tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742385127651266632.post3814528095973829077..comments2024-01-07T12:13:21.793+00:00Comments on Craig Dearden-Phillips: On HolidaysUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742385127651266632.post-45111690591562448362009-04-17T14:13:00.000+01:002009-04-17T14:13:00.000+01:00Yes Rob, I think every generation has its massive ...Yes Rob, I think every generation has its massive blind spots: slavery, women not having the vote, imperialism, consumerism. I suspect we will look as guilty in our toleration of global inequalit and wanton destruction of our environment as the Conquistadores and Settlers do now to modern eyes.Craig Dearden-Phillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09481684928301536483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4742385127651266632.post-49772482817287485402009-04-14T10:43:00.000+01:002009-04-14T10:43:00.000+01:00I think the "what would you have done" questions a...I think the "what would you have done" questions are an interesting way of using history. I remember meeting a man who at the age of 19 in 1936 made his way to Spain to join in the fight against Franco's nationalists. He was a regular working class lad with a mature political consciousness. He saw violence trampling over democracy, the frightening march of fascism and saw it as a fight he had a duty to join. After teling me his story he asked if I would go if something similar happened in the world. I couldn't deny I probably wouldn't - warfare is different now, being 19 is different now. But are the causes that different? I fear not, they are just not identified with as strongly away from where they are playing out. Strange that, though, as global media should mean we understand far more about what is happening around the world than a Mancunian in thirties Britain. That would require society to be less preoccupied with self-interest, though...<br /><br />(Alas, I wonder if the moral questions history will pose from our contemporary society are: If you were given a £700k a year pension after bringing a bank to its knees, would you give any of it back? If you were able to claim a second allowance for a property because of your job, would you claim even if you didn't really need it?)Rob Fountainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08839063117980699390noreply@blogger.com