Mariage 2



Une des lignes d'Ogden Nash était intraduisible à cause d'un jeu de mots phonétiques- '(...) Because I believe a little incompatibility is the spice of life, particularly if he has the income and she is pattable'. ('Parce que je crois qu'un peu d'incompatabilité est l'épice de la vie, surtout si lui il a les revenus (income) et elle est 'caressable' ('pattable'- un mot inventé, bien entendu, pour l'occasion).

Bon, voilà pour commencer de façon légère des lignes qui risquent
de devenir plus lourdes. Car la période amusante où l'image de F. Hollande, avec sa cravate rebelle, la manche droite de ses chemises trop voyante, et ses costumes trop serrés à cause de l'embonpoint accumulé depuis 'la victoire', atteint sa fin. Aujourd'hui, lui et son entourage nous font rire bien moins.

D'ailleurs ce que l'on craignait, corroboré par The Economist il y a bien un an déjà (avril 28, 2012) semble devenir, insidieusement, petit à petit, la réalité.

Même si la marge de sa victoire (1.63%) aussi obtenu par la complicité de certains, y compris les media intéressés, et même le Front National, ne lui donne pas le droit de crier 'Victoire' sur les toits; naturellement un Président élu a tout de même le droit de 'proposer' (préferablement) des lois.
Mais a-t-il le droit d'imposer des lois qui entament directement sur les valeurs et les idéaux du peuple? Si l'objectif d'un Président élu est de remodeler la société selon son bon gré idéologique, il ne devrait pas pouvoir le faire sans l'aval du peuple, car autrement il bafoue les principes fondamentaux de la démocratie.

Les manifestations contre le mariage gay, ne sont pas contre l'homosexualité. Et les relativement peu nombreux qui s'acharnent à traiter les manifestants de 'haineux homophobes', se révèlent être plutôt haineux et préjugés eux-mêmes.

Ce qui est vraiment en jeu, n'est point le droit des homosexuels de se marier officiellement, ni même leur droit éventuel de pouvoir adopter des enfants, bien que ce dernier droit soit bien loin de respecter l'égalité des droits des enfants. Car c'est aussi un droit accordé sans trop d'égards de ce qui serait le meilleur arrangement possible pour ces premiers concernés.
Mais ce qui est véritablement en jeu est la démocratie même, et c'est la raison principale pour laquelle on manifeste de manière importante une désapprobation de taille.

Ce gouvernement socialiste français semble beaucoup plus intéressé, sinon obsédé, par les affaires de société et du peuple, que par les problèmes bien plus pressants et cruciaux (comme le chômage, la relance économique, la compétitivité, la dette, etc.) qui préoccupent davantage et pour cause les français.

Les socialistes raisonnent-ils qu'une fois la société 'remodelée' selon leur conception idéologique, ils pourront alors faire comme bon leur semble? Si c'est le cas, ils sous-estiment complètement l'intelligence et la volonté des français.
Un article dans Le Point semble souligner ce que j'ai avancé dans Marriage. 'Je suis gay, mais mes parents qui ne le savent pas manifestent contre le mariage homo et m'obligent à venir. (...).'  Quelle ironie du sort absurde..!
Combien de cas comme celui-ci existent en France, et dans le monde? Comment est il possible qu'aujourd'hui un parent peut être considéré incapable d'accepter la condition de son propre enfant? Comment un(e) parent(e) peut il ou elle même ignorer cette condition?

Ces individus particuliers, qui semblent avoir bien du mal à accepter leur propre condition, à tel point de la cacher à leurs propres parents, sont les exemples sur lesquels les socialistes comptent pour 'remodeler' la société. Sans le savoir, ces individus, manifestement mal dans leur peau, sont exploités par les illuminés qui en somme leur promettent un monde utopique. En fait il s'agit d'un mensonge de plus. Car avec le droit de se marier officiellement ou non, tragiquement rien de fondamental ne changera pour eux. L'Etat ne peut jamais assumer le rôle parental, mais c'est plus au moins cela que vise l'Etat actuel, commençant même avec l'Education.

