Once in a while it is good to leave the country, see things from a different perspective, and talk to real people outside the United States. So Mr. and Mrs. Prophet have been in the United Kingdom for an after-holiday break. As I write this we are at Heathrow and ready to return home to the USA. We spent most of our time in London and Oxford, so take any generalizations for what they are worth. Nevertheless, I wanted to share some thoughts since I last posted on January 4th.
- London is noticeably safer than most US cities. We took the Underground and buses late at night and in fairly deserted parts of London and we always felt safe.
- The transportation system is superb. Trains on major underground lines run every two to three minutes. Train arrivals at each station are posted electronically and riders know exactly when the next train will arrive. Similarly, most bus stations electronically post the next bus arrival times. Almost every bus stop is a weather-protected shelter with a few seats.
The tiled walls of the stations were scrubbed clean (my wife actually did the “dust on her glove” check), there was no grit or graffiti anywhere, and train platforms were free of litter.
- Transportation is relatively cheap, and the system facilitates transfers between trains and buses.
- In our Mayfair neighborhood, Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Aston Martins and Porsches were parked on the street. There were no car thefts or break ins.
- Since our last trip in 2008, shortly before the financial crash, the British economy is still suffering. However, things seem to be turning around faster than in the United States. Some upscale areas did have some shop closings and there appeared to be more items on sale, but restaurants were generally bustling and theaters were full.
- Entrepreneurs I spoke with still have problems financing projects. Some of these projects predate the financial crash.
- Finally, public life in Britain is pleasant and orderly Citizens queue up for theater tickets or buses. Usual street level interactions seem devoid of obvious anger.
There is a general air of civility and helpfulness that has diminished in the US. The country may be borderline socialist, but it seems to work.
One of the major news stories in Britain was the shooting of Congresswoman Gifford. The British press jumped on the shootings as one more sad example of the destructive and violent gun culture in the United States. I was able to compare the overseas coverage of Fox News, CNN, Sky News and the BBC. While each media outlet had its own take on the shootings, I have formulated a couple of thoughts.
- It is wrong to attach too much political or sociological import to the act of one lone gunman. Liberals are attempting to score political points and that is wrong.
- The US has a history of lone gunmen from John Wilkes Booth to John Hinckley, who tried to make a name for themselves by attempting or actually killing a public figure.
- Misguided and unstable individuals commit anti-social acts, horrible as each act is.
- The US political right is also wrong. There is something wrong when an unstable individual can purchase a high-powered semi-automatic weapon and buy a 30 round magazine and empty the clip in a Safeway parking lot.
- Further, if campaign rhetoric shows candidates in “crosshairs” and talks about “removing” opponents or calls them fascists, the violent imagery will reverberate in the mind of an unstable individual and lessen one societal prohibition against violence.
- Finally, a society which has many well-trained veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan should think carefully about how those warriors will be reintegrated into society when education is expensive and jobs are scarce. In and of itself, whether an unemployed individual is ex-military or not, this is a dangerous breeding ground for future violent behavior. Unemployed, angry individuals devoid of hope populate the devil’s workshop.
On a more positive note, preparations in Great Britain are well under way for the 2012 Olympics, and joyous posters already advertise ticket sales for the Games. The upcoming royal marriage seems to have boosted British spirits. Les Miserables is now entering its 25th season and is still rocking the house. All is not too bad with the world.
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Tags: 2012 Olympics, Congresswoman Gifford, Les Miserables, London, London Transport, Oxford, Royal Wedding
