The Downsitting of the Scottish Parliament, from Châtelain and Gueudeville’s Atlas Historique, 1720
Recent links of note:
“Complete Chaos and Out of Control”
Heather Mac Donald, City Journal
Every New Yorker knows to avoid the parades that shut down our fair city, whether it’s the St. Patrick’s Day Parade noisily choking midtown’s already-crowded streets or the Puerto Rican Day Parade’s incessant din bleating on upper Fifth Avenue. But now savvy New Yorkers have another reason to avoid the scrums: police are being instructed to avoid enforcement of quality-of-life laws such as those governing public drinking and marijuana smoking. With a fatality and multiple critical injuries resulting from the recent West Indian Day Parade, it’s clear that broken windows policing can’t return soon enough.
Unionists, Don’t Despair: Scotland Is Not Lost—Yet
Nigel Biggar, Standpoint
Though the “No” vote prevailed in the important question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?,” the recent British elections were nonetheless disheartening for those who treasure the United Kingdom, emphasis on United. With the SNP taking most Scottish parliamentary seats and pursuing an aggressive policy of hostility towards their English colleagues, anguish is the order of the day for Unionists. In September’s Standpoint, Nigel Biggar suggests a new set of tactics for Unionists so that they may combat the sentimentalism of those who voted Yes. Lovers of the Union Jack, take heed.
Meet the men taking up arms to protect the Middle East’s ancient treasures
Kim Sengupta, The Spectator
It’s nearly impossible to overstate the enormity of the crimes committed by the so-called Islamic State. Beyond their grim fondness for sensationalist human executions, these execrable gnats also favor another kind of murder: the cultural kind. As its Islamist brand of blackness glooms the Middle East, the IS has extended its malevolent activities to the destruction of sites of cultural heritage. Gone now is the Temple of Bel, so too the Tower of Elhabel. And yet there is hope. With a spineless West unwilling to defend its lost patrimony, civilians have filled the void, organizing protective, armed militias to stopper the toxic Islamist flow. While Western governments sit by idly, at least someone has the sense to try to save our collective history.
British Museum signs deal to send touring shows to Spain
Martin Bailey, The Art Newspaper
It’s been a busy summer for the British Museum; first it entered into discussions with Abu Dhabi’s Zayed National Museum to loan Assyrian reliefs and now the tactic is being expanded to continental Europe with a partnership with “la Caixa foundation venues,” said to be worth around €2M, that will send traveling exhibitions to Spain. As mentioned last week, British museums now face budget shortfalls with government funding expected to be cut. With that in mind, this seems a rather elegant solution.
From our pages:
Remembering Robert Conquest
John O’Sullivan
Personal recollections of Robert Conquest’s literary life.