Will the takeover of Greenland be “too far” for those countries still claiming to support international law? Or that of Canada? Or anywhere? Moving the world from a series of independent countries to three major power blocks will bring with it several stages that represent ‘one more step’ towards conflict and yet another away from ‘live and let live’, the premise on which freedom is based. In my lifetime freedom has been whittled away, often for good reasons of improved fairness. Is the removal of a country’s independence a step “too far”?
To those who see the goals of personal power and wealth as legitimate at any price the answer is clearly No. They will call it growth, progress, defence and any other justification that looks like pro bono. But pro bono is freedom and that means the right to fail, the right to do different things from other people’s norms and the right to decide how they will live. We have more than enough people telling us how we should live merely to conform with the parking restrictions. Any more will lead to suborned citizens and revolutions. Neither is especially congenial.
I had some experience of predators in my childhood. The friendly tap became the heavy hug which soon turned into aggressive demands. At eight years old I learned to rebuff the first approach or later pay a painful price to end the relationship. A sign of dependence was taken as an invitation to invade my privacy.
In those days the victim was the guilty.
In those days?
Good morning
John Bittleston
What is your view? Please feel free to tell us at [email protected]
07 January 2026
