Gregory of Tours was a sixth century bishop whose work A History of the Franks is one of the few historical accounts of Western European happenings in the Merovingian period and hence much prized by historians. Sixty-four years ago, when I was preparing to teach Social Sciences 5 at Harvard, I read Gregory’s book. Truth to tell, it is a rather boring chronicle of the bloody doings of minor Merovingian lords of the period. I particularly recall Gregory’s account of one especially egregious minor Merovingian aristocrat who spent his life pillaging and killing and generally creating mayhem in his little part of Western Europe. This reprehensible character managed to live to a great old age – perhaps into his 80s – and died peacefully in his bed, “thus demonstrating God’s implacable justice,” Gregory wrote sanctimoniously but not very persuasively.
I thought of old Gregory when I read that Henry Kissinger is now 99 years old and still offering bad advice to all who will listen.
Dear RPW,
ReplyDeleteit may surprise you, but the "left" here in my country, most recently elevated Henry to the status of a wise old man because he gave good advice to Ukraine from Davos.
Kissinger is a sinister figure, but fascinating for those of us with interest in how power actually operates, not in the lofty high-sounding discourses, but in day to day political reality. He's a bit more out of the closet than most other Machiavellian political figures and there are many, on the left and on the right.
ReplyDeleteIn about 20 years someone is going to write a great biography of him which will be an interesting read if I'm still around. It's too soon to write it now.
Ah, the war criminal Henry Kissinger... I certainly don't want to hear from him either, but it is a bit misguided to say his advice re: the war in Ukraine is bad, especially considering the terrible posts that have been shared on this blog about Russia's war of aggression and invasion.
ReplyDeleteAnon, K's advice on Ukraine was appeasement and that always woks out well,right?
ReplyDeleteIt is not appeasement, don't be daft. He simply said that Crimea was gone for good, and that some territory in the Donbas might have to go too. It's just being a realist given current conditions, and I didn't say it was the right advice, only that it wasn't as bad as some of the advice from some of the posts that have been shared on here before.
ReplyDeleteI believe Mr. Kissinger scared the Ronald McDonald out of the North Vietnamese diplomats. Or at least they had to think a little extra whenever they heard him speak. Although he is difficult to understand, part of his persona is that of a wise man.
ReplyDeleteKissinger is a typically represent the unimaginable imperial world we live in. Listening to him gives you full details of how the imperial world really think and operate..
ReplyDeleteKissinger made me understand what it meant by America's Interest