Children of Men by PD James

History of the Future

Rockport Public Library

Wednesday, Feb. 4th, 2015
(Delayed one week because of 40+ inches of snow.)

NEXT MEETING:  Wed. Feb. 25, 2015:  Spies and spy agencies [Proposed by Janos Posfai]  Intriguing topic, plenty of connections to recent developments (Putin's rise,

WikiLeaks, Snowden).  Read a book and tell us about any part of the intriguing world of spies, spy agencies or espionage.  Think MI-5, NKVD, Checka, KGB, Stasi, Mossad, Mata Hari, Kim Philby, National Security Agency, CIA….

P.D. James, Children of Men, 1992 New York: Vintage Books.

                We are the History Book Club of Rockport.  Over the past 11 or so years we have looked at the plight of mill girls in the textile mills of Massachusetts and New Hampshire; we’ve examined the bloody massacre in Rwanda; we’ve discussed the adventures of the Shah of Iran; we’ve looked at the encounter between Indians and Europeans through the eyes of the native Americans;   we’ve gotten inside the world of America during Prohibition; we’ve looked at the arrival of settlers here on Cape Ann; we’ve immersed ourselves in the turmoil of World War II, even reading about Hitler’s bizarre behavior as he saw his plans to demolish Leningrad and Moscow come to an end;  we’ve looked at the beginnings of Islam back in the seventh century; and a whole lot more.

            Now, thanks to the suggestion of Janos Posfai, we are looking at the History of the Future.

            I chose a fascinating story by a mystery writer, P.D. James, a well-known Englishwoman. Phyllis Dorothy James was born in 1920, and died just two months ago.  She became famous for her crime fiction, many featuring the suave, intelligent police officer Adam Dalgleish.

            Children of Men begins in England on January 1, 2021.  Dr. Theodore (Theo) Faron, an Oxford don, writes in his diary that the last human to be born on earth has been killed in a pub brawl.

            In 1994, the sperm counts in human males dropped to zero all over the world.  The last people to be born were the “Omega” generation, born in 1995.  They are described as spoiled, over-entitled, remote and unstable.  They are known to show undisguised contempt for their elders.

            Since everyone knows that eventually, humans will all die off, there are discussions about what to do with our beautiful creations on earth, our universities, libraries, museums and churches. 

            While no more humans are being born, animals continue to be born, and it turns out that many, mostly women, have turned their attention of bringing up their animals—cats and dogs—like children, dressing them in clothes, pushing them around in prams.  They hold elaborate christening ceremonies for newborn pets.

            Women also dote upon dolls the same way.  Many spend thousands on beautiful dolls, and likewise push them around in prams, etc. 

            There are no children’s playgrounds—the government demolished all of them several years ago.  There are no toys, and schools have been turned into storerooms, or just abandoned.  Since there are no births, the population is gradually dropping, worldwide.

            England is ruled by a Warden, named Xan Lyppiatt, a sort of benign dictator.  He and Theo grew up together, he from a noble family, and Theo from a less privileged part of the same family.  They spent summers together in the English countryside.

            Xan and his council of five are preparing the country for the eventual extinction of all citizens.  They have established the Isle of Man as a prison colony, and citizens found guilty of a crime are sent there.  They don’t come back, and they don’t escape.  Parliament acts in an advisory capacity; judges rule in criminal cases without any jury. And of course, there is a secret police organization.

            As people grow old and need more care than is available, they have the opportunity to engage in “Quietus”, wherein older people may “voluntarily” elect to go aboard a special vessel that goes out a distance from shore and sinks, with all chained to the deck. Some, it is reported, didn’t actually choose to do this. 

            Theo is approached by a nice young woman named Julian.  It turns out she is one of a group of dissidents called The Five Fishes. They are determined to upset Xan’s tidy world, by fighting to release the prisoners on the Isle of Man, end the Quietus voyages, and return England to democracy. The other “Fishes” are Rolf, Julian’s husband, Luke, a former priest, Miriam a midwife who for 25 years has had no babies to deliver; and Gascoigne, who is quite clever with explosives.

            The Fishes want Theo to approach Xan and ask for various reforms and a more democratic system.  He travels to meet with Xan and his council.  That meeting does not go well. 

