IN PRAISE OF EDMUND HILLARY…………
‘I met the well connected,the powerful and the rich;I saw little to envy or,indeed,much to admire; we were being lionised by a class of society with which we had little in common’ Edmund Hillary
When you’re a revolutionary it’s easy to harrumph yourself into a corner and decry everything – especially something that everyone else is keen on. This makes us share little of the collective joy of our fellow humans – outside of music and sport – and further harrumphs ourselves into a corner. A comrade was incredulous the other day when I said how much I’d enjoyed ‘Cranford’ on the telly.It often seems that anarchists try to make themselves as ‘unlike’ everyone else as possible – as though sharing common passions or’commonsense’ is somehow unworthy………how often have I heard anarchists use the derogotary ‘Sun readers’?
Edmund Hillary has died and in today’s Guardian is a wonderful picture of Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay beaming in mutual joy at their ascent of Everest. It’s the exact opposite of that equally evocative but desolately foreboding photo of Scott’s doomed expedition on arrival at the South Pole. Both were heroic examples of the human spirit and endeavour. As a young kid at the time Everest was climbed I can still remember the collective happiness it brought everyone in thee days of ration books and dulll uniformity.
AND SPACE EXPLORATION……………
If we lose the urge to explore our planet or to reach out to the skies and wonder what’s beyond and attempt to satisfy our curiosity then we’ll lose an essential part of our make up. I know fuck all about the technicalities of space exploration but I find it exciting to reach out to Mars and beyond and wonder what is there……so I will the means also – I think money spent on space exploration is money well spent. I don’t think it could be ‘better spent on hospitals or chasing paedophiles’.
We need to share in the aspirations and joys of our fellow humans not deride them with cynicism. How many anarchists shared in ‘One giant step for mankind’ but instead harrumphed into their beer about waste of money, military expenditure, conspiracy therories…..comrades lighten up – its ok to cheer humanity along in a crowd of people who may not be paid up Bakuninists. It’s OK to link arms on New Years Eve with strangers – no one’s looking. To celebrate Tenzing and Hilary’s ascent of Everest is not to cheer lead for the Empire or the Coronation – it’s to cheer lead for ourselves.
KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES!
Ian Bone 
steady on there Ian!!
What have you done with Ian Bone?
i think he needs a pint
There’s been a coup at the Anarchist Association!
” I know fuck all about the technicalities of river exploration but I find it exciting to reach out to Marlow and beyond and wonder what is there…… I think money spent on Henley regatta is money well spent.”
as a future space-faring anarchist, I wholeheartedly agree
you have lost it mate!
I never hear about poor people climbing everest, or going into space either, am I out of touch or what?
I truly enjoy this site – tearing strips off the self proclaimed great and good (with vicious humour!) is done in a way unmatched anywhere else.
REACH FOR THE STARS is probably a little too joyful for some visitors to this site. The sort of people who might claim to have a vision for a great new world (no poverty, no war), a world which in truth they may have disengaged with long ago on any emotional level. It never ceases to make me laugh how people can be elitist and prudish in many ways other than being wealthy or titled.
People who know what’s best for everyone often hate more than they love. If you have something to feel good about rest assured there will be an ‘anarchist’ or a last century ‘leftie’ along in a moment to pour a bucket of shit on it. In olden days you could rely on priests and moral guardians to beat the joy of life out of you. They have been usurped!
Must everything be pitched at the lowest level? I don’t know about poor people climbing Everest or going into space. Or the ‘disabled’. If some can’t do it should no one do it? Should dreamers abandon their dreams?
Yes anarchists, Marxists et all – loud belief can be a way of covering up dullness and lack of achievement. Most people no matter how poor or oppressed will never define themselves as anarchist or anything else. Their hopes and dreams (not attached to peculiar beliefs) will tell you something about them. Why not listen? If you really care.
Just as the Sex Pistols opened Holidays In The Sun with “A cheap holiday in other peoples misery” so too Marvin Gaye opened Inner City Blues with “Mindless moon shots, spend it on the have nots”
Yes and no!
In reference to ‘linking arms with a stranger’ would you happen to have heard of the latest London advance in mugging? Someone comes up to you and hugs you and takes your phone. I’m off to link arms with strangers on the Lower Clapton Road.
I like this sweet optimism. I really do. I think you’re right. We shit-talk more than we appreciate – and that makes us miserable bastards to be around. Glad you brought some rosiness to this dank rotting red and black cave of cynicism and fatalism. That said:
“A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Her face and arms began to swell.
(and Whitey’s on the moon)
I can’t pay no doctor bill.
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
Ten years from now I’ll be payin’ still.
(while Whitey’s on the moon)
The man jus’ upped my rent las’ night.
(’cause Whitey’s on the moon)
No hot water, no toilets, no lights.
(but Whitey’s on the moon)
I wonder why he’s uppi’ me?
(’cause Whitey’s on the moon?)
I wuz already payin’ ‘im fifty a week.
(with Whitey on the moon)
Taxes takin’ my whole damn check,
Junkies makin’ me a nervous wreck,
The price of food is goin’ up,
An’ as if all that shit wuzn’t enough:
A rat done bit my sister Nell.
(with Whitey on the moon)”
-Gil Scott Heron
Ian
Per adua ad astra. Full steam ahead through the shit! All the best, Brickburner
I think it’s good to encourage anarchists to act like normal people instead of acting like some self-righteous twats who need a wash and a hair cut. Anarchism’s meant to be about the working class, not being a cunt. Well done Ian.
Isn’t the point that, under capitalism, space travel (like all travel) serves the interests of the rich? Space exploration is an extension of the military and industry.
But like the man says, people are still fascinated by travel on earth and in space. It’s why people watch Star Trek, or documentaries about Egypt.
There’s something in all this about imagination, about refusing to “know your place”. About realising that right now the world offers all sorts of great stuff – to people who can afford it.
Surely wanting more for everyone (the politics of envy, ha ha) is alright? Better than wanting everyone to have the same opportunities as the downtrodden?
“Who wants a world in which the guarantee that we shall not die of starvation entails the risk of dying of boredom?”
So – yes to a world without money, bosses and all that. But yes also to proletarian space exploration.