Dear Readers,
we went to see a famous historian and presenter
an expert in the Tudor period , a “tudorial” with Mr (Dr.) David Starkey.
Mr.Starkey is a great story teller of historical fact and has interesting
views, not pallid or programmed.
It was a lecture we attended, but it felt more like a tutorial, intimate and accessible.
Mr. Starkey is very clear and exact in what he says and describes, a record
keeper.
No fudge, no mind candy, clarity a relief in these times.
It was a fascinating lecture about Henry VIII Tudor King of England , born
28th June 1491 died 28th January 1547.
The good, the bad and the ugly- a historical giant- “The First Brexiteer”.
We learn from history, we need the records and the record keepers- the historians.
David Starkey brought so much of Henry’s reign alive to us.
Thank you Mr. Starkey.
He was ,humble and clear when people, asked questions and he was sometimes humorous
Destroying records and seeking to erase the past does not heal it.
We learn from history in so many ways.
Intolerance and violence against others in society whose opinion we do not agree with is not helpful though of course there are limits, narrow ones- we don’t need falsity and violence, we need peace.
The visionary author James Orwell, in his timeless book 1984 said:
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
We need freedom of thought and speech lessons learned from history.
Celestial victory and the restoration peace has long been foretold.
We are grateful for those who care about humanity as a whole and are
not afraid to express their views when asked to do so.
Whether one agrees or not there is much to learn.
I feel the cat in the picture is not happy about curtailment of freedom, regal looking though he is.
Museums are important places of historical record, it’s not entirely clear
it seems what accused the Dodo’s extinction for example , though it it was due
to human activities directly and indirectly.
Along with the boats which arrived in Mauritius centuries ago were rats, rats eat Dodo eggs
as do other species.
The Dodo looks and is a most fascinating bird, made famous also in the novel
“Alice In Wonderland” with the phrase as “As dead as a Dodo”- meaning extinct.
So what does all this mean,? lets evolve shall we as best we can.learning from history
for example not “altering” the record where we may find it repugnant,
having a care for conservation.
Let us be authentic, let us have a care for one another and the animals, Tenderness,
Generosity and Respect -the 3 Graces.
Written by Wendy Datta
Posted 7th September 2017
Photograph of Dr. David Starkey reproduced by kind permission of
Niki Odolophie
Photograph of the Dodo reproduced by kind permission of
The Natural History Museum London UK
All rights reserved.