La dévalorisation de la famille, de son idéal et de ce qu'elle représente fait partie du programme socialiste français. Le mariage pour tous est un slogan flou et ambiguë. Une couverture trompe l'œil. Une partie de l'idéologie socialiste française qui date d'ailleurs du 18° siècle, est de miner l'influence de la famille considérée 'anti-progressive'. Selon certains comme par exemple, V. Peillon, ministre de l'Education Nationale, un individu ne peut pas accéder à sa propre individualité, sans le soutien de l'Etat, sinon sans se considérer partie intégrale de l'Etat. Bref, selon ce ministre de l'Education Nationale, s'il pense toujours ainsi, sans l'Etat on n'est rien..!

Hier, on a été informé qu'il tient à introduire des cours de 'morale laïque' à 'école, comme si de telles sujets regardent les enseignants. C'est encore une indication de l'objectif socialiste français. Les cours de ce que l'on estime 'politiquement correct', bref, de socialisme.

Admettant que les socialistes puissent former les jeunes à penser comme eux, le socialisme made in France pourrait même durer ad infinitum, quoi qu'il arrive.

Mais il y a quelque chose de paradoxal, d'indécent même, chez un Président qui exalte 'le mariage pour tous' tout en évitant comme la peste un tel engagement officiel lui même.

Si F. Hollande aimerait pouvoir gagner l'approbation des français, jamais il ne devrait imposer les lois qui les regardent d'abord et directement. Jamais il ne devrait leur imposer comme 'Première Dame' sa concubine journaliste en lui donnant un statut, des secrétaires privés et des facilités payés par les contribuables. Et jamais il ne devrait afficher l'image ridiculement fausse de 'normal' et de modeste quand en réalité il est entouré par des ministres multimillionnaires, et est lui-même certainement au moins millionnaire.

Comme les thèmes principaux de son discours en janvier, 2012 (Le Bourget) étaient 'l'égalité et la régulation de la finance', même là il y a aussi quelque chose qui cloche très bruyamment comme des casseroles. 
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Text and line-drawing © Mirino. Illustration from Alphonso's Dream, (by Anthony Roberts). April, 2013

Stoned toads



No, this is not another possible 'Byronic Stone' from the Grotta di Byron. In any case it's unlikely that Lord Byron would have have been inspired by what follows.

This curious occurrence was supposed to have taken place in Scotland, as recorded in the 'Annals of the Parish' by a certain John Galt in 1769 under the title of A Toad Found in the Heart of a Stone.

'I have my doubts whether it was in the beginning of this year, or in the end of the last, that a very extraordinary thing came to light in the parish; but, howsoever that may be, there is nothing more certain than the fact, which it is my duty to record. I have mentioned already how it was that the toll, or trust-road, was set a-going, on account of the Lord Eaglesham's tumbling on the midden in the Vennel. Well, it happened to one of the labouring men, in breaking the stones to make metal for the new road, that he broke a stone that was both large and remarkable, and in the heart of it, which was boss, there was found a living creature, that jumped out the moment it saw the light of heaven, to the great terrification of the man, who could think it was nothing but an evil spirit that had been imprisoned therein for a time. The man came to me like a demented creature, and the whole clachan gathered out, young and old, and I went at their head to see what the miracle could be, for the man said it was a fiery dragon, spewing smoke and flames. But when we came to the spot, it was just a yird toad, and the laddie weans nevelled it to death with stones, before I could persuade them to give over. Since then, I have read of such things coming to light in the Scots Magazine, a very valuable book. Soon after the affair it was referred to as 'the wee deil in the stane'

In a Journal of Travels in England, Holland and Scotland in the years 1805 and 1806, a further reference to this phenomenon is made : 'It is true that small animals, such as toads and frogs, have been occasionally found alive in solid masses of earth or stone, but examples of this kind are extremely rare (...)'.
Eighteenth century doubts about the possibility are expressed here on page 246.

Although 'scientific experiments' have been made by encasing live toads in cemented cavities, the negative results have persuaded the 'biologists' concerned that it's not feasible. Nevertheless, there are enough reports of this uncanny phenomenon to make one wonder. Here are three more examples taken from this particular source, with thanks.

