Parties fall apart; the center cannot hold. (We've sure seen that.) Mere anarchy is loosed upon the political world. (Have a look at the morning paper.) The best among them lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity. (Cast your eyes toward the capital.) It can make us wonder what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Washington to be born. (We can only dread.)
Can it be that William Butler Yeats, a Protestant steeped in the nationalism of Catholic Ireland and writing during the post-World War I pandemic, understood perfectly the tides of American politics? Can it be that his vision — sharpened by the struggles his father and pregnant wife waged against the deadly flu — helps us understand the contemporary threat to civic comity?
kAmx? E96 4@FCD6 @7 p>6C:42? 9:DE@CJ[ D6G6C2= D66>:?8=J :>AC68?23=6 A2CE:6D 92G6 72465 8C2G6 492==6?86Di E96 u656C2=:DED W368:??:?8 2C@F?5 `g`d H:E9 E96 A2CEJVD 6>32CC2DD>6?E @G6C :ED @AA@D:E:@? E@ E96 (2C @7 `g`a 2?5 :ED 7=:CE2E:@? H:E9 2 D6A2C2E6 A6246 H:E9 qC:E2:?Xj E96 (9:8D W27E6C `gdc[ H96? E96 A2CEJVD DEF33@C? C6E:46?46 23@FE D=2G6CJ C6?56C65 :E :CC6=6G2?EXj E96 s6>@4C2ED W7C@> `ge_ E@ `h`c[ H:E9 2 3C:67 vC@G6C r=6G6=2?5 C6G:G2= :? E96 =2E6 `hE9 46?EFCJXj E96 #6AF3=:42?D W5FC:?8 E96 }6H s62= J62CD[ E96 9:89 E:56 @7 AC@8C6DD:G:D>Xj E96 s6>@4C2ED W7C@> E96 64=:AD6 @7 E96 {J?5@? y@9?D@? vC62E $@4:6EJ F?E:= E96 }6H s6>@4C2E C6G:G2= @7 q:== r=:?E@?X]k^Am
kAmp?5 ?@H[ E96 #6AF3=:42?D] Wp?5 96C6 H6 >@G6 7C@> *62ED E@ t=:K236E9 q2CC6EE qC@H?:?8 2?5 D2Ji {6E >6 4@F?E E96 H2JD]Xk^Am
kAmt249 A2CEJ EC:2= :D 5:776C6?E] %96C6 :D 32C6=J 2 D:>:=2C:EJ 36EH66?[ D2J[ E96 F?:>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 (9:8D 7@==@H:?8 E96 z2?D2D\}63C2D<2 p4E 2?5 E96 4C:D:D E96 s6>@4C2ED 72465 H96? #:492C5 }:I@? W2?5 E96? #@?2=5 #6282?X D6E :? >@E:@? 2 #6AF3=:42? (9:E6 w@FD6 5@>:?2E:@? E92E 82G6 E96 v~! G:4E@C:6D :? 7:G6 @7 E96 7@==@H:?8 D:I AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?D[ EH@ @7 E96> :? 3C62E9E2<:?8 =2?5D=:56D[ 368:??:?8 :? `heg]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 :>A@CE2?E E9:?8 :D E92E A2CEJ 5:G:D:@?D 3686E A2CEJ 5:D2DE6CD]k^Am
