What is that? a refuge for radical white supremacist congressmen and women? It certainly is not about to become a generator for societal advancement and well-being.
Does Rep. Greene understand what she is talking about? Does she have any in-depth understanding of “Anglo-Saxon” history or tradition? Doubtful. Truth be told, many Anglo-Saxon traditions are generally not good models for a democracy.
Anglo-Saxons constitute one category of settlers of England – a cultural amalgam
of two or more tribes or subgroups who probably shared some characteristics and
background, perhaps something like an association of cousins. Let’s look a little
closer at other accounts (Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, and other sites of
historical research)
The original
homeland of both the Angles and the Saxons was Germanic. “The most likely historical homeland of the
Angles is considered to be the terrain on the small peninsula Angelne (part of
the Jutland peninsula ), which is in the northeast of the modern German federal
state of Schleswig-Holstein.
“In the era
of the Great Migration of Peoples, beginning in the 3rd century and most
intensely in the middle of the 5th century (440 AD), the Angles, together with
the neighboring Germanic tribes of the Saxons, Utes, and Frisians, moved to
Britain, inhabited at that time mostly by Christianized-by-Rome Celtic tribes.
By exterminating the local population and fighting with the Saxons and the Utes,
the Angles created three kingdoms there: the northern Angles of Northumbria ,
the middle Angles of Mercia, and East Anglia. In the VII -X centuries of our
era, the Angles and Saxons merged into a single ethnos — the Anglo-Saxons ,
which served as the ethnic basis for the modern English nation.”
Encyclopedia Britannica goes a bit further: “Anglo-Saxon, a term used historically to describe any member of the Germanic peoples who, from the 5th century CE to the time of the Norman Conquest (1066), inhabited and ruled territories that are today part of England and Wales.” Moreover, “According to St. Bede the Venerable, the Anglo-Saxons were the descendants of three different Germanic peoples—the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.
By Bede’s account, those peoples originally migrated from northern Germany to the island of Britain in the 5th century at the invitation of Vertigern, a ruler of Britons, to help defend his kingdom against marauding invasions by the Picts and Scotti, who occupied what is now Scotland. Their subsequent settlements in what is now England laid the foundation for the later kingdoms of Essex, Sussex, and Wessex (Saxons); East Anglia, Middle Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria (Angles); and Kent (Jutes). Ethnically, the Anglo-Saxons actually represented an admixture of Germanic peoples with Britain’s preexisting Celtic inhabitants and subsequent Viking and Danish invaders.”
The peoples of each of the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms spoke distinctive dialects, which evolved over time and together became known as Old English. Within that variety of dialects, an exceptionally rich vernacular literature emerged. Examples include the masterful epic poem Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of manuscripts that cover events in the early history of England.”
(The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn, Managing Editor, Reference Content.)
A few
conclusions might be drawn from this history that may be overlooked by Ms.
Greene (and any others who might join this proposed Caucus).
1) The Angles, Jutes and Saxons were Germanic in origin, culture and concepts
2) They came to England most probably as invitees from a leader of the Britons who needed some help defending his realm or land and his position
3) The people invited to perform this task decided that Vertigern’s lands and venue were attractive and fertile enough to promise a future for them
4) They revolted against their leader and ‘neighbors’ and invaded and captured land from the inhabitants
5) Something also learned is that these Germanic folks had a background of law and rules a bit different from those of more native origin like the Celts and Britons. We also learn up to the subordination and conversion to Christianity by Charlemagne, the continental Saxons retained their ancient tribal statutes and did not have a king, and all-important issues were decided at the annual meeting of tribal elders. The dukes (military leaders) took over the leadership of the people only during military conflicts.
6) In the Roman sources, starting from the 3rd century, there are complaints of sea robbery and piracy by the Saxons. Some accounts also record rivalries and tribal discords that led to fierce fights and stealing of land from each other. There is mention of a barbarian nature, but this could be more name-calling than fact, although it is surmised that the Saxon name came not from an area but from a blade carried by the Saxons called a ‘sax.'
In the period from the 3rd to the 5th century, part of the Saxons, along with the Angles and Utes, moved to the southern part of the island of Britain . Due to the forceful seizure of land and merger with the Angles, they became a community of Anglo-Saxons, which became politically and linguistically dominant in England. The language of the Saxons became the basis of the Anglo-Saxon language, from which modern English developed. The current generic name of the country – England – comes from the name of a tribe of Angles , and the names of such territories as Wessex (“West-Saxons”), Essex (“East-Saxons”), Sussex (“South-Saxons”) and Middlesex indicate their descent from the Saxon settlers.