Toad in a stone. 'In 1761, Ambroise Pare, physician to Henry III of France, related the following account to the Annual Register: "Being at my seat near the village of Meudon, and overlooking a quarryman whom I had sent to break some very large and hard stones, in the middle of one we found a huge toad, full of life and without any visible aperture by which it could get there. The laborer told me it was not the first time he had met with a toad and the like creatures within huge blocks of stone.'

Toad in limestone. 'In 1865, the Hartlepool Free Press reported that excavators working on a block of magnesium limestone taken from about 25 feet underground near Hartlepool, England, discovered a cavity within the stone that contained a live toad. "The cavity was no larger than its body, and presented the appearance of being a cast of it. The toad's eyes shone with unusual brilliancy, and it was full of vivacity on its liberation. It appeared, when first discovered, desirous to perform the process of respiration, but evidently experienced some difficulty, and the only sign of success consisted of a 'barking' noise, which it continues to make invariably at present on being touched. The toad is in the possession of Mr. S. Horner, the president of the Natural History Society, and continues in as lively a state as when found. On a minute examination of its mouth is found to be completely closed, and the barking noise it makes proceeds from its nostrils. The claws of its fore feet are turned inwards, and its hind ones are of extraordinary length and unlike the present English toad. The toad, when first released, was of a pale colour and not readily distinguished from the stone, but shortly after its colour grew darker until it became a fine olive brown.'

Toad in a boulder. 'Around the same time, an article in Scientific American related how a silver miner named Moses Gaines found a toad inside a two-foot diameter boulder. The article stated that the toad was "three inches long and very plump and fat. Its eyes were about the size of a silver cent piece, being much larger than those of toads of the same size as we see every day. They tried to make him hop or jump by touching him with a stick, but he paid no attention." 
A later article in Scientific American said: "Many well authenticated stories of the finding of live toads and frogs in solid rock are on record."
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Image and intro © Mirino. Sources also include A book of Scotland (Collins)
April, 2013

Scottish myths 26


 Castles and ghosts

There are over a hundred and fifty Scottish castles reputed to be haunted. Spectral apparitions, queer noises, and curious presentiments of possible nocturnal visits abound. Visits of vapoury, lost souls, but still far more at home historically, than any daring guests could ever feel. Castles steeped in history, some dating back to the thirteenth century.

To begin with there's Ackergill Tower, Caithness. At a certain period it was owned by the Keith family who were often at loggerheads with the Sinclairs and Gunns. Legend has it that the castle is haunted by the ghost of Helen Gunn. She was captured by a member of the Keith family and taken to Ackergill Tower. Any hopes of ransoming her off were thwarted by her refusal to be held hostage, for she died dramatically by throwing herself from the tower's battlements.

In Dumfries and Galloway there's Auchen Castle, the ruins of which date back to 1220. Next to it was built a more habitable version in 1849. The residents and staff have received Margaret Thatcher, The Beetles, the King of Norway and Barbara Cartland amongst other notable personalities.
The castle is supposed to be haunted by a wan child who, before dawn, silently strolls along the corridors and slowly ascends the main staircase. The ethereal child has also been seen drifting about the Italian styled, terraced gardens of the castle.

Also in Galloway one could visit the ruins of Baldoon Castle. The owners were the Dunbars of Westfield. It was the family's residence from 1530 to 1800. The ghost of Baldoon Castle, 'The Bride of Lammermuir'  was the subject of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels.
During the seventeenth century, the parents of the hapless bride obliged her to marry David Dunbar, although she was already deeply in love with another man. The great sadness and torment caused her to lose her mind. David Dunbar's wedding night was fatally unromantic, for his bride stabbed him to death.
The ghost of the 'Bride of Lammermuir' has haunted the castle ever since. It's said that she sadly wanders through the castle dressed in a white, blood-spattered night gown, and that she appears especially on the anniversary of her own death.

One of the finest castles in Aberdeenshire is Castle Fraser of the Fraser family. It has a traditional 'Laird's lug'  in its Hall. (A 'Laird's lug' is a small, secret gallery built within the walls of a castle enabling the laird to hear conversations carried out in the Hall, from his rooms above).
Less fine and intriguing however, is the story of a young woman who was brutally murdered and dragged down the stairs of Castle. This took place in the 19th century. The blood on the stairs still tells the macabre tale, for apparently the stains could never be removed.

