Did you see the one called “Sea glass“? I couldn’t believe how gorgeous that picture was. I asked HCR if it was OK with her and the photographer just to post it briefly on Facebook as my background. Not making any money off of it -not selling it -not doing anything like that and noted credit to Ralston Gallery-and I never got a response, but I have it up there….
Your excellent photography cheers me up when HCR posts it. I hope to get to your gallery some day along the rock-bound coast of Maine. Sea Glass was my favorite too Dianne.
I did the same, posted it as my fb cover with attribution to Peter Ralston. It's also currently the wallpaper on my computer, which I generally only change when HCR posts a striking image. Sea Glass is probably going to stay up for quite awhile (sorry, Buddy!).
Jerry, thanks for that link. Very interesting and so true reflections on what it means to confront Russia.
My wife is from Shanghai and, in Chinese fashion took a long view and put things in historical perspective when she quickly pointed out, in February last year, how foolish it would be to write off Russia after the initial failure of its army to take over Kyiv. Remember who put a stop to Napoleon! Remember who put a stop to Hitler!
Since February last year I have argued, a lonely position to take on comments sections of NYT etc., that negotiation would be the only way to bring this war of attrition to a close, that concessions and compromises will be needed, that to expect a military victory of either side is foolhardy, that the west failed in not understanding Putin's speeches and actions for many years before the buildup along the border with Ukraine in August 2021, that the west failed in its lack of diplomatic and backchannel search for ways to avoid the war before the invasion started. My position has not changed one iota.
As time has gone on, the articles of the type listed in the linked article that have 'experts' giving their opinion about Russia's imminent collapse, about Putin's serious illness, about Ukraine getting the upper hand and about the need to arm them to the hilt and then the war will be won, etc. - those opinions have all rung hollow and sounded more like wishful thinking than real analysis. Disappointingly, Serious journalists in the NYT, The Guardian and other good publications have also jumped on board the "kill, kill, kill!" shouting train.
Correction... it was Herodotus rather than Thucydides who delivered the tale of king Croesus asking the oracle of Delphi what would happen if he went to war with Persia. "You will destroy a great empire" came the answer. Not having the wisdom to ask the next question, or feeling that you don't second guess an oracle, Croesus failed to understand the warning and was educated too late by events. Michael Hudson lays out the current day consequences of the same choice.
Another interesting look at history. I also find it disingenuous that western powers point critically to China's helping African countries with aid programs to build their economies and self-reliance on, for instance, agricultural products of the genuinely home-grown type (as opposed to US companies' seeds, fertilizers and other imports). Nothing that the US, British, French or other imperialist European powers did in Africa or Asia was ever altruistic in nature or aimed at helping those countries achieve self-reliance or autonomy. It was done primarily to promote their own mercantile, commercial and financial interests and to satisfy domestic demand for imported goodies.
Former Marine and currently active military and political analyst Brian Berletic lives in Thailand and describes in detail the often successful attempts to create chaos and lift up, with generous budgets, candidates useful to the outside corporate interests. His careful reading of events in Thailand and other countries where China's investment in trains and roads has pointed to US funding of violent groups killing Chinese engineers and promoting cancellation of high speed rail or any rail at all. Quite a contrast with the 'children's version' that mainstream media publish. Having joined with advocates for peace and justice in our neighboring countries and with Veterans for Peace re our policies, I see our responsibilities (and more than enough work) in restraining the worst of "our team's" actions rather than simply decrying actions of others. That's what I see in Berletic's effort at honest narratives.
Without knowing Berletic's writings, I can see what he aims to do from your description and a quick google search. I applaud those efforts. I served for 3 years as a volunteer teacher in Laos 1972-1975 and then with the UN PK mission in Cambodia 1993 and know well some of the truths behind the US and European powers' actions in SE Asia. What does not come out in the 'children's versions' we are fed by our governing powers!
I always like the photos, but do not react. This one was incredible. Thank you for sharing.
Did you see the one called “Sea glass“? I couldn’t believe how gorgeous that picture was. I asked HCR if it was OK with her and the photographer just to post it briefly on Facebook as my background. Not making any money off of it -not selling it -not doing anything like that and noted credit to Ralston Gallery-and I never got a response, but I have it up there….
Dianne, glad you like Sea Glass…and I thank you for your kind words as well as your wish to use it. I’m more than happy to say Go For It!
