1 August 2011 Ashes, ashes, all fall down
The President Surrenders
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: July 31, 2011
“A deal to raise the federal debt ceiling is in the works. If it goes through, many commentators will declare that disaster was avoided. But they will be wrong.
For the deal itself, given the available information, is a disaster, and not just for President Obama and his party. It will damage an already depressed economy; it will probably make America’s long-run deficit problem worse, not better; and most important, by demonstrating that raw extortion works and carries no political cost, it will take America a long way down the road to banana-republic status…”
From the debt debate to a hostage revolt
By Katrina vanden Heuvel,
“The debt-ceiling debate has lasted long enough for most Americans to start paying attention and to realize just how divorced both parties are from basic common sense. With the economy faltering and 25 million people in need of full-time work, most Americans want Washington focused on how to create jobs and get the economy going, not on slashing spending for the rising number of poor children while sheltering tax havens for millionaires…”
“Ring around the rosy
A pocketful of posies
"Ashes, Ashes"
We all fall down!
A pocketful of posies
"Ashes, Ashes"
We all fall down!
“The historical period dates back to the Great Plague of London in 1665 (bubonic plague) or even before when the first outbreak of the Plague hit England in the 1300's. The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs ( or posies) which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells. The term "Ashes ring Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies! The death rate was over 60% and the plague was only halted by the Great Fire of London in 1666 which killed the rats which carried the disease “
Cassi Creek: Poetry, prose, song, and other means of communication have long been ways to transmit history to a then-current culture. Things could be said in supposed jest or in children’s games that if overheard by the local or national authorities would bring one a gratis cup of hemlock, or a slow trip up the long ladder and a swift one down the short rope.
One such example is found in the rhyme, “Jack and Jill.”
“Jack and Jill story - The French (history) connection!
The roots of the story, or poem, of Jack and Jill are in France. Jack and Jill referred to are said to be King Louis XVI - Jack -who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette - Jill - (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics to the Jack and Jill poem were made more acceptable as a story for children by providing a happy ending! The actual beheadings occurred in during the Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties-in with the history and origins. The Jack and Jill poem is also known as Jack and Gill - the misspelling of Gill is not uncommon in nursery rhymes as they are usually passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.
The roots of the story, or poem, of Jack and Jill are in France. Jack and Jill referred to are said to be King Louis XVI - Jack -who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette - Jill - (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics to the Jack and Jill poem were made more acceptable as a story for children by providing a happy ending! The actual beheadings occurred in during the Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties-in with the history and origins. The Jack and Jill poem is also known as Jack and Gill - the misspelling of Gill is not uncommon in nursery rhymes as they are usually passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.
Other notables handed down from earlier day include: Anne Bolyn in “London Bridge is broken down,” Richard, Duke of York in the War of the Roses, and various bits of history in
Oranges and Lemons
"Oranges and lemons" say the Bells of St. Clements’s
"You owe me five farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's
"When will you pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey
"When I grow rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch
"When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney
"I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow
"Here comes a Candle to light you to Bed
Here comes a Chopper to Chop off your Head
Chip chop chip chop - the Last Man's Dead."
We’ve just experienced an extremely rancorous event in American political history involving a minority faction attempting, with some success, to overturn the legislative process laid out by our constitution. This “tea party,” a loose affiliation sponsored by wealthy ultra-conservatives and corporations that consider the GOP to be far too far to the left in our spectrum, has spent the last year and a half trying to discredit and remove a sitting President because of his race. Some sort of cultural documentation will be handed down to the generations that will follow this period of American history. Whether the preserved material will be spread widely enough to become well known, or whether it will suffer from both censorship and the conditions that now control the music and literature publishing industry remains to be seen.
The current conflict between the teavangelists and the 2/3rds of the American public that see them for the danger to our government that they truly are is the worst chance of irreparable harm to our nation that I have seen in my 63 years. The concept that anyone would knowingly attempt to destroy the U.S. and world’s economies for ideological reasons is beyond my ken and far beyond the Pale. Yet the teavangelists had, and still have, every intention of committing such financial/political treason.
The extreme right wing, anti-taxation facet of the GOP has demanded that legislators sign “pledges” that they will not vote to raise taxes. Subsequent pledge idiocy includes such items as same-gender marriage and abortion. The entire process reminds me of middle school students passing notes and ostracizing anyone not part of the core group. This behavior has no place in the government of nations.
I expect that some singer-songwriter will describe the political danger and the idiocy that stems from the teavangelist assault on the U.S. government. Those fools may believe that government is not necessary in modern life, but they are dead wrong. Until a definitive song is written and becomes permanently identified with their political malfeasance, the best I can think of, describing the political malevolence, the citizen’s failure to pay proper attention to the danger that is presented by the teavangelist/GOP alliance, and the potential tragedy, narrowly averted.
“There's a fear down here we can't forget.
Hasn't got a name just yet.
Always awake, always around,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down....
Hasn't got a name just yet.
Always awake, always around,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down....
Roll the dice.
Any way they fall,
Guess who gets to pay the price.
Money green or proletarian gray,
Selling guns 'stead of food today.
“So the kids they dance
And shake their bones,
And the politicians throwin' stones,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.”
No comments:
Post a Comment