The Abolition of America
From Brian Lamb’s 2000 C-Span Booknotes interview with Peter Hitchens (Christopher’s brother) concerning his then-new book, The Abolition of Britain: From Winston Churchill to Princess Diana:
BRIAN LAMB: One of the things in your book, you have as a subtitle, “From Winston Churchill to Princess Di”–or Princess Diana. Why did you bracket this book between Winston Churchill’s death and Princess Di’s death?
PETER HITCHENS: The crucial chapter and really the point around which the whole book revolves is the one which compares the two funerals of Winston Churchill in 1965 and Princess Diana. And the difference between them seems to me to sum up very eloquently the way in which the country has changed; the difference in the self-discipline of the people and their attitudes, the way in which the two things were …(unintelligible). It’s obviously two very different kinds of people, but here were two funerals in London of revered and much-loved figures. And they were utterly different, as if they’d taken place in different countries, and, in fact, they had taken place in different countries. The Britain of Princess Diana was an utterly foreign place to the Britain of Winston Churchill. And it seemed to me to be a good starting point.
This actually came to me during the bizarre weeks after Princess Diana’s death, when voicing any kind of criticism of the hysteria was pretty much taboo. And I did the sort of thing that Chinese dissidents used to do in the days of Mao Tse-tung. If they wanted to write about a political controversy, they’d actually write about one that had taken place in some dynasty 3,000 or 4,000 years before which they felt paralleled it. And I wrote about Winston Churchill’s funeral to make the points that it had been so different. And everybody got the message.
LAMB: What were the differences?
Mr. HITCHENS: The differences are in–first of all, in the open showing of emotion. Now some people might say let it all hang out, show exactly what you feel. The trouble is that, in the case of British people, if they let it all hang out, quite a lot of what they let hang out isn’t very nice. We are a pretty bloodthirsty and violent lot, especially when we get outside out own borders and start misbehaving. And we need to restrain ourselves. And one of the reasons we’ve been so peaceful for so long is that we have. That was very much in evidence at the Churchill funeral and very much less in evidence at the Diana funeral when people applauded, for heaven’s sake, at a funeral, which is completely un-English, whereas in Churchill’s time, people queueing up to file past his coffin might occasionally dash a tear away from an eye and consider that to be slightly embarrassing. That’s one difference.
And the other differences were really in the whole shape and face of the country. Britain in 1965 was still a serious country, still scarred by what was seen by most people as a recent war, still very much a country living in the afterglow of imperial greatness, also quite a lot poorer and, in some ways, the better for it in that the self-indulgence which comes with affluence hadn’t really begun to take hold. And this whole feeling of a country self-disciplined for a serious purpose as opposed to a frivolous country weeping and wailing about a princess who was really a glorified film star with a crown on her head.
Flash-forward to 12 years later in the Colonies, where New Jersey’s Gov. Chris Christie has ordered the flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Whitney Houston. Like Peter Hitchens in the late 1990s, Jazz Shaw of Hot Air is not amused:
There’s no sense sugar coating this, so let’s get straight to it. Whitney Houston was not unknown to me, though I never saw the movie “The Bodyguard.” She had one heck of a set of pipes. But at the same time, she wasn’t kidnapped and murdered by terrorists. She died under some set of circumstances which the police are not yet even listing as suspicious. She had a troubled marriage and a history of problems with drugs and alcohol. Neither of these things make her any better or worse than the rest of us, though it is still tragic when someone passes at such a young age.
Lowering the flags for her? She was a singer. As the WCHS report notes, after researching previous executive orders, the flags were not lowered for Frank Sinatra. In fact, the first “celebrity” person (as opposed to military or elected leaders) for whom the flags were lowered was Clarence Clemons, and that was done by Christie also. (For the record, I’m a HUGE fan of The Boss and the Big Man, but never heard that he had lowered the flags for Clemons, which I would have objected to as well.)
Lowering the flags for national disasters, etc. is fine. But for this? Whitney Houston was a wealthy woman who achieved fantastic success in the field of opportunity which is America. She was a great singer. She died in a tragic fashion as far too many Americans do. But this is not a national tragedy.
This is getting far too much like the recent decision to name a US Navy warship after Gabby Giffords. I’ve been a huge supporter of her tremendous effort to come back after that horrific attack, but naming a ship after her? We have a massive list of dead Marines who are in line first. I’m just saying we need to keep our priorities in order.
The England of 1965, the date of Churchill’s death, was already in decline, having surrendered most of its colonies in the aftermath of World War II, and had already begun the process of replacing empire building with the narcotic of pop culture. Over the next few decades, it would jump from the happy, cheerful nihilism of the Swinging London of the mid-1960s, to the grim, gobbing nihilism of punk rock a decade later, to the maudlin demise of Princess Diana, as Hitchens wrote above. What does America’s recent pop culture trifecta — the election of a president who struck rock star poses in 2008, and the Diana-style death cults in the wake of first Michael Jackson and now Whitney Houston portend for our own future. Or the lack thereof?
