2004–Flylady’s motto for this year is “less is more in 2004.” De-cluttering our home is one of my goals for the year–in fifteen minute increments, of course. R is reading Euripides’ Trojan Women. I remember being told back in the 70’s when I read the play that it was an “anti-war play.” That was during Vietnam when everybody who was anti-war latched onto anything that they thought supported their position. I’m not sure Euripides was saying “make peace, not war,” though, as much as he was just showing how sad and horrible war is.

The other children are watching Pirates of the Carribbean–again. We’re going to have to hide that movie; this is the third time for them to watch it since Thanksgiving. I wonder what lessons they’re learning from it?

Today is the birthday of Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861). I remember him from my Victorian poetry class. He was a firend of Matthew Arnold, a student at Rugby which was run by Matthew’s father Thomas, and he was “an epitome of the sincere Victorian who abandoned orthodox religion, renounced his childhood beliefs.” He wrote this rather cynical poem that I remember reading in my class:

The Latest Decalogue

Thou shalt have one God only; who
Would be at the expense of two?
No graven images may be
Worshipp’d, except the currency:
Swear not at all; for, for thy curse
Thine enemy is none the worse:
At church on Sunday to attend
Will serve to keep the world thy friend:
Honour thy parents; that is, all
From whom advancement may befall:
Thou shalt not kill; but need’st not strive
Officiously to keep alive:
Do not adultery commit;
Advantage rarely comes of it:
Thou shalt not steal; an empty feat,
When it’s so lucrative to cheat:
Bear not false witness; let the lie
Have time on its own wings to fly:
Thou shalt not covet; but tradition
Approves all forms of competition.

As I look at it again, it seems applicable, especially the part about murder. Let’s not go to any great pains to keep anyone alive whose “quality of life” is likely to be poor in our estimation.