            Theo goes on a long trip for several months in Europe.  When he returns, Julian contacts him.  Gascoigne has been arrested as he tried to blow up the landing for a Quietus ship, and the Secret Police will soon be looking for the other four Fishes. 

            Julian discloses that she is pregnant.  In a world where no one has been pregnant for 25 years, this is a big deal.  Theo joins the group, and they all take off in the car of a professor friend of Theo’s, heading for Wales, and some place where they can hole up until the baby is born.

            That is the part in this tale which is full of adventure and intrigue.  As they drive through the English countryside they encounter a gang of wild Omegas, all with wild face-painting, dancing around their car. They force the Fishes out, beat them, killing Luke, then burn their car.

Theo Faron and Midwife Miriam 

            The climax in the tale comes when the Fishes find a place to stop, just in time, because Julian is about to deliver.  She delivers a fine baby boy.  By this time, Julian is the last of the five Fishes—the others have been killed.  Xan arrives on the scene with the secret police, but Theo, who has been carrying a pistol with one bullet since this escape began, kills him.  Theo takes Xan’s huge coronation ring and puts it on his own finger, and takes over England.  Just like that.

            What was P.D. James trying to say in this story?  Is she suggesting that modern society, in its effort to reduce “unwanted pregnancies” has over-corrected and created mass sterilization?

            What about the ladies with the dogs and cats and dolls in prams?

            What about the wild young Omegas? 

            James’ Children of Men reminds me of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, published 60 years earlier, in 1932.  And also George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945) and 1984 (1949).

            Huxley foretold of state control of reproduction and in vitro fertilization techniques, designer babies and a marvelous plan to create a whole population of compliant, willing servants of the state.

            Orwell in his two books warned us about Communism and Stalin at a time (at the end of World War II) when increasing numbers in England and America were becoming intrigued by the idea of communism. I read both books when I was a teen ager, and it helped me to look at the USSR with more critical eyes.  I later got to spend two years in the USSR and confirm for myself that Orwell had it right.

            These writers are trying to tell us something, and it may be worth it to pay attention.

HISTORY BOOK CLUB TOPICS

Wed. Jan. 28, 2015:  History of the Future; how the future was imagined in the past.[Proposed by Janos Posfai] The Guggenheim's "Italian Futurism 1909-1941" paintings exhibit gives the idea. This topic can explore what if a historian, using the same methodology he or she uses to discover the past, extends that thinking into the future? Or, it can discuss what writers in the past, predicted about a future where we now live?  Some fiction will qualify. E.g.:  A History of the Future: A World Made By Hand, novel by James Howard Kunstler, (2014), or George Orwell,  H.G. Wells or Aldous Huxley. 

Kim Philby, Soviet Spy, 1963

Wed. Feb. 25, 2015:  Spies and spy agencies [Proposed by Janos Posfai]  Intriguing topic, plenty of connections to recent developments (Putin's rise, WikiLeaks, Snowden).  Read a book and tell us about any part of the intriguing world of spies, spy agencies or espionage.  Think MI-5, KGB, Stasi, Mossad, Mata Hari, Kim Philby, National Security Agency, CIA….

Wed. Mar. 25, 2015:  Immigration to America    [Proposed by Richard Verrengia] They came in waves.  First English Puritans, then English and French Catholics, followed by Germans, and French from Canada, Africans as slaves to work on farms and cultivate cotton, then French, Irish, Italians, and Jews to work in the mills and start their own businesses, and Scandinavians and Italians to work in the quarries, and Italians and Portuguese to build strong fishing fleets. Then the Mexicans, to harvest the crops Then there were the Chinese, to build railroads, and Japanese to work on farms.  They fled their home countries to escape religious persecution, or to earn a living wage, or to escape famine or war.  Now there are all kinds of immigrants from Mexico and Central America, Arabs, Africans, Iranians, Indians, Pakistani and Vietnamese.  Read a book about any part of this amazing history, or home in on a single group.  

Wed., Apr. 29, 2015 History of American Music [Proposed by Sam] The richness of America's musical life.  American music is an intricate tapestry of many cultures, with wide array of influences from Native, European, African, Asian, and other sources.  Growth and influence of popular music, including film and stage music, jazz, rock, and immigrant, folk, and regional music. 

