2 (36) ANOTHER YEAR GONE.

PEACE FOR OUR TIME? 

How wrong could they be? According to Wiki (an organization, along with Google, which I resolutely try to appreciate) the phrase “peace for our time” has been quoted by two British politicians, Benjamin Disraeli in 1878 and Neville Chamberlain in 1938: both were speaking of a peace agreement with Germany. 
How wrong could they be? 

There followed war with Germany from 1914 to 1918 and again from 1939 to 1945. The former was initially described as the war to end all wars. There must have been at least one major conflict somewhere in the world ever since. 

Now, as we drop bombs on 'selected targets' in the Middle East and send ground forces - but only in an 'advisory capacity'(?) - into areas where military support has been sought, how can we be sure that we are doing the right thing? 

Parliament voted for it? Well...yes...it did. 

So why not impose military conscription on all those MPs who voted in favour and tell them they will be the advance party for our next 'friendly' invasion force out there? Like to bet the buggers wouldn't change their minds then? 

Meanwhile...

CLIMATE CHANGE? 

Or lousy maintenance? To those of us who live in an area that has so far avoided flooding, the thought of homes awash with effluent-littered water is wholly abhorrent. 

The heartbreak, fury and helplessness besetting those actually hit by the floods we can only imagine. 

How do you cope when your home is unfit to be lived in for months on end and never again insurable or saleable? 

And in an era when somebody or something has to be blamed for the slightest mishap, who or what do you blame for something so enormous? 

Do you blame climate change? I'm sure the government and all the local councils concerned would like to. 

Or do you blame the lack of drainage caused by modern farming? 

The neglect of waterways? 

The lousy maintenance of current flood defences? 

Even those conspiracy theorists who hold that climate change is just a massive con must be having their doubts. 

Whatever the cause, it can no longer simply be put on hold. One way or another the powers-that-be are going to have to spend money - lots of money - to tackle it, even if that eventually means the removal (with compensation) of entire communities to flood free locations. Daft idea? Well, if they can do it in wartime when they want training grounds...

THIS YEAR. 

The phrase I can most do without: 

Lessons will be learned. No they bloody won't.

That having been said: 

A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

To anybody who still reads, or has lately taken to reading, this blog. It will be ten years old on the 26th of next July and any kind soul who has read all 235 outpourings prior to this one has not only braved an awful lot of words but possesses the patience of Job. 

I hope, whoever you are, that your Festive Season went well and that 2016 will be happy and healthy for you. 

And I do rather like the following as a cautionary thought for the year.