Related: “Whitney Houston’s fans will be given a virtual front-row seat for what’s shaping up to be a star-studded funeral,” New York’s NBC affiliate breathlessly observes. “Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster, announced Wednesday that The Associated Press will be allowed a camera at Saturday’s private service at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, NJ,” and that it will be streamed live online.
Great column, Ed.
I was struck when Houston’s family declared that her funeral was “by invitation only.”
I can *barely* remember the day when a flag at half-mast meant somebody *really important* died (like an ex-president, major cabinet member, etc.). I like Christie, but this is just a silly cash-in. Let’s face it: in six months, will *anyone* beyond immediate family remember Ms. Houston? I love Sinatra, but he was a *singer*, fer chrissakes — not a leader or statesman.
In ten years we’ll be closing government offices because some famous athlete’s the mother-in-law has cancer — right after they add a “memorial” badge to the team’s uniform and create another colored ribbon for her.
Just another distraction away from the dumbest administration in history NOT doing its job.Chauncey Gardner is watching over us in our hour of need.Why are we soooo lucky?
So when is someone going to have the balls to stand up and yell STOP!
You just did!
A well-done and timely effort, Mr. Driscoll… and you are precisely correct that Americans have become – in many ways – an unserious and supeficial people, unwilling or unable to distinguish the important from the unimportant. Gov. Christie’s decision to half-mast the flag in honor of entertainers cheapens what should be an honor reserved only for the most solemn occasions. I am saddened but not at all surprised at his decision, for in America these days, celebrity – being famous – trumps everything. Whitney Houston and for that matter, Clarence Clemons, were talented artists, but in the grand scheme of things, unimportant. Consider the following case in point. Dr. Norman Borlaug died a year or two ago; his passing was noted only in the obituaries – but Dr. Borlaug saved countless lives by inventing hybrid varieties of crops that fed many millions of people all over the world. Perhaps no scientist in the 20th century did more to help his fellow human beings than Borlaug, yet no flags of which I am aware were ever half-masted for him. Houston and Clemons led lives of substance, and were very popular, true, but they received the honor not because of their accomplishments, but because of being famous. Celebrity trumps all.
The late Christopher Hitchens hit the mark precisely by comparing the Britain of Sir Winston Chhurchill, with that of Lady Diana Spencer, formerly the Princess of Wales. I was personally fond of Diana, but her claim to fame was being attractive and personable, while marrying into the royal family – something of which many young women were capable. She did charitable works, which is to her credit. However, contrast that with the towering life and achievements of Sir Winston Churchill, a man often acclaimed as the greatest statesman of the 20th century and the savior of western civilization during its darkest hour, when Britain stood alone against Hitler. Today, the crown awards knighthoods to rock musicians…. which is perfectly emblematic of how unserious and superficial the political elites in Britain have become. Again, celebrity trumps all…
Driscoll, don’t go all priggish on us.
“The Abolition of America” is pure nonsense. The lambent, ever-glowing, bright light that is “America” does not just tolerate loopy, undisciplined silly nuts it celebrates them.
Freedom! Freedom! Liberty!
Can’t have depth without shallow. Can’t have love without hate. Can’t have God without the Devil.
I’m with Leibnitz, and Candide: Die Welt is die beste aller möglichen Welten. I say that with no sarcasm at all. Poor, poor, Houston, her fans and family. And me. And you. All poor, poor, and glorious fighters against the universe. She lost the fight early, but she went down fighting.
What else would you? Some stupid, lazy, perfect place. I piss on your peace, quiet and perfection. Give me uproar, conflict, good and evil.
I love Whitney’s early songs; she had a wonderful voice and was a truly talented singer. Similarly, I love Bruce Springsteen’s early records, and Clarence Clemons’ role in them — he wasn’t Coltrane, but he was a monster pop sax player in the King Curtis mold. But if the NJ of the 1990s didn’t see fit to lower the flag for Sinatra, I’m not sure why these pop stars should receive that accolade.Similarly, as Hitchens noted, in the past, one kept a stiff upper lip, even when the man who saved Western Civilization had passed away. These cathartic collective meltdowns when first Michael Jackson and now Whitney Houston died from entirely preventable drug abuse do not speak well of our country’s mental health. I have no problem with passion, but a better sense of proportion and direction would benefit us all.
“Driscoll, don’t go all priggish on us.”
Go!?
…
So it’s a cheap joke.
I’m aware of Whitney’s fame. But to me, it’s not nearly as infamous as Houston’s problem… as in, Houston, we’ve got a problem.
