Global Warning
7 June 2008
Theodore Dalrymple delivers a Global Warning
Where did this hatred of the past come from? A large part of it is sheer egotism consequent upon the death of religion, an inability to contemplate with equanimity the supposedly humiliating fact that a civilisation is bigger than oneself or one’s own glorious part in it. Before me nothing, therefore; and after me nothing either.
Those who care nothing for the past care nothing for the future, for what is our future if not our successors’ past? This explains why architects now build in the self-fulfilling expectation that their work will be pulled down in 30 years or fewer, and why they feel they must impose themselves on the townscape while they can. And destruction is favoured over construction because it is permanent.
The current mayor of Paris, Delanoë, who is already campaigning to be the next president, wants to expand Paris vertically, in skyscrapers, so that his name will never die. Paris ever afterwards will be B.D. and A.D.: Before Delanoë and After Delanoë. Oh immortality, what crimes are committed in thy name!
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daniel sinclair
June 6th, 2008 9:18am Report this commentI'm a big fan of this writer. He makes a lot sense.
robert
June 6th, 2008 7:41pm Report this comment... he also describes Brownian England with more precision and honesty than any other columnist
Reg
June 9th, 2008 10:44pm Report this comment"...ferret-faced youths in nylon clothes who are social security and fast food made flesh"! Ha ha ha! Hilarious!
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