In Aberdeenshire was built Fyvie Castle in the 13th century. Owned by several wealthy families throughout its history, they all added their own personal, elaborate touches. There are various ghosts who haunt this castle. One of them is known as the 'Grey Lady'.
A skeleton was found in a secret room during a period when renovation work was being carried out. From then on the 'Grey Lady' was seen quite often. It was only when the bones were respectfully replaced to where they were first found in the secret room, that the 'Grey Lady' no longer needed to make her spectral presence felt.
Even more curiously disturbing is another ghost of Fyvie Castle, the 'Green Lady'. She is thought to be the spirit of Dame Lillias Drummond, the unfortunate wife of tyrannical Sir Alexander Seton who starved her to death in order to remarry.
It's said that the 'Green Lady' ghost inscribed her name on the windowsill of the bedroom when it was first used by Sir Alexander Seton and his new bride. To add more credence to the legend, the inscription can still be seen there today.

In Banff, one can visit the Castle of Park with its 16th century tower house. From one of the upstairs windows of the tower, yet another 'Green Lady' (in Celtic mythology the colour green represents an ill omen) is alleged to show herself. She was a servant callously dismissed when she became pregnant. Desperately unable to accept this, she committed suicide.
Another ghost in this castle is that of a monk who was supposed to have been walled up and left to die in a secret room somewhere within the castle.
The residents often feel that they are being observed. They have also spoken of inexplicable occurrences such as objects moving about mysteriously, sometimes from one room to another.

This is only a small token of the subject. An eerie impression. In order to recount the legends that add history, horror, hoax or charm to over one hundred and fifty Scottish castles reputed to be haunted, one would have to be a tireless specialist with plenty of time, will and stomach to fill the necessary tomes.

Scotland naturally evokes history like its lingering mists, dewy heather, moss-covered, flat red rock, and the constant, sweet babble of falling fresh water. It inevitably evokes the distant, shrouded skirl of the pipes, but also cheerful, peat flavoured whisky drinkers in front of a blazing wood fire at their local, never short of a tale to tell.

The awe inspiring legends of Scotland might make one think that the ancient Scots were an evil and barbarous bunch, but perhaps that would be more incredible than many of the awe inspiring legends.
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Scottish myths 27
Scottish myths 25

Text and image © Mirino. Sources include 'Rampant Scotland', with many thanks. 
April, 2013

Henry VIII . part II



The tragic death of little Henry in February, 1511, after only six weeks, had a profound effect on the king. In spite of papal benediction, he began to suspect that his marriage to Catherine was doomed by the law of God. 

1511 ended with revival of the Hundred Years War with France still under Louis XII. Henry basked in the months of campaigning and made his presence felt, if not in the Battle of the Spurs, certainly for the sieges of Thérouanne and Tournai In 1513. Fighting and killing an enemy wasn't the same as jousting. But Henry was always game, perhaps even more so for war. Even much later on, in 1544, when he was old, obese and ill, no one could dissuade him from taking to the field of battle again.

But in comparison to modern warfare, battle in the 16th century often appeared to be more like a local, summer tournament. Wolsley, for example, commanded two hundred men. Others such as Ruthal and Foxe each led a force of only a hundred men. There were three hundred of the king's household guards, and Henry's guard consisted of priests, choristers, secretaries, grooms and Chamber pages.

Whist Henry was in France, the Scots were defeated at Flodden by the Earl of Surrey. James IV was killed, which meant that Henry's sister Margaret would be Regent of Scotland for her baby son.

During the French campaign of the summer of 1513, Catherine, perhaps eager to participate, wrote to Wolsey stressing how she and her ladies were 'horribly busy with making standards, banners and badges'.

