Ghost of a flea

I listened to the Licks while reading this. It made perfect sense.

Many a fine daddy has had an S.O.B. of a son. And vice versa. Anent which, here's the text of an email I sent to David Frum of the NRO:

"Hi, David;
In your VE Day+ article, you take on the German patriotism dilemma. My take, and this is a knock against almost all chauvinists everywhere, is that NO ONE can take credit for the achievements, or blame for the sins, of their ancestors. You weren't there, and had no influence on the events in question. To hear, e.g., some American patriots/nationalists talk, you'd think they helped compose the Declaration of Independence, or liberated Auschwitz, personally. And so on.

What CAN and should be shared with ancestors (if you intend to continue living in and with their heritage) is their goals and principles. Those you can indeed take credit for endorsing and supporting, if you choose to do so and follow through honestly. And here is where I think Germans are at a loss. What goals of their parents and founding ancestors can they take credit for? Germany as an entity dates only back to the days of Bismark, and was not born in any burst of inspiration or idealism even then, IIRC. So, in effect, modern Germans must cull some cultural ideals and priorities from their history and then build on them. In other words, they have to create a set of goals and principles to be proud of. To some extent, it may be that the establishment of the EU is filling this requirement for many, as is the project to revive and re-invigorate East Germany.

But in any case, without trying to specify or suggest what their goals should or should not be, they have to generate their own inspiration, a rather tougher task than most countries' citizens are currently faced with.

GWB's "stunning" success follows, I believe, directly from his appeal to past/current American goals and principles and his invitation to living Americans to advance same. People love an inspiring challenge.

The above analysis is very interesting when re-directed elsewhere, too: Japan, Iraq, China, Russia, France, Sweden, Taiwan, etc. What goals and principles can proud citizens of each of those countries sign on to and promote? The answers tell much about how individuals, groups, and institutions are currently reacting and behaving, and are likely to for the foreseeable future. IMHO."

Admire and support your forebearers if they're worth it and if you agree with them; but genetic continuity does not carry obligations or credit with it. You can't shape the past or your own DNA (subject to revision as technology advances, of course! ;) ).

--Fellow Canuck