An Epitaph For The United Kingdom

"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am [Julius] Ceasar."

The drums which are being banged in this country presently are not those of war, as in conflict. They are those of obfuscation, lies and deceit, banged by a group of people who have no understanding of the word "truth".

The fervour being whipped up is not patriotism of country, but of yet another political ideology called the Big Society; it is a fervour to instil the fear of terrorism in the populace, resulting in loss of privacy for the individual; it is a fervour of co-operation with other countries - countries against whom, over centuries, the United Kingdom has been forced to repel, on more than one occasion, what may be termed "delusions of grandeur"; it is a fervour to ensure the continuation of excessive government, to re-condition the minds of the public that only government can decide the freedoms that may be enjoyed by the individual; it is a fervour to change the society and traditions of the United Kingdom beyond all recognition and memory; it is a fervour to ensure that control remains with the political class - and is absolute.

Unfortunately, the drums are close to reaching that point where the populace, infused with the new fervour for inclusivity, will have closed their minds to any alternative course of action, becoming robotic-like in their acceptance of the will of the political class. One is reminded of the final scene with Donald Sutherland in the film "The Body Snatchers" - a truly apocalyptic vision of the future and one to which the United Kingdom appears to be willingly heading, blindfolded, We are being led by the Body Snatchers, which have assumed humanoid appearance to become our present political class - who are indeed 'snatching our minds and our bodies'.

Hopefully I may be granted a few more years, but I recognise that I am approaching the end of my life and whilst never fortunate to have sired children, I can but feel despair for those of my fellow man who has - and who will be forced to witness not only the eradication of their own individuality, but also that of their children and their children's children.

Unless the present, crass, political class are removed, never again will the people experience the freedoms that made one's time on this earth a joy to live.


Update: I have been corrected by two commenters that the film to which I referred was in fact "The Body Snatchers", which makes the analogy even more apt! Needless to say, I apologise for the error made in respect of the film title and have amended the relevant section.