Henry and his entourage triumphantly returned to England in October, 1513. Courtiers were then rewarded for their efforts. The promoted Lord Treasury Surrey regained the Dukedom of Norfolk, and his son, the Lord Admiral, became the new Earl of Surrey. The Marshal of the army, Charles Brandon became Duke of Suffolk. The Lord Chamberlain, Lord Herbert was promoted to Earl of Worcester.
One of the spectators of the ceremony was the Duc de Longueville, who previously commanded 'a hundred gentlemen of the French King's house', and had been taken prisoner of war.
Thomas Wolsey's brilliant handling of the war, its declaration, waging and the advantageous treaty  he established with Louis XII, impressed Henry so much that Wolsey (the butcher's son) was promoted Bishop of Lincoln, then Archbishop of York in 1514, then cardinal, and finally in 1515, Lord Chancellor. Henry had absolute confidence in Wolsey's excellent abilities in all administrative affairs, at least until 1529.

The peace treaty of 1514 with France was also sealed by the marriage of Henry's younger sister, Mary, to the old King Louis XII, who still thought himself capable of begetting a son. This was not to be however, for he died not long afterwards.
Mary had taken to the Duke of Suffolk, Charles Brandon. They secretly eloped and this caused a considerable scandal. They were exiled and heavily fined, although eventually pardoned. Their marriage determined the Suffolk line of nobility.

Wolsey also became the patron of artists and sculptors. It was he who determined the arrival of great talents from Italy, such as the sculptor Giovanni da Maiano.

By 1516 Henry VIII was enraptured with the already married Elizabeth Blount who exceeded in all 'goodly pastimes', so much so that the new mistress bore Henry a son in 1519 (Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, 1519-1536). The king was very proud of his illegitimate boy, and ostensibly paraded him before the court, which must have been a bitter experience for poor Catherine.
Henry was very generous with the cuckolded husband who gained a peerage, grants and lands, so the arrangement was generally accepted.

That same year, in February 1516, Catherine gave birth to a girl. She was christened Mary. 'If it is a girl this time, by God's grace boys will follow', Henry declared optimistically to the Venetian ambassador, but Catherine was beginning to show physical signs of her efforts to supply the nation with a son and heir to the throne.

Europe was in the throes of great change. The Spanish empire was expanding in the New World. Portugal's prosperous, Eastern spice trade was having a positive effect on the economies of European nations. The authority of the Church was increasingly questioned by the new philosophy of Humanism with it's search for truth and beauty. Yet despite all this England still remained orthodox.

Henry in fact, felt duty bound to write against Lutherism. Thomas More with John Fisher helped him to complete the Defence of the Seven Sacrements, in 1521 for which the Catholic Church was most grateful. The book even became a best-seller in Europe. Henry was appointed the title of Fidei Defensor (defender of the Faith) signed by the Golden bull of Pope Leo X in 1524.
It seems likely from the tone of the criticism, that Henry was responsible, but it's probable that Thomas More greatly contributed.


Louis XII had been replaced by the flamboyant and arrogant Francis I, to whom Henry took an immediate dislike. This helped to strengthen his conviction that France remained England's traditional foe.
Wolsey excelled himself even more by organising the splendid occasion of the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a sumptuous gathering, summit meeting and tournament between Henry and Francis to establish peace in Europe. This took place near Guisnes.
It consisted of a month of banquets, musical festivities and a hopeful renaissance of chivalry, but the old animosities persisted.
(Over 5000 English ladies and gentlemen of Henry's court including supporters of his entourage, were shipped across the channel for the great event. The provisions made ready at Calais cost £8,839. On top of this the wine and beer cost a further £1,568). 

When Pope Leo X died, Henry pushed for the election of Wolsey, for Henry's ambition was to become Europe's arbitrator, and controller. His efforts were in vain however. His frustration and concern regarding the problems of the dynasty returned to the point of even greater exasperation.
Henry was convinced that he had gone against the Holy Writ by marrying the wife of his deceased brother. His nature was such that the more he dwelt upon the matter, the more convinced of it he became. In his view he had lived in sin, and was being punished for it. He therefore concluded that Catherine had never been his lawful wife.

He needed Wolsey to persuade Rome of the necessity to invalidate his marriage to Catherine. His dissatisfaction with Catherine was prior to any serious interest he took in other women, including Anne Boleyn. But such is destiny, and Anne Boleyn was highly ambitious.