Through a mix of Danish attacks, Viking raids, and internal fighting the Anglo-Saxons became weak. These situations combined to allow Cnut, the son of Aethelred, to become king of both Denmark and England in 1019. Eventually the Norwegians begin to war with the English due to disputes over land and rights to rule which ultimately culminated in the landing of William of Normandy in Pevensy in 1066. With William's ascension to the throne of England many things changed including political and social structures.
It might certainly help to know which “traditional Anglo-Saxon” behaviors and policies are going to be followed and promoted by this group of America First advocates and their Caucus. Would it be:
1) That early betrayal of a promise they made to defend a regional Briton leader’s land against marauders and robbers? stealing the very property you Would that be like legislation that promises tax cuts for all and then turns out to be raising the taxes of one group to pay for lowering the taxes of others? Would it come down to legislators stealing the very propety or right they had vowed to protect and secure? Is that among the dirty tricks we can expect from this new group – betrayal and robbery?
2) Or perhaps the Anglo-Saxon tradition being so passionately defended is related to the possible origin of the word Saxon. Their name may have had its origins in the tradition of Saxons carrying a bladed weapon –called a ‘sax’ --with them most everywhere they went. Sounds like a very familiar way of “Putting America First” – by the ignominious tradition of owning more guns than any other country and using them for violent confrontation and harm to others every single day of the week.
3) Maybe it is their tradition of brawling and fighting between and within tribal groups both foreign and domestic. That barbarism did not go unnoticed in some of the earliest records. Perhaps the divisive rhetoric and behavior of this new Caucus can be another way to Put America First in the category of barbarism and war and conflict? Wonderful…
4) If that doesn’t do it, perhaps the Caucus could manage to lessen the voice of the people to a lower level than it already has, following the example of the early Saxons who generally held an annual meeting to voice concerns to their leader – an eoarl or elder – who basically could choose who got to talk, and who didn’t. Moreover, he could choose how to respond. Maybe the Caucus will propose a Town Hall meeting once a year to replace that bothersome balloting that is so fraudulent! Of course, one has to wonder just who would receive invitations to attend?
5) PLEASE -- Don’t tell me the new Caucus is planning to follow the Anglo-Saxon tradition of acquiescence to foreign powers like the Danes and their Danelaw that basically negated some of the important A-S family and community relationships and established an aristocracy that called all the shots? That would be in who’s best interest, did you say?
6) Let’s See – what else is in the A-S tradition? You may like this one especially:
How about over-expansion of the military and local policing
until the people feel over-taxed and put upon by local thugs and unwanted violators
of common decency and decorum?
7) Then there is always that Norman thing the Anglo-Saxon folks bought into that established an elite with special titles, privileges, rewards, and status. That could certainly put America First among democracies. Oh, I forgot, we’re already most of the way there with discriminatory tax cuts and special privileges like private schools designed to educate the “crème de la crème,” plus making deluxe health care available only to the elite.
8) Or, just maybe, we will be treated to that tradition acquired by the Anglo-Saxon crowd during their ascendancy—something resurrected from their past– that they were a kind of “chosen people” – superior in many ways to others – destined to rule all their acquired land and that of the whole island – perhaps even farther afield. It later appeared as a tribute to their Aryan ancestry. Is that what this is all about – racial superiority and purity?
Shame on you – that historically bankrupt concept will not enhance the reputation of this or any other country – racialism is the path to disappointment and destruction. It eats the soul of nations and sets them in immediate conflict with every other non-Aryan nation on this globe. In a time when cooperation and collaboration are imperatives for saving our human race and our planet from pandemic disease and global extinction, racial superiority is the inevitable path to certain destruction.
I think I get it – the Anglo-Saxon Caucus is designed to find flawed Anglo-Saxon traditions and to peddle them once again as beneficial to the American people, even though they have already proven their worthlessness in history and experience.
This new Caucus is nothing more than the radicalized Party of Trump dispensing lies and propaganda designed to brainwash the public into believing that a certain flawed tradition is the promised paradise of politics.
IT ISN’T
-- IT NEVER WAS – and IT NEVER WILL BE –
unless people like Marjorie Greene, Louis
Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan and Donald Trump continue to be elected to
public office
IT IS TIME FOR VOTERS TO OPPOSE THE WORST OF OUR PAST
TRADITIONS BY STEPPING UP TO SUPPORT THE “BETTER ANGELS” OF OUR PRESENT.
