| In a Spin |
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I honestly have nothing against the monarchy. There's something to be said
for a smattering of pomp and circumstance every now and again. Wim Kok being
the stick-in-the-mud to end all stick-in-the-muds, a spot of levity is
provided by way of a diversion. Over the past fortnight we've seen not one
but two political party executives blow themselves up, for example. In such
circumstances one should never underestimate the symbolic function of royal
etiquette as a continuity safeguard. My only two thoughts were, "Let the
money fly" and "Anything of value is vulnerable". As the former is in my
best interests, we'll not get into that. As for the latter, I beg to differ.
Not that I wouldn't have given my eye teeth to come up with this brilliant
phrase, but Lucebert, the Dutch poet, got there first. The poet always
speaks the truth, unlike those who cadge his words to use them as an alibi.
Of course some of us are better than others at voicing their thoughts. Anxiety too is perfectly understandable. But surely the resigned fate reflected by the phrase "Anything of value is vulnerable" should on no condition be adopted as the prevailing standard. There's nothing that can't be fought by those who have the will, the courage to resist. The most fragile people have been known to come out on top while the strongest have bitten the dust, so what's there for us to get worked up about? And yet there is a "but" to my heartfelt statement that I consider this phrase as the personification of the passive, cowardly, evasive, resigned spirit. I have firmly resolved to be kind. It is not impossible that several generations of artists were reared with this guiding principle. I would prefer accepting them as they are. For it would be inconsiderate to think that only resistance fighters could be any good as artists. |