She refused any advances to become merely Henry's mistress. She had great confidence in her ability to captivate the King, simply by not succumbing to his desires. For this her price was no less than the title of Queen. For Henry the primordial objective was to sire a legitimate heir. Thus began the 'King's Great Matter.'
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Henry VIII . part I 
  Henry VIII . part III

Text © Mirino. Sources include- 'Henry VIII and his Court' by Neville Williams, 'The lives of the Kings & Queens of England' edited by Antonia Fraser. With many thanks. Top portrait of Henry VIII probably by Holbein the Younger. Portrait of Francis I of France by Jean Clouet (1475-1540). Oil on oak panel c. 1530, Louvre Museum. With thanks also to Wikimedia Commons.                                                       April, 2013

Maggie



'No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions; he had money as well.'

'Socialists cry “Power to the people”, and raise the clenched fist as they say it. We all know what they really mean—power over people, power to the State.'

'To cure the British disease with socialism was like trying to cure leukaemia with leeches.'

'I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.'

'Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.'

'The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.'

'Don't follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you.'

'Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
What we think, we become.
My father always said that... and I think I am fine.'

'If you set out to be liked, you will accomplish nothing.'

'There can be no liberty unless there is economic liberty.'
 
 

Thank you Maggie
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Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher LG OM PC FRS
(13 October, 1925 - 8 April, 2013)
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A token selection of Margaret Thatcher's quotes. 
Top water-colour (from a photograph) of Margaret Thatcher © Mirino. Second photo- unknown photographer. Many thanks.     April, 2013

Jack Flash




Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
 Jack jump over
  The candle-stick..

But Jack let off
A mighty poof-
                  The blast sent Jack                 
   Right through the roof.

*

The less lewd version consists of the first verse only. It supposedly originates from the end of the eighteenth century. There is also a 'Mother-Goose' version including other alleged origins.
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Parody and image © Mirino. April, 2013 

Le cas Cahuzac



Ce qui ressort de cette triste affaire c'est surtout l'hypocrisie.
En même temps que la gauche tenait à contrer un retour éventuel de N. Sarkozy, elle est tombée dans son propre piège.

Jérôme Cahuzac en tant que ministre du Budget, n'a pas été choisi pour rien. Evidemment F. Hollande et son PM Ayrault étaient parfaitement au courant du 'standing' financier de Monsieur Cahuzac.
D'ailleurs on a beau faire semblant, mais personne, et surtout les membres du gouvernement, ne peuvent prétendre être surpris par l'aveu, même tardif, du ministre du Budget qu'il avait un compte de banque en Suisse.

Sa nomination comme ministre du Budget a été en tous cas un mauvaise idée. On est informé aussi que Monsieur Cahuzac a eu quelques ennuis fiscaux avant sa nomination. En plus il semble qu'auparavant Julien Dray parmi d'autres ait prévenu le Président de se méfier de ce choix. 
Quant à ce qui s'est passé dans les coulisses, et pour quelles raisons, à part son 'habilité', J. Cahuzac a été choisi et nominé ministre du Budget, on ne le saura peut-être jamais.

En tous cas l'image bigote étalée par F. Hollande a pris encore un rude coup. Mais il faut être bien borgne pour ne pas pouvoir percevoir à travers cette façade sacro-sainte que maladroitement F. Hollande essaie d'afficher.

Depuis l'aveu, comme s'il s'agissait d'un concours fou, tous les membres du gouvernement cherchent la meilleure phrase, avec les meilleurs adjectifs, pour publiquement exprimer leur 'outrage'. En fait cette manifestation peu convaincante est pour éviter d'être éclaboussé par la boue infecte donc contagieuse. Ils s'acharnent à mettre autant d'espace possible entre eux et Monsieur Cahuzac, devenu officiellement 'un sale criminel inexpiable', mais en réalité le bouc-émissaire historique du premier, et probablement le dernier quinquennat de F. Hollande.

Mais qu'est ce qui est en somme impardonnable? Sans de tels clients, les banques suisses auraient beaucoup de mal à prospérer, sinon exister. Les mensonges? Sans doute, mais qui parmi les illustres membres du gouvernement n'a pas espéré finalement que cette affaire soit bel et bien étouffée, pour le bien de tous?

