Once in a while I have to move some boxes to clean the house; I have inherited about ten banker boxes of books from a wonderful elderly lady (Diana), who moved back to England. Her father was a publisher, so I wound up with several first editions, including that rascally Dumas. I promised myself to read everything before I die, but Heather Cox Richardson and her colleagues on Substack often tempt me away from this promise. Books published in English are rare here in the backwoods of Northern Portugal; prices on new ones are triple and ordering books by mail is chancy. So these boxes of books are a treasure. Moving boxes while cleaning house provides me with a great excuse to peek into some of her collection. Today was Dickens day.
The Gordon Riots
Gordon Riots (with some help from wikipedia)
The driving force of the riots was Britain's poor economic situation: the loss of trade during the 1776 revolutionary war of the revolting Americans had led to falling wages, rising prices, and periodic unemployment.
There was no general attack on the Catholic community, "also victims of the economy, being distinguished by the fact they were "on the whole, persons of substance".
In Barnaby Rudge, Dickens wrote in 1841, about this peaceful Protestant protest where a lot of thugs joined in, which turned into a years long rampage in London in the 1780's, that resulted from an unequal distribution of wealth, which caused 700 - 800 deaths. Dickens wrote: "a religious cry is easily raised by men who have no religion."
My late husband and I decided in 2011 that the situation in the USA is not comparable because now that the elite had developed airborne robots that can photograph, find and kill a man from two miles in the air, no one will protest. And the real targets of their anger, having had plastic surgery, changed their names and bought little hideaway islands, are inaccessible .
I am leary of mob scenes and always avoided them. I am greatful for those who are trying to save our democracy, but disappointed in US federal leadership regarding global warming. For me, violence is not an option. What's left? Passive resistance? Any other ideas?
Hello Susan,
congrats on escaping to Portugal.
Like Roland, I subscribed because of your Profile.
There are still good people trying to make a better world. And reading.
Does anyone in America read any more? I was a teacher almost 40 years - and my education saved my soul. These poor people with no education. No wonder they fall into their cult-like chanting. They have no critical thinking.
Well, anyway, I feel I'm making my contribution now by writing something that hopefully someone might read.
I look forward to whatever you post.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for subscribing to my publication on Substack. I am emulating Greg Olear by returning the favor and subscribing to yours!
But the real reason I’m subscribing is because of your values and your social politics (early Green, Sierra Club, vegetarian, Quaker-leaning).
Roland