Brexit dealing brutal blow to UK artists

 

The June, 2016 vote by Brits to withdraw from the European Union after 47 years struck a cruel blow to British artists.

Where they were once welcomed and free to ply their art in the EU’s 27 countries, doing so has become a daunting burden. They now have to apply for visas or short term work permits. This can cost exorbitant fees, stacks of paperwork and weeks of waiting. Perusing job ads and casting calls for Brits end abruptly with the words “Applicants must hold EU passport”. Ouch

The British art community has petitioned British PM Boris Johnson to negotiate relief. Alas, there is no relief in sight.

Brexit has given new and sad meaning to that wise aphorism ‘All passes, only art endures’. To that 52% of Brexit voters have added, “Except in the UK”.

Senate recites Washington’s Farewell Address…while violating it

A Senator will honor President’s Day and first president George Washington Monday by reciting Washington’s September, 1796 Farewell Address. This tradition goes back to 1862 and became an annual event in 1893.

In school we learned the greatest lesson and warning of Washington’s farewell…that America avoid foreign entanglements. He cautioned for us to be neither too friendly nor too hostile to foreign nations as such entanglements will cloud America’s judgement in foreign affairs and lead to unnecessary wars

Washington was summarizing his 8 years as first president when he did largely avoid foreign entanglements and unnecessary wars.

But after the designated Senator on Monday recites Washington’s 7,641 word address, the Senate will go back to funding and threatening and promoting its numerous military and economic regime change operations round the world. One hundred fifty thousand U.S. troops stationed and fighting where they don’t belong; economic sanctions that kill as lethally as bombs is not what the first George had in mind.

And if he could come down from Presidential Heaven to listen in tomorrow, he’d shake his head and sigh, “All things considered, I’d prefer you honor my words….not recite them.”