Daily Image

20-06-2010
PreviousNext
Click here or on the picture for a full size image.

Benign Imperialism

Submitter: Madroon, E. J.
Description: After centuries of pigheaded resistance, redolent of heroic treachery and ungodly alliances with the French, the Scots suddenly decided around 1750 that it would be much more profitable to assist the English in making the world a Better Place for themselves. This might have had something to do with the recent introduction by King William III (of Orange) of the Dutch banking system into the City of London, which until then had operated from Coffee Shops like Lloyd's. This innovation enabled the English to finance the acquisition of an Empire by means of a curious technique called naked short selling.

With the help of some Scotch, the Scots were soon all over the place, playing an important role in spreading the blessings of Rule Brittania, also known as Free Trade. Even after 250 years, many are still to be found in places where they can do the most good, while clinging to their ancient customs and costumes. Here we see two of them, at the Grand Opening of LOFAR by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

(Her Majesty, who knows her kilts as well as any Scotsman, was among the few people who noticed that one of these virile garments was back to front. Being of the Blood, she did not remark on this of course, especially since she could not know whether it was deliberate or not. But her left eyebrow distinctly trembled for a moment.)

History is peppered with many examples of the particular combination of people in this picture. The discerning Dutch will remember Prime Minister Piet de Jong and his Foreign Secretary Jozef Luns, great favourites of the cartoonists of their day. Although such two-man teams may vary greatly in scope and circumstance, they all have one thing in common: The tall one is never the boss.

Copyright: NORTSA
 
  Follow us on Twitter
Please feel free to submit an image using the Submit page.