kAmx? 2 H66< @7 EF>F=E — E96 C624E:@? E@ s@?2=5 %CF>AVD 5:??6C H:E9 2?E:\$6>:E6D[ 9:D >65:E2E:@?D 23@FE @G6CEFC?:?8 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?[ E96 56762E @7 2 %CF>A\6?5@CD65 $6?2E6 42?5:52E6 :? v6@C8:2[ E96 EC6?5\567J:?8 6>6C86?46 @7 2 s6>@4C2E:4\4@?EC@==65 $6?2E6 H:E9 3C@25 DF3A@6?2 A@H6C 2?5 H96C6 #6AF3=:42?D H:== 36 2E D6G6C6 5:D25G2?E286D :? E96 u:?2?46[ #F=6D[ yF5:4:2CJ 2?5 pAAC@AC:2E:@?D r@>>:EE66D — @?6 3C24:?8 BF@E6 DE@@5 @FE]k^Am
kAmxE 42>6 7C@> }6HE v:?8C:49[ H9@D6 6>6C86?46 2D 2 #6AF3=:42? H2CC:@C 2?5 E96? w@FD6 $A62<6C H2D A@H6C65 3J 9:D C6AFE2E:@? 2D 2 7FEFC:DE :? E96 p=G:? %@77=6C QuFEFC6 $9@4<Q E6>A=2E6] Q|J 8C62E6DE 762C :D E92E H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 6?5 FA :? 2 `hec 5:G:D:@?[Q 96 E@=5 %96 }6H *@C< %:>6D[ ?@E 9:D AC676CC65 @FE=6E 7@C ?6HD 2?5 2?2=JD:D] Qx 42? :>28:?6 2 %CF>A\2?E:\%CF>A H2C @G6C E96 ?6IE EH@ J62CD E92E ;FDE 8F2C2?E66D q:56?VD C66=64E:@? :? 2 =2?5D=:56 2?5 8F2C2?E66D E92E s6>@4C2ED 4@?EC@= 6G6CJE9:?8]Qk^Am
kAm#:89E @? E96 >@?6J] xE :D H6== E92E #6AF3=:42?D C67=64E @? E9@D6 `hec DEC2:?D — 2?5 A6C92AD 4@?E6>A=2E6 9@H E96J >:89E EC2?D=2E6 E96 q2CCJ v@=5H2E6C =2?5D=:56 =@DD :?E@ 2 }:I@? C6G:G2=]k^Am
kAm%96 #6AF3=:42? 4C:D:D 42>6 :? C624E:@? E@ E96 `he_ 6=64E:@?[ H96? $6?] y@9? u] z6??65J 56762E65 }:I@?] %92E 42>A2:8? H2D D:8?:7:42?E :? >2?J H2JDi E96 3C62<E9C@F89 @7 E6=6G:D:@? 2D 2 G:E2= 724E@C :? p>6C:42? A@=:E:4Dj E96 6DE23=:D9>6?E @7 AC6D:56?E:2= 5632E6D[ H9:49[ H:E9 bd @7 E96D6 7@CF>D @? C64@C5[ 3642>6 2 4FDE@>2CJ 6=6>6?E @7 @FC 42>A2:8?Dj 2?5 E96 2D46?52?4J @7 2 ?6H 86?6C2E:@? @7 A@=:E:4:2?D[ DE66A65 :? (@C=5 (2C xx D6CG:46[ E92E 5@>:?2E65 p>6C:42? A@=:E:4D 7@C 2 92=7\46?EFCJ 2?5 925 2 DJ>3@=:4 6?5:?8 @?=J H:E9 E96 562E9 @7 q@3 s@=6[ 7:CDE 6=64E65 E@ E96 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D[ 2 J62C 28@ E9:D >@?E9]k^Am
kAmx? >2?J H2JD[ y@6 q:56?[ 2 D6?:@C 92=7324< @? E96 pC49>6C6 p4256>J 7@@E32== E62> H96? z6??65J H2D 6=64E65[ 925 2 A@=:E:42= AC@7:=6 >F49 =:<6 E96 bdE9 AC6D:56?E] q@E9 DA6?E E96:C r2A:E@= w:== J62CD >@C6 2D — 96C6 H6 :?G@<6 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 2C8@E \\ 2 D9@H 9@CD6 E92? 2 H@C<9@CD6] q@E9 72G@C65 DEJ=6 @G6C DF3DE2?46] q@E9 H6C6 A2CEJ >@56C2E6D H:E9 DJ>A2E9:6D[ F?FDF2= 7@C s6>@4C2ED @7 E96:C 6C2[ 7@C 3FD:?6DD — z6??65J 2D E96 D@? @7 2 >F=E:>:==:@?2:C6[ q:56? 2D E96 D6?2E@C 7C@> s6=2H2C6[ E96? 2D ?@H E96 AC676CC65 G6?F6 7@C 3FD:?6DD :?4@CA@C2E:@?] x?5665[ q:56?VD `hgg AC6D:56?E:2= 42>A2:8? H2D 2 D=:4< 4@G6C 32?5 @7 E96 `he_ z6??65J 42>A2:8?[ E9@F89 9:D D@2C:?8 C96E@C:4[ 2?5 9:D DEJ=:DE:4 86DEFC6D[ 3@E9 H6C6 A=28:2C:K65]k^Am