Ce qui parait véritablement impardonnable est de designer un poste ministériel autant décisif à un personnage sans d'abord faire toutes les investigations nécessaires pour vérifier sa fiabilité et sa probité. Si on va faire un jugement, un tel laisser-faire de la part des responsables, surtout de la part du Président lui-même, semble de loin le plus inexpiable. A tel point d'ailleurs que l'on est laissé avec des doutes sérieux que de telles affaires ne soient pas forcément limitées à une seule personne parmi ces socialistes de cœurs si nobles qui prétendent représenter les français.
A ce propos, justement ce matin on est informé par le Figaro que le trésorier de campagne de F. Hollande a investi aux Caïman... Ceci est selon Le Monde et le Guardian. Jean-Jacques Augier en est actionnaire de deux sociétés offshores des Îles Caïmans. En outre il reconnaît les faits. Mais pour lui 'rien n'est illégal'. Si rien n'est illégal, pourquoi tant de bruit à propos d'un ministre du Budget multi-millionnaire de gauche doté d'un compte en Suisse..?

En tous cas on sait très bien déjà que F. Hollande n'est aucunement irréprochable, et ceci à un niveau que l'image qu'il tient tant à étaler, en ressort de manière risiblement tartuffienne d'un côté, et d'un autre, celle d'un calculateur sournoisement machiavélique.

On a vu le même laisser-faire lorsque Monsieur Hollande était secrétaire général du parti, et qu'il a choisi le silence en évitant d'assumer aucune responsabilité après avoir été informé du cas Banon (DSK). On a remarqué son côté calculateur aussi par les sous-évaluations de son patrimoine selon des articles y compris un de L'Express (et si c'est vrai, ne s'agirait-il pas aussi d'un cas de fraude?) Puis on a vu son manque lamentable de stature une fois élu vis à vis de N. Sarkozy et Carla Bruni devant l'Elysée.
Et finalement on voit son manque de capacité à sortir effectivement la France du bourbier où elle se trouve actuellement, et de donner du vrai espoir aux français.
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Text © Mirino. Photo by P. Kovarik-AFP, with grateful thanks. April, 2013

Henry VIII . part I



Henry VIII was a handsome, well proportioned youth who, also because of his exceptional height, easily commanded authority at an early age. He was well educated, proficient in Latin, fluent in French and profoundly interested in theology, scholarship and music. It was said that a single meeting with the young king left a lasting impression. Indeed a Venetian in London correctly predicted that 'the whole world will soon be talking of him', but no one anticipated the colossal, compulsive despot that he was to become.
Niccolò Machiavelli, however was shrewd enough to already judge him 'rich, ferocious and greedy for glory','  even though he had never met the young king.

Henry's first wife was Catherine of Aragon, (Catarina d'Aragón). In November, 1501, he thus fulfilled his father's dying wish by marrying this small, dainty and attractive Spanish noblewoman and ambassadress. The splendid coronation and the banquet in Westminster Hall was described as 'greater than any Caesar had known'. Henry himself was indeed rich and splendid. He had inherited more than eight grand residencies, three of which were in London, where he also planned to have additional properties built.


Catherine too was happy at this early stage : 'Our time is spent in continuous festival',  she wrote to her father. The king was gay, athletic and actively enthusiastic enough to exhaust his horses in hunts, as well as his opponents in tennis matches. There was nothing he couldn't do well. He was even a better archer than most of his own company of archers, and there was no one who could out-drink him. He was learned enough to hold conversations and win arguments with most, and would always be the first to lead off in the jousting tournaments.

His lusty love of life and vivacious personality contrasted enormously with the gloomy image of his father, the former king, so that very soon he enjoyed immense popularity.
Young king Henry, wishing to become more learned, would confer with Thomas More and Erasmus on astronomy, divinity, geometry and other subjects. Catherine was quite at ease with the well educated, as she had benefited from an excellent education from the most eminent humanists of Spain.

