A word from Ed the Anglophile

The Tribune carried a story that the wire services have been splashing seemingly everywhere: It seems that the British are a bit miffed about an American movie, “The Patriot,” which hit U.S. screens in the Fourth of July period.

The movie, according to some sour faced whiners in the land of kidney pie, portrays the British overlords of the U.S. colonies during the Revolutionary War period in an unflattering light. Well, no kidding now. Kind and gentle colonial overlords don’t inspire bloody revolutions.

I can see why the British would hate the very concept of history. It’s a chronicle about how they fumbled away a mighty empire in order to become crawling, fawning little Euro-creeps. Britain is so far past its prime it has to appoint a “Prime” minister, which is bad enough in its own light, and then you have to consider that the guy they gave the job to is some furtive, slippery socialist who is as swishy as a San Francisco Tinkerbelle. Prime Minister Tony Blair’s mere existence says all that needs saying about Britain.

So why does anybody listen to the doomed echos from this decayed empire? I don’t know. Who cares what Britain thinks? All they’ve done of any worth lately is produce the Spice Girls, which is enviable enough, but not enough to get them on civilization’s winner’s list.

Never mind Britain’s shameful history, let’s turn the page and take a look at its wimpy economy. This once mighty empire now is neck and neck (on a per capita basis) with Italy, and far behind France, economically. That’s hardly impressive company, financially speaking.

Some numbers: Britain’s per capita Gross Domestic Product, adjusted for price levels, weighs in at a scant $20, 890. Compare that with Uncle Sam’s $33,872. I’ll do the math for you: the U.S. comes in fully 62 percent higher on this benchmark. Now tell me who is the winner and who is the loser? Not bad for an upstart colony, if you ask me.

Americans shouldn’t lose sight of Britain, because its road to decline signals the pitfalls in becoming too soft, too dependent on government, too cowardly, too arrogant.
Britain is a lesson in what we don’t want to become. It’s easier to fall down than up, and the law of social entropy means we’ll have to fight hard to avoid succumbing to the ugly decay that devoured the dank remains of the British empire.

Dead societies, like dead people, shouldn’t be heard from. We can remember them, and even learn a few lessons from their legends. But when they start mouthing off, it’s time to drive a wooden stake through their hearts.
If these British fairies continue to bleat about how the U.S. is doing things, then maybe we should give them a sound thrashing again and remind them who’s boss.