I’ve been off-blog for a few weeks now, for a number of reasons: misery, injury, and trying to write an autobiography, which is proving more difficult than I expected. I’ve covered my first forty-odd years; but reading it back it seems very boring; and my past, although relatively privileged, is sometimes upsetting for me to recall. (Hence the misery.) I’m sure that other people’s autobiographies would be far more interesting. (Lord Mandelson’s, for example.)
Trump has already called Charlie Kirk a ‘a martyr for truth and freedom’, which should thrill the extreme Right no end. Every cause needs a martyr. From what I’ve learned over the past couple of days – I’d never heard of him before – Kirk seems to have had some pretty obnoxious views: obnoxious to me, that is; but ones that are on the rise internationally. Human nature? Or just one side of human nature?
Or a reaction against Western imperialism? – Which is an idea I’m mulling over just now, for a new post, bringing my historical expertise into the picture. That is, when I’ve got over the misery.
Porter’s Pensées 
Looking forward to reading the autobiography when it comes. I still find your research fascinating and useful and it would be great to learn more about the scholar behind it.
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Dear Bernard, Enough of this misery – it doesn’t do us any good. I can so easily feel the same way as you do, but have a number of strange techniques for countering my ‘blues’. The world is in a very strange and difficult period. The consequences of population growth and movement have resulted in more and more and more people feeling that they are not listened to and the internet has made them very angry. The recent emergence of something called “Block everything” in France is interesting because it was a phenomenon without shape or leaders…so it fizzled out very quickly on Wednesday and people quickly went back to work ( I am in France at the moment) – next week, we have another day of strikes but this time organised by well – run, powerful and efficient French TUs….this will be much bigger….but they too will find it difficult to control the extremes, who are angry and internet fed with rubbish and fake rubbish. The four very bad dictators – Trump, Putin, Netanyahu and Xi are all quite old….
I can imagine your feelings, I think, about writing an autobiography….you have to say enough, but pass by the years between 0 and 20 quickly,,,,as without much agency on events or actions, these years will always feel incomplete and unrewarding….from post grad days on, the tone and promise can change for the better.
This all sounds as if I am perpetually cheerful – not a bit of it, but I find ways for facing things down. Sometimes I have to work quite hard at it, but it is possible to find engagement with hope and excitement – well that might be a bit too far to go, but at least it is hope and expectation that one can make a difference – still, even at our age.
Take heart, keep writing and keep reviewing.
Always here for a word or two if necessary.
John Evans
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Many thanks, John. You’ve cheered me up a little!
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The Rhyming of History syndrome has landed Horst Wessel in the same box as Charlie Kirk. Professor Daniel Siemens, author of The Making of a Nazi Hero: The Murder and Myth of Horst Wessel has noted how Wessel was known for persuading ordinary folk to join the Nazi party. “He basically was a good bridge builder between traditional conservative leaders and theoretical Nazis.
“And that’s what made him particularly useful after his death, as someone who could combine and bring people together posthumously.”
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