And I thought she ‘was’ from Houston… really.
The question was once, “is America in decline?”
No question anymore. And it’s taken less than a decade to become completely irrefutable.
Hard times ahead.
I hate to say it, but you’ve got that right.
Ah, charity to the Christie. He’s not running for president and it’s a cheap way to placate her natural constituency.
Why does it always fall to me to remind us that correlation is not causation?
The experience of a strong emotion (and willingness to display it) — even an emotion that might be overwrought, given the reason and the occasion — is not a primary but a consequent. There is a causal factor behind it.
Obsessing over the fate of a celebrity of no particular importance is a consequent. An orgiastic celebration of some sports franchise’s championship is a consequent. A huge crowd at some entertainer’s public appearance is a consequent. I could go on, but I think I’ve made the point.
Yes, these things indicate a lack of seriousness in a formerly serious people. But they’re not the reasons for that lack of seriousness; they’re merely symptoms thereof. So ask the right question: Why are we no longer serious?
Could it be that, due to our historically unprecedented degree of comfort, we no longer have the traditional occasions for seriousness that once governed our conduct?
Could it be that all the serious bits of our lives have been removed from our control by all-pervading government?
Could it be that, now that we’re guaranteed — speciously, to be sure — cradle-to-grave supervision by a no-sparrow-shall-fall welfare state, we simply must have some reason for the evocation of emotions that were once reserved for truly serious events and occasions?
Man’s emotions have necessary functions. Indeed, unless relieved by expression from time to time, those emotions, like anything else retained in the body for too long, become toxic. If our occasions for expressing them have descended to trivia, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the emotions themselves are somehow to blame.
Perhaps, were our lives restored to our own authority and responsibility, we’d be as serious as our great-grandparents — and isn’t that a great part of what the freedom movement is about?
Modern technology & the power of the safety net has presented us with a lifetime situation whereby, for the most part, we don’t have to work as hard anymore in the context that our forebears had to. No foraging for food anymore, the grocery store is just up the street. No day-long or weeks’-long planning projects for trips anymore as we have been released from the shackles of the horse & buggy bit. What does “hard work” really comprise of these days? Meeting the bottom line. Pretty fundamental stuff that has served to change our priorities. It’s no small wonder the tragic, premature end of a famous singer’s life rattles us so. We don’t really have anything else better of note to worry about!
Half-staff is only for a day, a ship name… that really annoys me to no end! And, w/ NJ’s budget, can they really afford to raise those flags back up the poles? Maybe I’m wrong about the “only for a day” thing.
We are a nation consumed with celebrity idolatry.
The thing that most upset me about Diana’s funeral was the criticism of the queen for not abandoning her grandsons and coming to comfort them. How much insight does it take to realize that these boys had just lost their mother? Didn’t they desrve a few days of quiet to absorb that? In today’s world, far too many think the whole world should revolve around them and their needs of the minute. Who thinks about the effects on the young? The people who praised Diana for being a wonderful mother didn’t understand anything about motherhood or responsibility. They, in fact, dishonored Diana.
I rarely watch the local news in NYC but one night this week I switched to NBC Channel 4. There was breathless coverage and live footage of the plane carrying Houston’s body arriving in NJ. Really?
She was an immense talent and had a lot of charm in the early days of her career. But why is New Jersey honoring a crackhead who contributed nothing of significance to the state or the world? This outpouring of grief is ridiculous.
I was uncomfortable years ago when the Brits began awarding knighthood to minstrels and court jesters. Seemed puposely degrading. A pop star who declined knighthood in favor of someone who’d cured a disease or won a war would have restored my faith.
Unfortunately, we’ve been on this same path for some time. Yes, we have become a terribly unserious people.
Music reflects the artist’s times and culture. Having grown up in North Jersey, part of that in Essex County, Whitney WAS the musical reflection of that area. The vibes and throb of the Newark, NJ surrounds could be heard in her voice; the beat was what you feel as you step off the train in Penn Station.
In many ways, Whitney was the quintessential “Jersey Girl”.
How can anyone here in New Jersey NOT personally feel her untimely loss?
I doubt if Ed Driscoll is from our state; for his information, that’s why our flags are are lowered, and we all grieve.
You’re welcome to doubt that I’m originally from New Jersey. I don’t, however.
I live in Connecticut. For years I’ve noticed that the flags are flown at half mast a lot — maybe half the time. It turned out that the Governor’s office issues the orders, naming the people whose deaths ought to marked and towns, post offices, etc, comply with the orders. Practically no one knows on any given day whose death is being marked, and probably if they did know, 90% of them would never have heard of the person.
It looks as if New Jersey does it better. At least a lot of people know who Whitney Houston is.