Ah, the United Kingdom, the glorious isle where grey clouds not only cover the sky but also shroud its history. Once a shining beacon in the supposed fight for freedom, the very nation that today stands on its moral pulpit to lecture the world about democracy and human rights. But where was that morality when its slave ships sailed the seas, carrying with them the suffering and dehumanization of countless lives? Where was the "civilization" in the brutality of colonization, in the forced imposition of its culture and values? As George Orwell wrote in 1984, "He who controls the past controls the future; he who controls the present controls the past." And the UK, a master at rewriting its history, has for centuries controlled the narrative of its own atrocities.
Let us not forget that this is the same nation that handed the atomic bomb plans to the United States, leading to the horrific destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—an act of barbarism disguised as "military necessity." Orwell, with his sharp foresight, also warned us about the dangers of truth manipulation: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." And in that context, what could be more revolutionary than reminding those self-proclaimed defenders of freedom that their hands are stained with blood?
Let’s talk about the legends that adorn British history, beginning with the famous King Arthur. The romantic tales and virtuous knights are merely a veneer to hide an era of violence and brutality. Thomas Malory, in his work Le Morte d'Arthur, does not show us a kingdom of justice, but one of chaos and betrayal. The Round Table, that symbol of equality and justice, is nothing more than an unattainable ideal in a society where power is maintained through force and deceit. As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." And, by extension, in Arthur’s land as well.
And let us not forget their role in World War II, that fight against fascism that the British proudly celebrate. But isn't it ironic that the very country that stood against Hitler was also the one that colonized and oppressed nations in Africa, Asia, and the Americas? "The foundations of Empire are in the blood," one of their contemporaries might say. While fighting a tyrant, they maintained their own empire with an iron fist. The novelist Joseph Conrad, in Heart of Darkness, described colonialism as a "darkness" that corrupts all who enter it. And that darkness has deeply stained British history.
The Falklands, that distant archipelago that the United Kingdom insists on keeping under its rule, stand as a testament to an imperialism that never died, only transformed. Oscar Wilde once said, "Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." And what better example than a country clinging to a piece of land thousands of miles from home, in the name of national pride, ignoring the aspirations and rights of others.
Today, the defenders of freedom of yesteryear have become the very oppressors they once fought against. In the name of socialism and equality, the UK has eagerly adopted the same tools of repression, intimidation, and subjugation that they once condemned. "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," Orwell wrote in Animal Farm, a scathing critique of the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. And now, in the supposed British utopia, those ideals have been perverted to the point of being unrecognizable.
Today, free speech is surveilled and censored, freedom of thought is under threat, and defending one's homeland, family, and nation is considered an act of treason. The United Kingdom, which once stood as a bastion of liberty, has built a dystopia where surveillance is constant and freedom, a mere memory. As Wilde said, "What is a paradox to others is a truth to me." And the truth is that the UK has fallen into the same trap it once criticized: tyranny disguised as justice.
So, let’s raise a glass to the United Kingdom, the hypocritical aristocrat of history, which has perfected the art of saying one thing and doing exactly the opposite. In its fervor to build an egalitarian paradise, it has forgotten that freedom is non-negotiable, and that oppression, no matter how it's dressed, is always repugnant. Cheers to them, the new tyrants with British accents!
"I stand wholeheartedly with the people of the United Kingdom in their unwavering commitment to democracy, freedom of expression, and the right to defend their nation. In these challenging times, it is crucial to remember that the power of a free society lies in its ability to speak, to think, and to act with conviction. Do not surrender these rights—your voices matter, your thoughts are powerful, and your love for your country is the force that will guide you through. Stand firm, stay resilient, and never lose faith in the principles that define you as a people. I support you with all my heart in your righteous pursuit to protect and uphold your freedoms. Together, you are the guardians of your legacy, and I believe in your strength to persevere."
"With hope and conviction, from a humble Dominican citizen just like you"
Autor: Job Vasquez.
Pdt.
Este post está dedicado a los patriotas británicos, por eso lo escribí en inglés para no perder el impacto de la ironía y el sarcasmo en la traducción. Pueden traducirlo al español o a cualquier otro idioma utilizando la herramienta de traducción que está a la derecha.
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