24 centuries later, the Peloponnesian War still rages -it shouldn't

In watching the unfolding of the recent Eurozone crisis, I am struck by parallels with ancient times.

For much of the 19th and 20th Centuries, Germany hearkened after the example of Sparta. Orderly, obedient, ruthlessly disciplined, pious, self-confident, xenophobic and oligarchical -the Spartans appealed to successive generations of German elite. Though modern Germany may have shrugged off much of the militarism and the extremism of its predecessors -nevertheless, the love of rules and order is a noted feature of modern Germany and in many ways they are the modern exemplar of the Spartan model.

By contrast, much of the rest of Europe has come to uphold the ancient Athenian example of innovativeness, free thinking, wholistic justice and above all -democratic rule.

These two Weltanschauungs, which fueled the decades long Peloponnesian war of the 5th century BC, appear to be fueling much of the acrimony within the Eurozone today. The arguments are much the same:

1. Unbreakable rules V. Free thinking
2. Conservative V. Sudden acting
3. Pious V. Liberal
4. Orderly V. Lively
5. Quiet V. Noisy
6. Oligarchical/obedient V. Democratic/Free thinking

That such world views can still be in conflict after 24 centuries indicates that this argument is not about Sparta V Athens or Germany V the Periphery or Milton V Keynes or Austerity V Defaults. Rather it is about society, two distinguishable and viable approaches to civilization that persist and will probably always persist.

Just as in natural evolution different nuanced strategies persist alongside each other in a single species, so it seems humans retain these different strategies maintaining variations adapted to suiting different catastrophes. At present, the catastrophe of finance is favouring the Spartan/German model. But this will not always be the case. Different crises will arise and other countries will come to the fore. Rather than either strategy being better or best -they should be recognized as simply different, enduring and with periods of strength and weakness in both.

That both models persist is an asset to our species, but appreciating this could be a path to more understanding and less acrimony between neighbouring states. Rather than trying to impose either model on our neighbours through Fiscal Treaties, prescriptive policies and grandstanding referendums -we should see that each approach is in a cycle of ups and downs and try to accommodate both models at each point in that cycle. Compromise where possible and tolerate where necessary.

The ancient Greeks found it impossible to do this, the resulting wars lasted decades, sapping Greek strength and ultimately leaving them prey to outside conquest. Modern Europeans should make sure they do not follow a similar fate -there are plenty of forces outside of our continent who would love to see us argue like this indefinitely.

Letter to IT on GRA involving itself in referendum debate (I'm for Yes BTW)

it is a shame that reactions to the GRA's call for a Yes vote have broken down along partisan lines -with those of a similar viewpoint supporting the GRA's action and those of a different view opposing it.

However, this is to confuse two different issues. Whatever view one takes on the referendum, maintaining a politically impartial police force is important to our society and in particular to the holding of polls. Given the important role that Gards play in the holding of polls, maintaining outward impartiality is as important for them as it is for Returning Officers and other poll workers. This burden of maintaining impartiality falls on Gards as a collective -and also as individual Gards. The GRA, in speaking for their members in this way, have shown scant regard for their members' responsibilities to remain outwardly impartial. No matter how sincerely they support this viewpoint, the GRA are letting their members down by compromising them in this way.

I'm sure the majority of Gards (regardless of which views they hold) would prefer if their representative body would respect the role that they will have to perform on May 22nd and avoid making further comments about either referendum on their behalf. Many of them will have important public roles in the  security of polling stations, count centres and especially ballot boxes. They need the trust of the public and both sides of the referenda campaigns to discharge these roles properly. The GRA should not get in the way of that.
sincerely

Pictures of solar eclipse projections -taken Mountbellew Agricultural College 20 March 2015

While studying for an exam this morning I took the opportunity of making some observations from my car. The sun cleared twice and I punched a little hole in a sheet of paper and made the following images with it. They came out very well I think. I was late into my exam as I was taking the second photo.

 

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