It sometimes saddens me to read the fine descriptions of George Jonas. A survivor of the Nazi persecution of the Jews, he fled communist Hungary, arriving in Canada in 1956. Here he describes the changes that have followed him these past fifty years:
Fifty years ago, when Canadians didn't approve of something, they used one of two expressions. They would say: "Well, it's a free country," or they would say: "There ought to be a law."
It's rare to hear the first saying anymore. It no longer applies, and most people realize it. Canada is still free compared to countries like Saudi Arabia or China, of course, but not compared to itself.
The second expression has simply become superfluous.
Chances are, by now there is a law, whether there ought to be one or not.
It's a great piece. Read the whole thing
here.
Isn't it odd that we rarely hear the phrase, "self-determination" any more?
ReplyDelete.
Isn't it odd that we rarely hear the phrase, "self-determination" any more?
ReplyDeleteWe do, but only in reference to those mythical "Palestinians."
As everybody knows, it's not something you have, it's something you don't have, because THEY know better.
ReplyDeleteThe Northern Irish didn't have it; the Falkland Islanders don't have it. It's far too precious to be given away to ordinary people.
Incandescent bulb owners don't have it; pro-choicers do.
ReplyDeleteIt is kind of like the notion of "fair share". Apparently Mr. Obama has friends that are not paying it. Mr. Obama himself declares he is not paying it. He not only is not paying it, he wont pay... not until the government compels him to. Now there is a fine notion of fair play for you.
ReplyDeleteYes, none of these ne'er do wells does anything about the lack of fairness they witness in their own lives. In reference to themselves it is more a concept, like Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle. The real point of mentioning it is to apply it... to you! Then the concept has body and soul, it comes to life and can be applied, forcefully.
And therein lies the beauty of the thing.
Schrödinger's cat pays his taxes. Why can't they?
ReplyDeleteYou've got it. They want it.
"It's not fair that I'm not paying more in taxes."
ReplyDeleteI hate to see you so troubled. Quit worrying about it, Mr. President. You can keep it. Just do me a favor. Next time you and the wife want to go on vacation, make your plans so you can go together. Don't each of you fly your own 747 to Martha's Vineyard just because she didn't want to wait four hours. Put on a pair of pants, will you? You're the leader of the free world, for heaven's sake!