kAm%96 C624E:@? 2>@?8 C:89E\H:?8 #6AF3=:42?D E@ E96 6=64E:@? @7 z6??65J WH9@ :? 724E H2D 2 4=@D6 7C:6?5 @7 v@=5H2E6CX H2D 7FC:@FD] r@?D6CG2E:G6D H6C6 :? 7F== C636==:@? 282:?DE E96 >@56C2E6 W:7 ?@E E96 @FEC:89E =:36C2=X DEC2:? @7 #6AF3=:42?:D> A6CD@?:7:65 3J 8@G6C?@CD }6=D@? #@4<676==6C @7 }6H *@C< 2?5 (:==:2> $4C2?E@? @7 !6??DJ=G2?:2 ]]] 2?5 $6?] !C6D4@EE qFD9 @7 r@??64E:4FE[ 72E96C 2?5 8C2?572E96C E@ =2E6C AC6D:56?ED] %96J AC@A6==65 v@=5H2E6C E@ E96 ?@>:?2E:@? 2?5[ :? 2 EF>F=EF@FD 4@?G6?E:@? :? $2? uC2?4:D4@VD r@H !2=246[ D6E E96 DE286 7@C 2 cc\DE2E6 =2?5D=:56 56762E]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 42=2>:EJ H2D 6G:56?E =@?8 367@C6 E96 }@G6>36C 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?] QqJ y2?F2CJ[ 6G6CJ D2>A=6C @7 AF3=:4 @A:?:@? 925 364@>6 2H2C6 @7 E96 BF2<:?8 :?DE23:=:EJ @7 #6AF3=:42? =@J2=E:6D[ E92E BF6DE:?8 2?5 8C@A:?8 7@C 2 #6AF3=:42? H2J @FE H9:49 H2D E@ 4@?E:?F6 E9C@F89 DAC:?8 2?5 :?E@ E96 72== 6=64E:@?D E96>D6=G6D[Q 6=64E:@? 49C@?:4=6C %96@5@C6 w] (9:E6 HC@E6 :? 9:D Q%96 |2<:?8 @7 E96 !C6D:56?E `hec]Qk^Am
kAm$F3DE:EFE6 s646>36C a_aa 7@C y2?F2CJ `hec :? E96 BF@E6 23@G6[ 2?5 J@F 92G6 2 DEF??:?8=J 244FC2E6 A@CEC2:E @7 E96 #6AF3=:42? !2CEJ :? E96 H2<6 @7 :ED E6A:5 A6C7@C>2?46 :? E96 >:5E6C>D 2?5 7@==@H:?8 E96 :?6IA=:423=6 — 36J@?5 E96 4C656?46 6G6? @7 6?5\E:>6 =@J2=:DE z6==J2??6 r@?H2J — 4@?5F4E @7 %CF>A[ H9@D6 4@?46AE:@? @7 QG6CJ 7:?6 A6@A=6Q 92D H:56?65 4@?D:56C23=J :? C646?E 52JD]k^Am
kAm%96 4@==:D:@? 36EH66? E96 v@=5H2E6C 2?5 E96 #@4<676==6C 4@?46AE:@?D @7 #6AF3=:42?:D>[ 2 4C6D46?5@ @7 E96 7:89E 36EH66? E96 #@36CE %27E 2?5 sH:89E t:D6?9@H6C H:?8D 2 564256 62C=:6C[ H2D @?6 @7 E96 D:8?2EFC6 4@?7=:4ED @7 a_E9\46?EFCJ A@=:E:4D] qFE 7@C 2== E96 E2=< @7 Q6IEC6>:D>Q :? `hec — 2 H@C5 E92E v@=5H2E6C 9:>D6=7 6>A=@J65 E@ >F49 4@?EC@G6CDJ :? 9:D 2446AE2?46 DA6649 — %27E 2?5 v@=5H2E6C H6C6 >2:?DEC62> 7:8FC6D] }6:E96C H@F=5 92G6 4@F?E6?2?465 E2=< 23@FE DFDA6?5:?8 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?]k^Am
kAmw@H 5:5 E96 #6AF3=:42?D 6G6?EF2==J 4@>6 324<n !2CE:2==J E9C@F89 4J?:4:D> W2 $@FE96C? DEC2E68J 32D65 @? C246\32:E:?8X[ E@ 36 DFC6] qFE 2=D@ E9C@F89 4@?G6?E:@?2= 4@?D6CG2E:D> W7CF82=:EJ :? 5@>6DE:4 2772:CD[ DEC6?8E9 :? 7@C6:8? 2772:CDX] xE 4@F=5 H@C< 282:?]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.