The British Character

"The human qualities that people valued and inculcated when she arrived had become mocked, despised, and repudiated by the time she died. The past really was a foreign country; and they did do things differently there." - The Quivering Upper Lip - The British character: from self-restraint to self-indulgence by Theodore Dalrymple

An interesting article caught my attention recently, reflecting on the things I saw on my recent trip in the monuments dedicated to a long history among the trappings of a modern European city.

Specifically it addresses the changes that have been seen in recent decades in the character of what used be be the British "stiff upper lip". I'm sure several people I know who have more than a passing familiarity with Western and specifically English history of the last 100 to 150 years AND a more than passing awareness of contemporary historical events have seen it as well. But it wasn't until I read this article that it all came together for me. I for one mark it as a sad acknowledgment on the state of Western culture today as I think you can see similar changes (decay?) in our on American branch of Western culture, though taking different forms in line with our distinctive "American-ness".

The article isn't long and should be read in its entirety HERE