Fascism is rooted in fear. Communism is rooted in envy. What would you do in the 1930s knowing what you now know? These are some of the thoughts whistling around in my head today at the start of a new year. First, what do you do when the world is madder than usual and even the people you kind of agree with are making things worse? Do you retire to a hut in the mountains in 1933 and wait it out until 1945?
I have always been fascinated by Malcolm Campbell who set successive world land speed records in the 1930s. he just ignored the politics and did his own thing. Likewise Shipton and Tillman- the great mountain explorers- pegging away at Everest as Auden and Isherwood made fun of them and wrote serious stuff instead. But time moves on and all of that is judged in a different light. The light that says how much of what you do reflects and refracts the cosmic light within and without? Are you alone but able to capture, handle and return some of that light, let it be seen? Or do you plunge into darkness while all around applaud. Doing your own thing with due regard to your nearest and dearest may still be the best course of action.