Hi Peter,
Your excellent photography cheers me up when HCR posts it. I hope to get to your gallery some day along the rock-bound coast of Maine. Sea Glass was my favorite too Dianne.
Thank you so much! Your photos bring people joy. If I ever make it out to your neck of the woods, I’ll look up your gallery. Best regards, Dianne
I did the same, posted it as my fb cover with attribution to Peter Ralston. It's also currently the wallpaper on my computer, which I generally only change when HCR posts a striking image. Sea Glass is probably going to stay up for quite awhile (sorry, Buddy!).
Like the offerings of our historians, reflections from the natural world help us see.
This reflection, with historical details, sheds needed light ....
https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2023/07/underestimate-russia-at-your-own-risk-a-comparison-of-hubris-by-germany-during-wwii-and-todays-collective-west.html
Jerry, thanks for that link. Very interesting and so true reflections on what it means to confront Russia.
My wife is from Shanghai and, in Chinese fashion took a long view and put things in historical perspective when she quickly pointed out, in February last year, how foolish it would be to write off Russia after the initial failure of its army to take over Kyiv. Remember who put a stop to Napoleon! Remember who put a stop to Hitler!
Since February last year I have argued, a lonely position to take on comments sections of NYT etc., that negotiation would be the only way to bring this war of attrition to a close, that concessions and compromises will be needed, that to expect a military victory of either side is foolhardy, that the west failed in not understanding Putin's speeches and actions for many years before the buildup along the border with Ukraine in August 2021, that the west failed in its lack of diplomatic and backchannel search for ways to avoid the war before the invasion started. My position has not changed one iota.
As time has gone on, the articles of the type listed in the linked article that have 'experts' giving their opinion about Russia's imminent collapse, about Putin's serious illness, about Ukraine getting the upper hand and about the need to arm them to the hilt and then the war will be won, etc. - those opinions have all rung hollow and sounded more like wishful thinking than real analysis. Disappointingly, Serious journalists in the NYT, The Guardian and other good publications have also jumped on board the "kill, kill, kill!" shouting train.
An American historian whose name I'd love to be reminded of
said, "[we] historians remind people of things they'd rather forget."
Since soothsayers have traditionally lived a chancy existence
- Julian Assange being our most stunning current example - historians
are well advised to deliver stories from the more distant past.
Thucydides' warning seems distant enough, and since Michael Hudson
believes in straight talk on a range of economic issues, he shared this
spectacularly ironic observation involving King Croesus, the oracle and the Persians:
https://michael-hudson.com/2023/06/america-has-just-destroyed-a-great-empire/
Correction... it was Herodotus rather than Thucydides who delivered the tale of king Croesus asking the oracle of Delphi what would happen if he went to war with Persia. "You will destroy a great empire" came the answer. Not having the wisdom to ask the next question, or feeling that you don't second guess an oracle, Croesus failed to understand the warning and was educated too late by events. Michael Hudson lays out the current day consequences of the same choice.
Another interesting look at history. I also find it disingenuous that western powers point critically to China's helping African countries with aid programs to build their economies and self-reliance on, for instance, agricultural products of the genuinely home-grown type (as opposed to US companies' seeds, fertilizers and other imports). Nothing that the US, British, French or other imperialist European powers did in Africa or Asia was ever altruistic in nature or aimed at helping those countries achieve self-reliance or autonomy. It was done primarily to promote their own mercantile, commercial and financial interests and to satisfy domestic demand for imported goodies.
Former Marine and currently active military and political analyst Brian Berletic lives in Thailand and describes in detail the often successful attempts to create chaos and lift up, with generous budgets, candidates useful to the outside corporate interests. His careful reading of events in Thailand and other countries where China's investment in trains and roads has pointed to US funding of violent groups killing Chinese engineers and promoting cancellation of high speed rail or any rail at all. Quite a contrast with the 'children's version' that mainstream media publish. Having joined with advocates for peace and justice in our neighboring countries and with Veterans for Peace re our policies, I see our responsibilities (and more than enough work) in restraining the worst of "our team's" actions rather than simply decrying actions of others. That's what I see in Berletic's effort at honest narratives.
Without knowing Berletic's writings, I can see what he aims to do from your description and a quick google search. I applaud those efforts. I served for 3 years as a volunteer teacher in Laos 1972-1975 and then with the UN PK mission in Cambodia 1993 and know well some of the truths behind the US and European powers' actions in SE Asia. What does not come out in the 'children's versions' we are fed by our governing powers!