Lest we forget

[bohemond]

While in the Bay Area, I had a conversation with one of my friends who asserted (half-jokingly) that the United States could never achieve global domination because the contemporary American population lacked the attention span to focus on myths of national dominance and predestination for more than a couple of years.  Though I lacked his

Comments

[russiandude]

I chose "The White Man's Burden" for a "talk about this poem in front of class" project in 11th grade and pretty much all of my class decided that it was horribly racist and that was all there was to it, whereas I thought they should have focused more on the satirical commentary on the American situation in the Philippines (having done a little research as part of the project).

I remember being somewhat disappointed as to their shortsightedness.

[russiandude]

By the way, one of my favorite poems is "If-" by Kipling.

[bohemond]

more things too look up!

[russiandude]

http://www.swarthmore.edu/~apreset1/docs/if.html

Enjoy.

[elisafyre]

i do not have much time, as i am feeding my internet addiction at the expense of my honeymoon (yes, world's biggest dork here), but i used to do some papers on Kipling, and when i saw you mention something worth reflecting on on Memorial Day, it reminded me of the poem i always think about on Memorial Day, "Humanity i love you" by Cummings.

[bohemond]

Now you have me obssessed with the poem. Was it published in XLI Poems?

p.s. Enjoy the honeymoon and I can't wait to see you when you return.

[evilmagnus]

Recessional was also a stab at Fisher's fleet reforms : Kipling, never one to properly grasp the necessity of Fisher's work, felt that the scrapping of the gunboats represented a weakening of Britain's naval power. When, in fact, it was the necessary groundwork for her continued domination of the seas.

Far-call'd our navies melt away

On dune and headland sinks the fire

Lo, all our pomp of yesterday

Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!

Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,

Lest we forget, lest we forget!

...the more you know! :)

[bohemond]

My general policy is to never trust poets when it comes to military logistics.

[evilmagnus]

Curiously enough, that was Fisher's opinion too.

[msmarlamae]

Whoa.

Totally off topic, but holy shit what are you doing showing up on my friends list!

Glad to know you are still alive hot stuff.

[bohemond]

Sorry to disappear, but I hope to be around a tad more regularly for some time.

[denyse]

Off topic too, but sorry to have missed you during your Bay Area jaunt!

[bohemond]

Just more excuses to see you next time I am out there.