Re: vicious circles

[vico <vico@indigo.ie>]

Dear Ken


I find your various summaries interesting and thought-provoking.

At some fundamental and truthful level, might it not be the fair and 
rational thing to do, to withdraw from the blaming and vindictive mode 
into the domain of forgiveness, reconstruction even.

I broadly accept your regional/historic socio-behaviour pattern analysis. 
But at the close of the 20th Century, we have all this information, 
education, prosperity.  We have made unimagined progress even in the past 
decade (against excesses in Russsia, China, South Africa, Mid-East etc.) 
In my own country, the unique contribution of the Clinton Administration 
brought about the peaceful settlement of 800 years of conflict between 
neighbours.  The achievements of Clinton are probably driving the 
Republican-led impeachment process.

When your president visited Ireland this year and last he walked among 
the people and he brought waring factions out to greet him under a 
unified banner.  I think he was shocked himself to see the crowds and the 
warmth of the reception;  one I doubt he could expect anywhere in his own 
country.  But this is not intended as a party broadcast in support of 
Clinton.  Meritocracy can survive at an advanced conceptual level but 
reality brings a certain dimension to bear on the theory of what is right 
to the point where I believe a certain "common sense factor" must be 
introduced.  We are none of us clean from imperfection and without guilt 
in respect of wrongdoing in our lives at some point.  Our maturing 
process is one lined with mistakes, misjudgements, (sin or whatever) and 
we learn from these errors.  I think a caring and majority proportion of 
the plain people of the United States feel it is time to intersect the 
vitriol with a compassion line. 

My conclusions are more fuelled by emotion & intuition than by a measure 
of what is constitutionally correct etc.  I saw the "Rose Garden" speech 
to-night. I think if the republicans are not careful they will end up 
with Thatcher's reward.  

Finally I attach a christmas card for the god folks in Moscow, Id., from 
all your friends in Ireland.  The portrait is of Lady Hazel Lavery (nee 
Martyn) who was a sixth generation Chicago gal (voted the most beautiful 
girl in the mid-west c.1902).  Hazel married the portrait artist Sir John 
Lavery and after a decade of flirtacious living (at least) she changed 
the course of Irish History.  She had a passionate affair with Michael 
Collins during the first Anglo-Irish treaty talks in London in 1921.  
Hazel drove Collins to Downing Street on 12th December, 1921 and 
convinced him at the very last moment to sign for peace instead of 
all-out war.  The rest is history.

Hazel was rewarded with the honour of appearing on our currency where she 
survives to this day in the form of a watermark.  If you are ever in 
Dublin you should visit her at the National Gallery.  I would also highly 
reccomend her biography (by Sinead McCoole)entitled Hazel - a life of 
Lady Lavery.  I even think there is a message somewhere in the Hazel 
story where forgivness of her "flirtations" was the least we could offer, 
bearing in mind her extraordinary gift of peace.   

Merry Christmas and best wishes for 1999 to all in Moscow.


Terry Browne

XMAS.PCX