by a hydrologist while on a rafting trip down the Colorado River, decades ago. Along the lines of - evolution cares not for efficiency or expediency, hence there are some convoluted and esoteric paths in nature. As I recall relating to a particular bird’s reproductive process. Off the topic somewhat, but you tickled my memory.
Thank you, Yes, the epiphany is that evolution cannot see the future, and only cares about viable offspring. I'm sure I'm not the first to realise this.
As a stoic, I vibe with Horace. In an important way, Wilfred Owen did, too; insofar as he gave his life for something greater than his personal self. Let's be grateful that, unlike Sassoon, Owen went back to the front to produce 'Dulce et Decorum Est'. Art *matters*
Great post as well William, the wealthy and powerful have created all sorts of. fustian and fantasy to the honor of death, which many have been trained to believe...TESS and your rant are fascinating reads!
I recommend a careful, thoughtful read here. As fascinating and urgent as it is on its face, within, this penetrating study discloses to those who may care about such things (and maybe even to those who don't) something overlooked in today's media-saturated, amusement-obsessed world. Poetry has long been a necessary component to sustain our shared humanity. We neglect it at our peril. Therein we use language "voiced" at its best to bind ourselves to one-another across the barriers of space and time. Thanks, Greg, for helping us "listen" to Wilfred Owen, but to Horace. Their voices need to be "heard" at this hour of terrifying strife.
I ended up taking three years of Latin—my parents’ idea of good preparation for college, I guess—and it has given me a general appreciation for the derivation of English and other languages’ words. But the association of ‘Latin’ and ‘death’ brings to my mind another repugnant image even before that of war. I was haunted by the gladiators’ saying Morituri Te Salutamus. I could never get my mind around willingly fighting to the death, whether in an a spectator-filled arena or on a battlefield. I served my country as an Air Force officer (developing computer software) during the Vietnam Era, because the draft gave me no legal choice, and I separated before they deployed me. I honored my grandfather’s conscientious objection not by refusing to serve in wartime, but by refusing to die in a war.
Another lesson I didn’t know I needed. Apropos at a time when the gratuitous brutality of war impinges on all our senses - if we don’t divert by some inane digitized blather. “One empire waxes, the other one wanes.” And we engage, flee, ignore or divert. And we humans ponder our own patriotic insanity.
There are poets whose work I love en-masse: Yeats, Coleridge, Stevens, Auden come instantly to mind. The above are poems from poets whose work I don't know well overall, but which hit me between the eyes on first reading.
Wow. Always hated Horace (and, like Byron, thought it my fault). Has there ever been a good "state" poet? Maybe Frost, who at least kept it ambiguous.
Here's Shakespeare's gloss (put in the ironic mouth of Julius Caesar):
“Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.” (Indeed)
Which I've always thought pretty good advice, especially when darting across four lanes of speeding traffic.
Thanks for reminding us of the great Shakespeare quote. And the last line of your comment made me guffaw just now...
Do you know "The War Song of Dinas Vawr" by Thomas Love Peacock? The only "fun" war poem I know:
The mountain sheep are sweeter,
But the valley sheep are fatter;
We therefore deemed it meeter
To carry off the latter.
We made an expedition;
We met a host, and quelled it;
We forced a strong position,
And killed the men who held it.
On Dyfed's richest valley,
Where herds of kine were browsing,
We made a mighty sally,
To furnish our carousing.
Fierce warriors rushed to meet us;
We met them, and o'erthrew them:
They struggled hard to beat us;
But we conquered them, and slew them.
As we drove our prize at leisure,
The king marched forth to catch us:
His rage surpassed all measure,
But his people could not match us.
He fled to his hall-pillars;
And, ere our force we led off,
Some sacked his house and cellars,
While others cut his head off.
We there, in strife bewild'ring,
Spilt blood enough to swim in:
We orphaned many children,
And widowed many women.
The eagles and the ravens
We glutted with our foemen;
The heroes and the cravens,
The spearmen and the bowmen.
We brought away from battle,
And much their land bemoaned them,
Two thousand head of cattle,
And the head of him who owned them:
Ednyfed, king of Dyfed,
His head was borne before us;
His wine and beasts supplied our feasts,
And his overthrow, our chorus.
Lol. As for Horace, loosely translated: "Sweet and neat to be your country's meat."
Some great truths in Shakespearean writing!
Coupled with interesting translation of Latin text Greg... Sundays reads are always amazing, thanks!!
Gratias tibi!
Latin
Bene sum gratias tibi!
Mr. O. You Are killing it! I learn so much from Prevail. Please keep going. Billserle.com
Thank you, Bill!
Are we willing to die for our country, or will we hold out for our ideals.
Being convinced to die for our country usually involves killing for it too.
Or as George S. Patton Jr. put it: "Your job is not to die for your country. Your job is to make some other poor bastard die for his country!"
That is some quote!
Another Patton quote that I used to post before FB and X banned me for calling chump a Nazi lover. “Fixed fortifications are a monument to the stupidity of man.”
Well put, Rick, and absolutely true.
Like pieces on the chessboard
Wilfred breaks my heart every time.
Same. It's so so sad.
Thank you, Greg
"Dulce et Decorum est" - Yet more bullshit to further empower the rich and already powerful.
An infinite stream of lies from the powerful, to protect their power. For a million years, man has been this way, but why?
