Subscribe to the Cause

          When The New Yorker magazine sent me an email courteously reminding me that my annual subscription was about to renew itself, my reaction was to try to recall the last time I had logged in to read it. I mean, $110 is good value for a year’s worth of high-quality, liberal journalism, but it’s only one of several such subscriptions and, on reflection, it’s obvious that I’d been over optimistic in relation to my capacities, mental and fiscal, to keep up with them all. Furthermore, I don’t live in New York, nor did I ever and I’m struggling to justify similar outlays on the Washington Post and New York Times.

          Years ago, I would have had less interest in what the US press has to say, naively assuming that it was, in general, a bastion of the democratic principles upon which the constitution was founded. These days, I hang on its every word, hoping for some signs of vitality in the fightback against MAGA extremism, which seems intent on dumbing down culture, impoverishing the masses and suppressing any criticism of the blatant establishment of an unassailable plutocracy – national self-harm on a catastrophic scale. What’s that you say? Let them get on with it? Well, the thing is, MAGA is bullying not only its own citizens into compliance, but ours too, so it’s as well to keep an eye on their techniques and call them out early here.

          President Trump’s latest tirade against those European states that have not fully embraced his right-wing agenda is an example. There is a point to be made that Europe is complacently and smugly stuck in its (wonderfully varied) ways, but a little subtle persuasion, aka soft power, would be more acceptable to our 19^th century sensibilities. The stereotypical characterisation of Americans as brash but well-intentioned has been toppled from its flimsy foundations, only to be replaced by one that is selfish, ignorant and cruel, as embodied in its current President. (And now that this article has been published, it will probably be used to exclude me from visiting the Land of the Free*)

          Meanwhile, there is a case to be made in favour of Europe being the best place on earth to live. Its inhabitants enjoy relatively high standards of health, wealth, welfare, education and personal freedoms, in addition to which they have access to unprecedented levels of cultural depth and diversity, thanks to centuries of cross-fertilisation across its porous borders. My Other Half and I are about to travel by train from England to Italy. At no point do we expect to be questioned as to our political affiliations during border crossings. Acquaintances assume that we are ‘snowbirds’ and ask if the weather will be warm in Naples, but our intent is to spend a few weeks immersed in the local history, customs, language and cuisine. As for the weather, que sera, sera.

          Nowadays, we live in Plymouth, a provincial city. It has history but it is one-dimensional – the development of the Royal Navy dating back to Henry VIII – and its cultural life, until recently, has been similarly limited. The character of the city is changing now that the Navy’s presence has withered and been replaced by diverse economic activities. At the same time, the population has been augmented by newcomers from home and abroad, who add their cultures to the mix. Yesterday, I had Turkish coffee and burak at a café in town, where once only teacakes and pasties were available. It was not as immersive as being in Istanbul, but at least it’s not overshadowed by dictatorship.

          By the way, although it was with regret that I pressed “cancel my subscription” on The New Yorker, as soon as I did the algorithm made me an offer I couldn’t refuse: renew for only $30! Chipping in for the cause just became more affordable.

*The U.S. plans to “enhance” its border security measures significantly by requiring social media disclosures from European visitors.