King George VI’s contribution in fighting Nazi Germany

Today (May 12) in 1937 Britain’s King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey.  It is fitting to talk about the King’s contribution in fighting Nazi Germany and the irony of the role Churchill played in the sorry affair of the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII.

I recently read a book (Churchill and the King) which confirms and reinforces my view of King George VI’s contribution.  He and his wife, Elizabeth refused to leave the country or even London during the darkest hour of the London Blitz.  The king tirelessly ventured out visiting the people and troops.  He had lunch with Churchill (Prime Minister) once a week.  He visited the “10 Downing Street” more than ten times during the war whenever Americans of importance (generals or politicians, especially General Marshall or Harry Hopkins) came for a visit.  He was there during the last conference and briefing the eve of the D-Day in 1944.  He was very much involved with every fiber of his being.

In trying to help England when she stood alone in facing the menacing Nazi Germany, FDR (in June 1939) invited King George VI and his queen for a visit to charm Americans; charming they were!  The lighthearted 2012 movie Hyde Park on Hudson is about this visit.  The movie goers may not perceive the serious nature of the visit.

Without the abdication of Edward VIII, King George wouldn’t be the King.  Like Charles Lindbergh, Edward VIII was a Nazi admirer, if not sympathizer.  The reputable historian, William Manchester, wrote in his The Last Lion (Volume II, 1932-1940) wrote, “The Fuhrer still had many admirers in Parliament and a lofty one (King Edward VIII) in Buckingham Palace.”  After abdication he honeymooned in Germany “striding down the middle of a street lined with Nazis extending their arms in a Hitlergruss—and returning the greeting with a stiff-armed heil of his own” as Manchester wrote.

It is ironic that Churchill risked his reputation and politic career in defending Edward VIII during the abdication crisis.  He was a man not worthy of the kingdom and of Churchill’s support; sentimental and romantic though he might be.  It may be too harsh to say Edward VIII was a Nazi sympathizer, but he at least couldn’t recognize the evil nature of the Nazism.

Edward VIII’s abdication speech was a work of Churchill; it is obviously Churchill’s language.  Edward VIII wrote in his memoir saying “any practiced student of Churchillians could spot at a glance.”

I cannot imagine what might have happened if Edward VIII, instead of George VI, were the King during the war.  God saved the King! (the right one!)

My letter-to-the-editor: Diversity is the key to success in nature and in human society

I wrote a very short letter-to-the-editor that was published at Observer-Reporter (Washington, PA) today May 11^th).  It was written in response to a lengthy editorial on May 7^th.  ("Wanted: More diversity in Southwestern Pa.")

It is not entirely irrelevant to quote Sir Francis Bacon who was the scientist before we even had so-called modern science while talking about biodiversity and evolution. (the first ‘scientist’ to receive the knighthood).  We owe many of our scientific concepts and methods to him.  He was always on the list of the “suspects” while they’re trying to figure out who Shakespeare was.

Iris, nay, flower-de-luce: Irises bloom to say hello and goodbye to tulips

Sensing the tulips have passed their peak, fading away reluctantly in our garden, the iris began to bloom, coming out to say hello and goodbye to tulips.

lily-of-the-valley

Many flowers have “lily” in their names, but they are not lilies, such as lily-of-the-valley.  Poets somehow prefer flower-de-luce (fleur-de-lis in French meaning the Flower of lily) to iris.  The name of flower-de-luce seems more romantic with exquisite and delicate beauty.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has a poem by the name of flower-de-luce.  We read “Beautiful lily, dwelling by still rivers,” then “O flower-de-luce, bloom on, and let the river / Linger to kiss thy feet!”

Longfellow clearly also called “flower-de-luce” (iris) lily.

We also read “Born in the purple, born to joy and pleasance”; iris comes with many colors, but the ones in our garden are mostly purple and white, as was in Longfellow’s garden and poem.

Fower-de-luce (by Henry Longfellow, not complete)

 

Flower-de-luce (by Henry Longfellow, Beautiful lily, dwelling by still rivers,
Or solitary mere,
Or where the sluggish meadow-brook delivers
Its waters to the weir!

Thou laughest at the mill, the whir and worry
Of spindle and of loom,
And the great wheel that toils amid the hurry
And rushing of the flame.

Born in the purple, born to joy and pleasance,
Thou dost not toil nor spin,
But makest glad and radiant with thy presence
The meadow and the lin.

The wind blows, and uplifts thy drooping banner,
And round thee throng and run
The rushes, the green yeomen of thy manor,
The outlaws of the sun.

The burnished dragon-fly is thine attendant,
And tilts against the field,
And down the listed sunbeam rides resplendent
With steel-blue mail and shield.

Thou art the Iris, fair among the fairest,
Who, armed with golden rod
And winged with the celestial azure, bearest
The message of some God.

Thou art the Muse, who far from crowded cities
Hauntest the sylvan streams,
Playing on pipes of reed the artless ditties
That come to us as dreams.

O flower-de-luce, bloom on, and let the river
Linger to kiss thy feet!
O flower of song, bloom on, and make forever
The world more fair and sweet.

The young and restless Taiwanese pumpkins are eager to brave new world

Not knowing outside is still too cold, especially during the night, these young and restless Taiwanese pumpkins are dying to venture outside; they kept looking into the garden where they would call it home the next four or five months.  They argue they are big enough to go out to “Brave New World”, where they belong.  We could hardly hold them down.

不知道外面還太冷, 這些台灣南瓜天天吵著要出去.

畫得很傳神！

This is a color pencil drawing/painting by my younger brother; he posted in Facebook saying May 6^th (lunar calendar April 8^th) is the birthday of 釋迦牟尼佛 or Buddha (佛陀).  Welcoming everyone to Kao-Ming Abbey (高明寺—or Abbey of Enlightenment, which was built single-handedly by my grandfather) for the celebration.

My cousin, 陳郁惠, made a comment, “畫得很傳神！”, to which I said,

阿惠, “畫得很傳神”, nothing better than using “傳神” to describe a drawing/painting of “浴佛”.  I really like it.

Tulips flaunting in our garden: why are they called 鬱金香 in Chinese?

Rarely did I post any photo unless I had something to say about it; this applies to the garden posts.

After having the spring garden for several years; I am running out of words to say about tulips; I have said everything I know of what Emily Dickinson wrote about it.  Herman Melville only mentioned tulips once in his Moby Dick.

These tulips are flaunting their vivacious beauty in our garden inviting me to say something nice about them; I therefore turn to Chinese literature, of which I know so little; but to no avail.  I do not even know why they are called 鬱金香 in Chinese.

鬱 (melancholy) 金 (gold) 香 (fragrant, scented); tulips are not even scented.

Lady-in-Red or Ladies-in-Red?

Lady-in-Red or Ladies-in-Red?