(Warning: Super Rant follows 😉 )
*** Answer: Evolution Cannot See the Future
She cares not for goodness, only for viable offspring.
... so she produces a wide range of behaviours and skills for the best chance at some of the parents begetting successful offspring. Hers is a genetic gamble against good or bad times coming.
She fosters greed as well as charity, trust as well as abuse, and provides a range of genetic characteristics to best survive in an unknowable future, e.g. conservative versus liberal.
A billion years of evolution has created a spectrum of humans, from insanely greedy through to hopelessly charitable.
During famine and bad times, the selfish and greedy are perhaps more likely to survive and pass on their (selfish) genes to the future.
During good times and plenty, the charitable build societies and civilisations freely and openly for the good of all, and in such a society most human's genes (including the selfish) are likely to be passed on to the future.
We might not imagine having children with greedy personna, but if we were starving, we might have no choice.
Greed is a natural result of evolution, and the greedy tend to survive and perhaps reproduce more often.
The pressures of evolution both creates and then destroys advanced civilisations.
When science is driven mostly by profit, the greedy will pervert it for more profit, regardless of destructive side effects, and the civilisation destroys itself in pursuit of ever more profit and greed.
Only significant education of the masses can avert this fate, but education of the masses thwarts the power of the super-rich.
See the Drake Equation
https://seti.org/drake-equation-index
Most scientists think "L" (the ultimate lifetime of an advanced civilisation) is only 100-200 years. Throughout the universe.
Never heard of the drake equation, very interesting! And thanks for your excellent reply!
Thank you!
Thanks, William. Good point about greed and evolution.
I have heard of this Drake equation, but I've been too scared to go investigate it...
I would bet that Story Musgrave, NASA astronaut with an inquisitive brain, has tried.
Remind me of a comment by a hydrologist while on a rafting trip down the Colorado River, decades ago. Along the lines of - evolution cares not for efficiency or expediency, hence there are some convoluted and esoteric paths in nature. As I recall relating to a particular bird’s reproductive process. Off the topic somewhat, but you tickled my memory.
Thank you, Yes, the epiphany is that evolution cannot see the future, and only cares about viable offspring. I'm sure I'm not the first to realise this.
True, but so many still experiment and mull, and try to understand the forever egnigma. So many possibilities...
As a stoic, I vibe with Horace. In an important way, Wilfred Owen did, too; insofar as he gave his life for something greater than his personal self. Let's be grateful that, unlike Sassoon, Owen went back to the front to produce 'Dulce et Decorum Est'. Art *matters*
Dulce et decorum est pro poesi mori.
Marcus Aurelius > Horace : )
Made me smile just now that my translation was verified by Google, and mom would be so proud :)
Very interesting. Enjoyed this a lot. Thanks.
Thank you! I had fun researching it.
Great post as well William, the wealthy and powerful have created all sorts of. fustian and fantasy to the honor of death, which many have been trained to believe...TESS and your rant are fascinating reads!
I recommend a careful, thoughtful read here. As fascinating and urgent as it is on its face, within, this penetrating study discloses to those who may care about such things (and maybe even to those who don't) something overlooked in today's media-saturated, amusement-obsessed world. Poetry has long been a necessary component to sustain our shared humanity. We neglect it at our peril. Therein we use language "voiced" at its best to bind ourselves to one-another across the barriers of space and time. Thanks, Greg, for helping us "listen" to Wilfred Owen, but to Horace. Their voices need to be "heard" at this hour of terrifying strife.
I ended up taking three years of Latin—my parents’ idea of good preparation for college, I guess—and it has given me a general appreciation for the derivation of English and other languages’ words. But the association of ‘Latin’ and ‘death’ brings to my mind another repugnant image even before that of war. I was haunted by the gladiators’ saying Morituri Te Salutamus. I could never get my mind around willingly fighting to the death, whether in an a spectator-filled arena or on a battlefield. I served my country as an Air Force officer (developing computer software) during the Vietnam Era, because the draft gave me no legal choice, and I separated before they deployed me. I honored my grandfather’s conscientious objection not by refusing to serve in wartime, but by refusing to die in a war.
Dying:
What if you dont believe in "Countries"
What if your opposed to lines drawn in the sand?
Whai if you are not a fan of walls.
What if you want to pull the plugs on rivers.
I'd prefer a lighting bolt on the Serengity.
Amoukar
A scrap of Poetry.
Again dying for a Country
"Anthem for Doomed Youth."
By Wilford.
Learned a new word today sent by the wizard, AI.
Epyllion
(by Greg Olear, article) Perhaps this is why men spend so much time thinking about the Roman Empire?
Another lesson I didn’t know I needed. Apropos at a time when the gratuitous brutality of war impinges on all our senses - if we don’t divert by some inane digitized blather. “One empire waxes, the other one wanes.” And we engage, flee, ignore or divert. And we humans ponder our own patriotic insanity.
Thank you for bringing up this, one of my all-time favorite poems. I taught it relentlessly to high schoolers during Vietnam. It is up there with Auto Wreck by Karl Shapiro, https://www.poemsthatmove.com/post/poem-4-karl-shapiro-s-auto-wreck
and Robinson Jeffers Hurt Hawks https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51675/hurt-hawks
as the poems that have moved me most about death.
There are poets whose work I love en-masse: Yeats, Coleridge, Stevens, Auden come instantly to mind. The above are poems from poets whose work I don't know well overall, but which hit me between the eyes on first reading.