I recommend "Beyond Nab End", an account by William
Woodruff of his move from the north to London in
1933, a working class lad aged just 16 in search of his future. His progress from a docklands iron foundry to Oxford and a university education, with its political
and class associations as war approaches, is hugely
stimulating. Take his recall of comments by Sir Alfred
Zimmern, political oracle and occupant of the Montague
Burton Chair in International Relations - on the subject
of international relations.
"Moving human beings about and obtaining mutual understanding between them is, however, a problem of
an entirely different order.
Neither international socialism nor international capitalism
can bring about world unity. World systems, whether we
like it or not, go against the grain of human nature.
Those who try to build a heaven on earth fail to understand human nature."
Fascinating to realise they were stated so long ago!
As for war, WW1 happened because of the desire of the
Kaiser's Germany to rival the might of maritime Great Britain. WW2 happened because a political reaction
against the restrictions of the conditions imposed by
the Versailles Treaty became mired and corrupted by
the hate-fuelled ambitions of a German leadership
once again driven by expansionist ambitions.
It is ironic that when it is argued that the EU represents
a step towards peace, its existence is seen by the likes
of Russia as a collective threat, whilst its open border
policy elsewhere has allowed instability of an increasingly
dangerous nature to occur across the continent.
Human nature continues to be the simple problem but
the answers are becoming increasingly difficult.
The population in the UK needs no huge influx from
elsewhere to maintain its future - as long as it is able
and ALLOWED to determine that future.
P.S. Woodruff survived the war as an army major and returned to academic life, writing numerous well received books along the way.

Comment is about WAR CHILD (blog)

Original item by ken eaton-dykes

A well put and timely reminder, Ken, of how (after a tragic and costly war) The E.U.was created to prevent the same thing happening in Europe again...Their experience that the cause of modern wars was national ambition, and their insight that prevention lay in the mixing of the industrial and commercial sectors of the various nations is now
being proved by the pathetic attempts by Davis to leave, and yet still hold on to the economic benefits of membership. It makes us look like the old idiot boy, sucking his thumb and wondering why the rest will
not play with him.

Your sections about babies is also very relevant at a time when already over thirty per cent of our kids were born - last year - to mothers who were themselves born outside the U K. and we want to send back - or stop coming in - our human stock replenishment....Talk about a whole
Nation dying of old age!

I am an admirer of the American political system, which holds together so many potentially quarreling states (and which is quite capable of controlling a maverick president) I think something along such lines may be eventually developed for Europe. ( In the meantime it seems crazy to
get out and leave Germany and France more or less in charge of one of the most powerful trading blocks in the world)

The present situation could not be described better than those final two sections of your poem (not to mention that crafty rhyming of `resurgents` with `emergence`)...Keep on giving it to them straight!

Comment is about WAR CHILD (blog)

Original item by ken eaton-dykes

Ken, thank you for this masterly poem which is certainly borne out of experience and reflection. Both major conflagrations of the last century should have taught us some valuable lessons but as you say memories are short. One factor frequently overlooked today is the lack of emphasis placed on the teaching of history. As George Santayana said, ¨ Those who cannot remember the past, are doomed to repeat it ¨. Thank you indeed for this. Keith

Comment is about WAR CHILD (blog)

Original item by ken eaton-dykes