When she became queen, her household amounted to a hundred and sixty courtiers and servants, only eight of whom were Spanish.
The king's staff totalled five hundred. The royal guard, three hundred.
The following is an example of a banquet arranged by the cooks and kitchen staff at this epoch, as described by another Italian:

'The guests remained at table for seven hours by the clock. All viandes placed before the King were borne by an 'elephant' or by 'lions', or 'panthers' or other 'animals', marvellously designed (...) The removal and replacing of dishes the whole time was incessant, the hall in every direction being full of fresh viandes on their way to the table. Every imaginable sort of meat known in the Kingdom was served, and fish in like manner, even down to prawn pasties. But the jellies of some twenty sorts perhaps, surpassed everything, being made in the shape of castles and animals of various descriptions, as beautiful and as admirable as can be imagined'.

Henry played the lute and most key-board instruments quite skilfully. He loved all forms of music and had a fine singing voice. This happy, opulent and carefree period is reflected in Henry's song:

Pastance with good company
I love and shall until I die
Grudge who will, but none deny,
So God be pleased this life will I
For my pastance,
Hunt, sing, and dance,
My heart is set,
All goodly sport
To my comfort
Who shall me let?

Youth will needs have dalliance,
Of good or ill some pastance;
Company me thinketh best
All thought and fancies to digest,
For idleness
Is chief mistress
Of vices all;
Then who can say
But pass the day
Is best of all?

Company with honesty
Is virtue- and vice to flee;
Company is good or ill
But every man hath his free will.
The best I sue
The worst eschew;
My mind shall be
Virtue to use;
Virtue to refuse
I shall use me.

His love of music determined the arrival of some of the best European musicians of the era, eager to benefit from his generous appreciation. The result was stimulating and inspiring. The music of Henry's court soon gained a very prestigeous European reputation. One of his preferred English musicians who had been granted the responsibility
of teaching the choristers, was Robert Fayrefax. But many great talents of the early 16th century came from Italy, (the Bassano family) Germany, France, Holland and Belgium.

Henry not only patronised and encouraged music, he patronised the arts in general, including painting and sculpture. The talents of renowned Flemish and Italian artists were employed, but the best of them all, and perhaps the best of all time regarding portrait painting and drawing of eminent and royal personalities, was Hans Holbein the Younger who settled in England in 1532.

Despite several initial miscarriages, very early in the morning of the 1st of January, 1511, at Richmond, Catherine of Aragon gave birth to a baby boy. Henry was overjoyed.
Free wine was offered in the streets of London, and great bonfires were lit. Everyone was delighted to welcome the arrival of an heir to the throne- Henry, Prince of Wales. Indeed the Heavens had smiled upon Henry VIII. A grand tournament was organised in honour of the birth of little Henry. It took place on the 13th and 14th February. The participants, both defenders and challengers who had accumulated the most points on each of the days, were generously awarded.
Every one was most relieved when the King himself won the challenger's award on the final day.

This preceded a lavish banquet, music and dancing at the White Hall palace where railed scaffolding had been erected for the benefit of spectators. Then there was an elaborate pageant in which Henry appeared as 'Coure Loyall'  with an entourage of five Knights : 'hose, caps and coats were full of posies and H. and K. of fine gold in bullion'. The king even invited courtiers and ambassadors to take the gold from the specially made garments, and eventually even the ordinary spectators joined in, by even going so far as to strip the king himself, as well as other lords and ladies. The King's guard took control without mishap, and the evening ended happily with yet another feast in the King's Chamber.

But the hope and joy of the King, his Queen and the nation, died nine days later. And this fatal tragedy was enough to provoke an unprecedented sequence of dramatic events that would change the whole course of history, determine the mould of Great Britain, and thus also effect the whole world.

(This abridged history of the life and reign of Henry VIII consists of a series of six
linking chapters, two of which will be posted each month until June, 2013.)
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Henry VIII . part II
  
Text © Mirino. Sources include- 'Henry VIII and his Court' by Neville Williams, 'The lives of the Kings & Queens of England'  edited by Antonia Fraser. With many thanks. Top portrait of Henry VIII by Holbein the Younger. Portrait of Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) oil on oak panel by court painter Michael Sittow. With thanks also to Wikimedia Commons. April, 2013