London's Burning
Okay maybe not the best title. But the Clash tune popped in my head when I heard the news about the bombs going off in London. Not reflecting my opinion..just what popped in.
At any rate, I had written this big long riff about the two days I spent replacing parts of my truck. It has 135,000 miles and so I replaced the Timing, chain, water pump, oil pump, etc. A lot of work. Then some toolbox tried to steal the truck and smashed the dirver's window in the process.
So I was boo-hooing about that when I heard about London. Sort of makes my smashed window seem not such a big deal.
And as I watched the videos from the stations and the aid workers busting ass to help injured people mere feet from bodies...and in one clip I saw the police running toward an exit because apparently another device had been found...and there is this cluster of bright yellow jackets, paramedics, all huddled over and working furiously on someone...as the police were leaving I saw a couple yellow jackets move to go with them...and then stop and join the rest of the jackets over the injured person. As I watched that...Churchil's "Beach" speech rolled through my head.
"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone...
...We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."
At any rate, I had written this big long riff about the two days I spent replacing parts of my truck. It has 135,000 miles and so I replaced the Timing, chain, water pump, oil pump, etc. A lot of work. Then some toolbox tried to steal the truck and smashed the dirver's window in the process.
So I was boo-hooing about that when I heard about London. Sort of makes my smashed window seem not such a big deal.
And as I watched the videos from the stations and the aid workers busting ass to help injured people mere feet from bodies...and in one clip I saw the police running toward an exit because apparently another device had been found...and there is this cluster of bright yellow jackets, paramedics, all huddled over and working furiously on someone...as the police were leaving I saw a couple yellow jackets move to go with them...and then stop and join the rest of the jackets over the injured person. As I watched that...Churchil's "Beach" speech rolled through my head.
"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone...
...We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."
posted by Z at
9:35 AM
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