"The Situation is Hopeless but not Serious"

A bit of Friday levity

The Viennese have an old saying: “Die Lage ist hoffnungslos aber nicht ernst.” This translates as “The situation is hopeless but not serious.”

The origin of this saying has apparently been lost in the mists of time. I’ve heard it originated in the late spring of 1945, when the American and British armies were closing in from the west, the Soviet army was closing in from the east, and the city was bombed to smithereens. The government in Berlin sent a cable to a government office in Vienna, asking for a report on the situation (Lage). “Die Lage ist hoffnungslos aber nicht ernst,” came the droll reply.

Bombing of Schönbrunn Palace, which had no military value.

I was reminded of this old saying this morning after I posted an essay on the subject of RFK, Jr.’s 70th birthday celebration in Los Angeles. I proposed that Kennedy offered the prospect of moving forward, out of the dark chasm of partisan rancor in which our country has been stuck for many years.

Judging by the reader comments, the political culture of the American Republic is now largely shaped by hot button issues. These are the following:

1). Gun control.

2). Abortion.

3). Israel Palestine conflict.

4). Environmentalism.

5). Hatred and desire for revenge against political opposition.

The battle lines over these issues have been drawn, and there doesn’t seem to be much space for compromise or even civil discussion. The situation is hopeless but not serious.