Post by Nonfatman on Dec 5, 2009 12:32:19 GMT -5
I have always been amazed by Ian's ability to comment about certain immutable aspects of human behavior and/or actions in such a way as to pefectly capture the essence of the particular "truism" he is commenting upon in a succinct, and very often critical way. Many examples of this are found on Broadsword:
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"Synthetic chiefs with frozen smiles/holding unsteady courses/
Grip the reins of History/high on their battle horses/
And meeting as good statesmen do/before the TV eyes of millions/
Hand to hand exchange the lie/pretend to make the clasp."
True in ancient times (although there were no TVs, the leaders of ancient Rome, for instance were very concerned with public opinion), true fifty years ago during the Cold War, true now during the Obama age, and will be true 100 years from now.
-------------------
"Fallen on hard times/but it feels good to know/
that milk and honey's just around the bend."
This is just a brilliant, cynical line, which was true when Ian wrote it and is equally true now. All you have to do is look at all the financial "experts" who are saying, especially after yesterday's job report, that we are now in a recovery, and to listen to our leaders who promise that a recovery is "just around the bend." Meanwhile tens of millions of Americans remain out of work, and cannot pay their bills.
-----------------
"One member from some dark mill town/furious did cry/
As spittle frothed on folded chin/to damn the lie/
Let's serve this brief amidst the rush/
Of boohs and loud catcalls/
Let's finish this right here and now/
at the House of Commons brawl."
This sounds exactly like the bozos and brigands in the New York State legislature!
----------------
And the one I like best, which I've already quoted elsewhere is from Too Many Too:
"If I were a liar, yes and you were a cheat/
there'd be too many places where we all could meet/
too many temples where we could worship the beast/
where he who thinks he has the most in fact has the least"
Written thirty years ago, but doesn't it perfectly sum up the sad state of affairs on Wall Street today, with all the deception, scams and fraud perpetrated on the public by the investment banks and financial firms, and folks like Madoff and other Ponzi-schemers who have ripped investors off to the tune of billions. And I'm sure 500 years from now, little will have changed.
Jeff
---------------
"Synthetic chiefs with frozen smiles/holding unsteady courses/
Grip the reins of History/high on their battle horses/
And meeting as good statesmen do/before the TV eyes of millions/
Hand to hand exchange the lie/pretend to make the clasp."
True in ancient times (although there were no TVs, the leaders of ancient Rome, for instance were very concerned with public opinion), true fifty years ago during the Cold War, true now during the Obama age, and will be true 100 years from now.
-------------------
"Fallen on hard times/but it feels good to know/
that milk and honey's just around the bend."
This is just a brilliant, cynical line, which was true when Ian wrote it and is equally true now. All you have to do is look at all the financial "experts" who are saying, especially after yesterday's job report, that we are now in a recovery, and to listen to our leaders who promise that a recovery is "just around the bend." Meanwhile tens of millions of Americans remain out of work, and cannot pay their bills.
-----------------
"One member from some dark mill town/furious did cry/
As spittle frothed on folded chin/to damn the lie/
Let's serve this brief amidst the rush/
Of boohs and loud catcalls/
Let's finish this right here and now/
at the House of Commons brawl."
This sounds exactly like the bozos and brigands in the New York State legislature!
----------------
And the one I like best, which I've already quoted elsewhere is from Too Many Too:
"If I were a liar, yes and you were a cheat/
there'd be too many places where we all could meet/
too many temples where we could worship the beast/
where he who thinks he has the most in fact has the least"
Written thirty years ago, but doesn't it perfectly sum up the sad state of affairs on Wall Street today, with all the deception, scams and fraud perpetrated on the public by the investment banks and financial firms, and folks like Madoff and other Ponzi-schemers who have ripped investors off to the tune of billions. And I'm sure 500 years from now, little will have changed.
Jeff
