AS THE WORLD TURNS (UPSIDE DOWN) by Larry Stout
AS THE WORLD TURNS (UPSIDE DOWN) by Larry Stout
I know that I sometimes come across as a snob by quoting classic literature, but I do not do it to show off. I honestly believe that the classics ARE classics, simply because they tell us things about the human experience which we should always remember. A recent event in the news reminded me of an event in William Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV, Part II.
In the play, there is an ongoing tension between Prince Hal, who would eventually become England’s next king, Henry V, and the usurper to the throne, Hotspur. Near the end of the play there is a savage battle in which Hal finally triumphs over his arch- rival. However, the aged warrior Falstaff comes along and confiscates the body and claims that he has killed Hotspur. In the end, Hal does not protest and allows Falstaff his false glory. It is enough for Hal that he knows the truth and he marvels at the incredulity of those who believe that an old drunken louse like Falstaff could possibly have vanguished such a formidable foe as Hotspur.
The similarity I note is the recent release of the fifteen British hostages by the Iranian government. There are many “Falstaffs” claiming the body on this one. The UN was gloating that their expression of ‘grave concerns’ had the desired influence. Of course, this was after the Russians objected to the Security Council’s resolution ‘deploring’ the capture of the British sailors and Royal Marines conducted in international waters. I am sure that the ‘grave concerns’ of the UN must have kept Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad tossing and turning at night with worry.
The European Union conducts some $18 billion a year worth of commerce with Iran, and accounts for 40 percent of all of Iranian exports and certainly would have shaken the Iranian economy if it were threatened. But according to The Times of London, the EU emphasized that “it was important not to risk a breakdown in dialogue.”
Ah, yes, that wonderful word, ‘dialogue.’ Dialogue is the favorite word of diplomacy. Even Syria claimed to play a “key role” in the release of the hostages according to its Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem by “encouraging dialogue” between Britain and Iran.
Now, I do not begin to imagine that I have a window into the soul of that which passes for leadership in the revolutionary Islamic theocracy known as Iraq, but I can assure you that the empty words of the UN, EU, and even the noisy neighbors to the west, Syria, had the slightest impact in the decision making process on releasing the hostages. What I am sure DID have significance was the naval manuevers that the United States was holding in the Persian Gulf within eyesight of the Iranian coastline. Curiously, the United States was relatively quiet during the whole incident. They let the Falstaffs have their day.
There are two major forces in conflict today. There are those exerting ‘hard power’ such as Iran that might have staged the whole incident with the hostages to distract the world from its development of an atomic weapon. But lurking under the radar still is North Korea that has already tested a nuclear device, and the continued practice of genocide in places like Darfar and other countries. The ‘soft power’ that the international organizations admire so much has demonstrated once again that it is impotent in the face of such naked aggression.
But both of these forces are nothing more than the result of man’s continual rebellion against God. Psalms 2 reminds us that “the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain.” (v.1). The Lord reminds them, “Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” (v.10-11). As I follow the news of today’s world, I rejoice that I serve the One who is and always shall be the King of Kings!
I know that I sometimes come across as a snob by quoting classic literature, but I do not do it to show off. I honestly believe that the classics ARE classics, simply because they tell us things about the human experience which we should always remember. A recent event in the news reminded me of an event in William Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV, Part II.
In the play, there is an ongoing tension between Prince Hal, who would eventually become England’s next king, Henry V, and the usurper to the throne, Hotspur. Near the end of the play there is a savage battle in which Hal finally triumphs over his arch- rival. However, the aged warrior Falstaff comes along and confiscates the body and claims that he has killed Hotspur. In the end, Hal does not protest and allows Falstaff his false glory. It is enough for Hal that he knows the truth and he marvels at the incredulity of those who believe that an old drunken louse like Falstaff could possibly have vanguished such a formidable foe as Hotspur.
The similarity I note is the recent release of the fifteen British hostages by the Iranian government. There are many “Falstaffs” claiming the body on this one. The UN was gloating that their expression of ‘grave concerns’ had the desired influence. Of course, this was after the Russians objected to the Security Council’s resolution ‘deploring’ the capture of the British sailors and Royal Marines conducted in international waters. I am sure that the ‘grave concerns’ of the UN must have kept Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmandinejad tossing and turning at night with worry.
The European Union conducts some $18 billion a year worth of commerce with Iran, and accounts for 40 percent of all of Iranian exports and certainly would have shaken the Iranian economy if it were threatened. But according to The Times of London, the EU emphasized that “it was important not to risk a breakdown in dialogue.”
Ah, yes, that wonderful word, ‘dialogue.’ Dialogue is the favorite word of diplomacy. Even Syria claimed to play a “key role” in the release of the hostages according to its Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem by “encouraging dialogue” between Britain and Iran.
Now, I do not begin to imagine that I have a window into the soul of that which passes for leadership in the revolutionary Islamic theocracy known as Iraq, but I can assure you that the empty words of the UN, EU, and even the noisy neighbors to the west, Syria, had the slightest impact in the decision making process on releasing the hostages. What I am sure DID have significance was the naval manuevers that the United States was holding in the Persian Gulf within eyesight of the Iranian coastline. Curiously, the United States was relatively quiet during the whole incident. They let the Falstaffs have their day.
There are two major forces in conflict today. There are those exerting ‘hard power’ such as Iran that might have staged the whole incident with the hostages to distract the world from its development of an atomic weapon. But lurking under the radar still is North Korea that has already tested a nuclear device, and the continued practice of genocide in places like Darfar and other countries. The ‘soft power’ that the international organizations admire so much has demonstrated once again that it is impotent in the face of such naked aggression.
But both of these forces are nothing more than the result of man’s continual rebellion against God. Psalms 2 reminds us that “the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain.” (v.1). The Lord reminds them, “Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” (v.10-11). As I follow the news of today’s world, I rejoice that I serve the One who is and always shall be the King of Kings!
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