There is a vivid irony of the coincidence of what the world woke up to on the morning of my 7th birthday (18Sep1939) and what we all woke up to on my No 1 son’s 70th birthday (18Jan2026). The day in 1939 was when we learnt that Germany had invaded Poland. Today’s invasions are a mixture of trade and arms. In 2026 we learn that all countries supporting the independence of Greenland will be struck with tariff charges from the United States of 10% rising to 25%. And that the USA does not rule out the use of force to acquire Greenland.
For those like me praying that there will be no war I think we have to add “but not at any price”. As we struggle to teach rising generations the need for cooperation in a fast-moving, instant-communicating world we must also tell the story of human imagination and personal dignity as a realisation of our self-worth.
Humanity has no place without humans.
In the more than eighty-six years between these two dates we have grown our species in numbers, longevity, knowledge, communications and skills but not much, it would seem, in wisdom. How can we think that the brutal treatment of others is a recipe for a good life? What can lead us to a better understanding of our own potential within the now clearly visible options for a future world? The urgency of discovering this appears to be missing from all but a few leaders. Has democracy merely played into the hands of the wicked?
Society is no longer a collection of separate groups. It is a whole community. We learn about the different characteristics of others but as part of ourselves not as in a zoo with them caged for their protection and ours. We band together to defend our property and rights. If we all had a universal threat we would all band together to save ourselves. Well, wouldn’t we? In logic, yes. Our attitude to the climate shows that to be a false assumption.
If we were threatened by an intellect that could outsmart us all we would certainly take the necessary steps to prevent it. Really? In practice we are investing vast fortunes to enable AI to do so while murmuring soft words of control that have no possible basis of enforcement.
The problem with crisis is that the media sell on the basis of how much they can promote the latest folly as critical. Not everything can be critical. In the plethora of issues so identified at present we may lose the real crisis for want of boredom with too many to cope with. 1939 was not seen as a real crisis – but WWII started with its unconscionable consequences. Greenland isn’t a vital territory today so you may think ‘does it matter?’.
Ownership of the country you live in does matter, today and every day. It is your home, your house, your family. Let not the predator in by night.
If you do, tomorrow he may own you.
Good morning
John Bittleston
Your views, as always, more than welcome at [email protected].
19 January 2026
