tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364661476588393868.post4358175844864362117..comments2023-10-12T01:57:21.311-07:00Comments on Litterbug: A Servant of the Royal HouseholdAlan Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04600883215748277587noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364661476588393868.post-11959756035906219552012-05-10T11:06:35.430-07:002012-05-10T11:06:35.430-07:00I think we're both right. National myths enabl...I think we're both right. National myths enable national realities. I just think the myths have a supporting role, they aren't the main players. <br /><br />And, yes, we are still a colony, hence insecure. You can see it in England too, which is insecure vis-a-vis France. Why? Because of the Norman Invasion. And because of the failed attempt to retake France in the 1400s. And no, I'm not being facetious.<br /><br />Think of the current situation in Greece, and how people are still discussing Greek fascism as ironic given Athenian democracy ...John B-Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01041221232768939991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364661476588393868.post-88304320161756800002012-05-05T23:47:56.944-07:002012-05-05T23:47:56.944-07:00"...we were in fact and still are psychologic..."...we were in fact and still are psychologically a colony." Interesting. And, as you say, not the American myth. I do think national myths are important though. Maybe not as important as 'realities', but the British national myth includes the notion of benevolent invasion to 'liberate' other countries. But maybe you're right John, and I'm allowing too much importance to writers, and too little to power-politics.Alan Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600883215748277587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364661476588393868.post-19660024697859998992012-05-02T17:05:29.287-07:002012-05-02T17:05:29.287-07:00Since the only successful revolution in English hi...Since the only successful revolution in English history replaced one Stuart with another it's unlikely that Shakespeare is all *that* important. I mean, the French revolution empowered the bourgeoisie and they're still in place, ditto the US, the German, the Italian, etc. <br /><br />National myths aren't as important as national realities. Why is the US so enamored of your royal family? Because we were in fact and still are psychologically a colony. That's not our myth, of course. But our myth just covers our reality. Whitman has as little to do with who we are as Shakespeare does with who you are, or take Italy, which was run for a long time by Berlusconi, who would have been in hell per Dante ..John B-Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01041221232768939991noreply@blogger.com