On the heels of the Brexit vote and the disappointment of many Brits came the Chilcot Report. Whatever political instability the Brexit caused was only exceeded by the devastating effects on Prime Minister's Blair already dwindling popularity and the decision he and his government made in supporting the U.S. war on Iraq. What many pundits thought was missing from the report was the outright condemnation of the bad intelligence Britain was given in supporting its Atlantic partner. The bitter aftertaste the public felt was a further distaste and distrust of its politicians.
Yet the report somehow seem to have missed something that few historians notice but is as real as water vapour: The role of the zeitgeist in world affairs and making our history. The spirit of the times is as mysterious factor know one can really explain but is major thread that must be recognized historically.
So while the Chilcot Report said that the final efforts of a peaceful resolution had not been taken, it also ignored the fact that Saddam Hussein had ignored 17 UN resolutions and flaunted its lawlessness upon the world stage. What it also ignored was the anger felt by many in those year immediately after the 911 tragedy. Tony Blair was immensely popular at that time and, in a way, so was President Bush for having steered the country through the aftermath of 911. Therefore, it should be no surprise that the US chose war against Iraq. What I didn't realize before was that Mr. Bush himself was very hesitant to go to war and that it was certain members of his cabinet and military that urged the conflict. The wrong intelligence was certainly known beforehand because Canada under its prime minister, Mr. Chretien, chose to ignore it. But it really seemed the right thing to do. In other words, the zeitgeist of those years made the decision inevitable. I do remember, too, that the Bush administration brought with it a certain bluster in the wake of 911 and the determination someone would pay. There was a sense of desperation and a yearning for America to make good on its military preeminence in the world.
The spirit of the times is difficult to explain. We look at the peaceful Scandinavian peoples today and wonder how they behaved as ruthless Vikings pillaging, plundering and terrorizing much of Europe in the middle ages.
We ponder the start of World War One knowing full well that the mere assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand and the alliance system was not the ultimate reason for the launch of this terrible era in our past. One documentary I saw explained the real cause of the First World War as a corrupted form of Social Darwinism gone astray. The bluster between Germany and its European neighbours, especially the UK, is a major factor leading up to the conflict. But how unfathomable yet real was the spirit of the times that produced this global development.
I remember the mid-1970's when pet rocks became a fad--a replacement for real pets apparently! Today we look back and wonder what on earth got into us to make this fad so popular. But the spirit of the times allowed it to catch on. Was it a reaction to something that came before or just something new that tickled our fancy? Whatever it was, no one can deny it was a phenomenon.
For that matter, what got into our male ancestors to wear fur coats in the 30's, swallow goldfish, and say, "Twenty-three skiddoo, small change"? Bizarre. The zeitgeist I suppose.
And when we think of the centre of European culture, refinement and academic brilliance being Germany during the twentieth century, how did it evolve into the most horrendous massacre of peoples in recent history? Zeitgeist. For that matter, what got into Stalin to possibly put to death some 20 million of his own citizens in the Soviet Union?
The zeitgeist of history should never be underestimated. The zeitgeist of the times are spirits let loose that may be harmless but may also be a terror.
Although I may be shortsighted for the moment, I somehow feel the zeitgeist of our world is in the middle of transformation right now. Watch out for it!
No comments:
Post a Comment