四週間
So, I'm reading "Looking Backward: 2000 - 1887" by Edward Bellamy, and I'm beginning to think it wonderfully ironic that before hearing of this book, the only Bellamy I had ever heard of previously (*cough cough One Piece*) was a romantic Pirate Captain.
Edward's book is supposed to be a Utopian vision. A supremely socialist outlook of what the world will evolve to, making a great society without poverty or hunger or even any sort of anger or spite in between human beings. Every human is made to work, and every human has the same annual allotment of credit with which they may purchase from the Nation's storehouses.
There have been some concessions, though. There's no more democracy. People are granted the right to election based on their skill at labor. And people who refuse to work are imprisoned with naught but bread and water until they change their mind. But really... even all the things that are described as if to be wonderful and amazing sound horrific.
I've been reading another book, too: Raiders and Rebels: the Golden age of Piracy. And if I've gotten anything from that, it's that Piracy did not come about because of some villains who wanted to rape and kill. It was because the world grew so oppressive that the thought of freedom on the sea--from the hells of life under kings and generals on land or in the navy--was the most beautiful treasure to live for, while declaring war on the world that dared to deny you that freedom.
"You are a devilish conscience rascal, I am a free prince, and I have as much authority to make war on the whole world, as he who has a hundred sail of ships at sea, and an army of 100,000 men in the field; and this my conscience tells me: but there is no arguing with such snivelling puppies, who allow superiors to kick them about deck at pleasure."
So sad that the Samuel Bellamy who sent off searching for an honest fortune that he may wed his love, would declare "Lads, we've gotten enough. It's time to go home." only to be killed in a storm at sea.
Still, I would rather live the life of a rogue at sea, however treacherous that may be, than ever be a part of Edward Bellamy's Utopian world.
Edward's book is supposed to be a Utopian vision. A supremely socialist outlook of what the world will evolve to, making a great society without poverty or hunger or even any sort of anger or spite in between human beings. Every human is made to work, and every human has the same annual allotment of credit with which they may purchase from the Nation's storehouses.
There have been some concessions, though. There's no more democracy. People are granted the right to election based on their skill at labor. And people who refuse to work are imprisoned with naught but bread and water until they change their mind. But really... even all the things that are described as if to be wonderful and amazing sound horrific.
I've been reading another book, too: Raiders and Rebels: the Golden age of Piracy. And if I've gotten anything from that, it's that Piracy did not come about because of some villains who wanted to rape and kill. It was because the world grew so oppressive that the thought of freedom on the sea--from the hells of life under kings and generals on land or in the navy--was the most beautiful treasure to live for, while declaring war on the world that dared to deny you that freedom.
"You are a devilish conscience rascal, I am a free prince, and I have as much authority to make war on the whole world, as he who has a hundred sail of ships at sea, and an army of 100,000 men in the field; and this my conscience tells me: but there is no arguing with such snivelling puppies, who allow superiors to kick them about deck at pleasure."
So sad that the Samuel Bellamy who sent off searching for an honest fortune that he may wed his love, would declare "Lads, we've gotten enough. It's time to go home." only to be killed in a storm at sea.
Still, I would rather live the life of a rogue at sea, however treacherous that may be, than ever be a part of Edward Bellamy's Utopian world.