Monthly Archives: March 2016

On “Getting Old”…

Posted on March 25, 2016 by bsixsmith

I am 25. I am getting old. Have often have you encountered this? If not with 25-year-olds then with 26-year-olds? Or, indeed, 24-year-olds? Or 18-year-olds? Me? I am 25. I am getting old. It is said with all the weariness … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain, Family | Leave a comment

The Irrepressible Intellectual…

Posted on March 22, 2016 by bsixsmith

Human minds have struggled to cope with the pace of change in modern civilisation. In the first few decades of the twentieth century, our great-grandparents faced world war, genocide, totalitarianism and the looming threat of a nuclear holocaust. Men looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciations, Reviews, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

On the Limits of Empirical Conservatism…

Posted on March 17, 2016 by bsixsmith

British conservatism is in a depressing state. While the Conservative Party remains predominant in politics it is liberal in all but name. One of few causes for tentative optimism is the growth of what might be called empirical conservatism, defined … Continue reading →

Posted in Bias, Conservatism, Scepticism, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Three Polish Poems…

Posted on March 14, 2016 by bsixsmith

On Direction As I wander up the high street I imagine jackboots marching Straight and narrow, as if arrows, Hurtling towards their quarry. Shall we stop to drink a coffee? Thick March clouds appear autumnal. Twilight Beneath the towers of … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

“Civilisation” Versus “Lifestyle”…

Posted on March 14, 2016 by bsixsmith

According to Mark Rowley of the Metropolitan police, ISIS have declared war on “Western lifestyle”. It seems typical of Europe in the twenty-first century that instead of “Western civilisation” it is “Western lifestyle”. Jihadists do not oppose our heritage, our … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Against Nazi Aesthetics…

Posted on March 1, 2016 by bsixsmith

Counter-cultural figures sometimes claim to be attracted to Nazi aesthetics but not Nazi politics. My problem with that is less that this is disingenuous than that I find Nazi aesthetics totally repulsive. While I do not think it unethical to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Ideology, Nazism, Uncategorized | 6 Comments