The Muddle of Britain
Feb. 8th, 2018 03:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smokingbootYesterday, the oldest Briton in existence was revealed to us in his glory:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/07/first-modern-britons-dark-black-skin-cheddar-man-dna-analysis-reveals
And of course, it has the far right out in spittle-drenched fury. It's the Beeb's agenda, it's the Left's agenda, it's the Guardian's agenda, it's anything other than science or fact. I have often wondered why so many in this country cite the indigenous people as 'Anglo-Saxons,' when pretty much everyone turned up here before them. The country's great hero is Celtic/ Roman/ Welsh/ Cornish/ Sarmatian/non-existent/ we haven't a clue, but we do know who Arthur fought; his enemies were the Saxons invited into the country supposedly by Vortigern, to help that mistaken monarch hold back the Scots and Picts. Trouble is, the Saxons stayed and Arthur spent his life trying to get rid of them.
The Anglo-Saxon tribes were the ultimate in trope 'trouble-making immigrants'. To be their descendent is to very specifically align oneself with the enemies of Arthur. Moving along a few centuries, the Anglo-Saxons got their arses handed to them by William of Normandy, who then rampaged through Britain subduing it with great cruelty, especially in what is traditionally called, 'The Harrowing of the North.' The monarch who now sits on the throne gets that right via direct descent from William the Conqueror. So every proud Brit who bows before her bows to the children of invaders who murdered their ancestors. And every proud Brit who trumpets their Anglo-Saxon heritage is descended from the one demographic on the Islands to have been soundly trounced by the French, as well as being the enemies of the Once and Future King himself, Arthur of the Britons. Fortunately we have a saint who epitomises the pious British warrior; St George the Turk who kills dragons and has nothing to do with Great Britain. In our old mummers plays, he occasionally beats up other Turks, and then pays a doctor to resurrect them. That at least sounds like us.
No wonder we're all mad.
From a vaguely less ridiculous time, Cheddar Man emerges and confounds every absurdity and bigotry.
The Mail and Telegraph are almost in a state of hysteria, while the Sun, of all papers, has been comparatively cool, nicknaming this first gentleman 'Ched,'and talking about the muesli he'd have had for breakfast. I'm interested because Cheddar Man was discovered at Gough's Cave, where evidence of cannibalism was found. So was Ched a cannibal (they say he had excellent teeth) or was he fed upon? Or both or neither? He met a violent end, and a proper pity it seems.
Ched, you've done us a favour so thank you. BTW, I hope someone told you during your lifetime that you have a rather pleasant smile, because you do. Night night Ched x
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/feb/07/first-modern-britons-dark-black-skin-cheddar-man-dna-analysis-reveals
And of course, it has the far right out in spittle-drenched fury. It's the Beeb's agenda, it's the Left's agenda, it's the Guardian's agenda, it's anything other than science or fact. I have often wondered why so many in this country cite the indigenous people as 'Anglo-Saxons,' when pretty much everyone turned up here before them. The country's great hero is Celtic/ Roman/ Welsh/ Cornish/ Sarmatian/non-existent/ we haven't a clue, but we do know who Arthur fought; his enemies were the Saxons invited into the country supposedly by Vortigern, to help that mistaken monarch hold back the Scots and Picts. Trouble is, the Saxons stayed and Arthur spent his life trying to get rid of them.
The Anglo-Saxon tribes were the ultimate in trope 'trouble-making immigrants'. To be their descendent is to very specifically align oneself with the enemies of Arthur. Moving along a few centuries, the Anglo-Saxons got their arses handed to them by William of Normandy, who then rampaged through Britain subduing it with great cruelty, especially in what is traditionally called, 'The Harrowing of the North.' The monarch who now sits on the throne gets that right via direct descent from William the Conqueror. So every proud Brit who bows before her bows to the children of invaders who murdered their ancestors. And every proud Brit who trumpets their Anglo-Saxon heritage is descended from the one demographic on the Islands to have been soundly trounced by the French, as well as being the enemies of the Once and Future King himself, Arthur of the Britons. Fortunately we have a saint who epitomises the pious British warrior; St George the Turk who kills dragons and has nothing to do with Great Britain. In our old mummers plays, he occasionally beats up other Turks, and then pays a doctor to resurrect them. That at least sounds like us.
No wonder we're all mad.
From a vaguely less ridiculous time, Cheddar Man emerges and confounds every absurdity and bigotry.
The Mail and Telegraph are almost in a state of hysteria, while the Sun, of all papers, has been comparatively cool, nicknaming this first gentleman 'Ched,'and talking about the muesli he'd have had for breakfast. I'm interested because Cheddar Man was discovered at Gough's Cave, where evidence of cannibalism was found. So was Ched a cannibal (they say he had excellent teeth) or was he fed upon? Or both or neither? He met a violent end, and a proper pity it seems.
Ched, you've done us a favour so thank you. BTW, I hope someone told you during your lifetime that you have a rather pleasant smile, because you do. Night night Ched x
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}