Wed. May 27, 2015: The History of Inequality.  Wealth and Poverty, Property Ownership [Proposed by Rick Heuser] Look at the 18th century in Europe-- the Czars and the Serfs; the King of France and the sans-culottes; The Soviets preached of a land of equality-- how did that work for them?  How have societies dealt with inequality through the centuries?   

Wed. June 24, 2015: The Future of Europe [Proposed by Rick Heuser] Based upon what you know, and what you learn, where is Europe going?  Will it soon be wrapped up in one tight ball, with no borders, everyone using the same Euro (€)?  What about all the guest workers, unassimilated laborers from other continents?  What about the growing numbers of Muslims?  

Wed. July 29, 2015: History of the American Family. [Proposed by Richard Verrengia] How has the American family changed since Pilgrim days?  

Wed. Aug. 26, 2015: The History of Food in America. [Proposed by Janos Posfai] Let’s explore what Americans have considered a square meal, starting with Native Americans (Indians), and including Pilgrims, then people arriving from other parts and classes of England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Russia, African slaves, China; look at regional foods from the South, New England, the West, Midwest.

Wed. Sep. 30, 2015:  Charismatic leaders in History.[Proposed by Janos Posfai] What were the keys to Hitler’s, Churchill's, Mussolini's, FDR's successes? Keen perception of public moods? Oratory abilities? Character, firm ideology? Connecting to the people? How did they deploy their charisma? How could Napoleon manipulate the masses without TV ads? Why were people so perceptive to a madman in Germany? Intriguing and recurring questions.  

Wed. Oct. 28, 2015: Show Trials in History. .[Proposed by Janos Posfai]   Read how nations and leaders have used a well-publicized court trial to serve another need, like demonstrating power, making peace, deflecting responsibility, etc.

Examples: Trial of Socrates; Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms; Sacco Vanzetti; Nuremburg War Crimes Trials; Julius and Ethel Rosenburg; Trial of Nicolae and Elena Ceaușescu;  Saddam Hussein in Iraq;   Stalin’s NKVD show trials; Trials in Stalinist Hungary like Cardinal József Mindszenty, oil executives, L. Rajk. 

Wed. Dec. 2, 2015: ?

Contact me at scoulbourn1@verizon.net

Sam Coulbourn

Master Plan for the Meadow and Pond

The Master Plan for

Restoring Millbrook Meadow

and Pond

Rockport’s Mill Pond is still popular! (Photo by Becca Morris Campbell)

           

            Millbrook Meadow Committee, since 2012, has been devoted to a massive project for the Town—the restoration of the four-acre parcel in downtown Rockport, adjacent to King and Beach Streets and Mill Lane.

            The family of George Tarr donated the Mill Pond to the Town in 1936.

Rockport’s Garden Club gave the property now known as the Meadow to the Town in 1938.

Lura Phillips (1900-1994)

            In 1951 Lura Hall Phillips began efforts to save the Meadow from becoming a town parking lot, and over the next 40 years worked to protect and preserve this beautiful parkland.  When she died in 1994 she left money in trust for the Meadow.

            Over many decades Rockporters have enjoyed the Meadow for festivals, fairs, picnics, weddings, games and just fun.  For over a century Rockporters have skated on the Mill Pond, and it was once a good place to catch small fish. 

            The dam between the Pond and Meadow, originally built in 1702, blew out in 2006, and was finally replaced in 2012, and it was then that the Committee, led by John Sparks, began a very comprehensive project to restore the area. 

            Construction of the new dam dramatized the poor condition of the Pond and the Meadow. The Pond was filled with silt, its original eight-foot depth now reduced to four feet or less and badly clogged with aquatic plants.

            The Meadow was often soggy, the Brook was clogged with loose stones and debris, and several large trees were dead or dying.

            Barbara and John Sparks led the Committee’s drive to obtain funding from Town Meeting and from the Community Preservation fund. The Committee obtained $162,000 from the Lura Hall Phillips Trust, and went to Town Meeting and townspeople voted $60,000 in regular Town funds and $100,000 in Community Preservation Funds (total of $322,000) to begin the restoration. We plan to request additional funds at Fall Town Meeting in 2015.

          The year 2014 began with a contractor hired to begin the long-awaited restoration. Milone & MacBroom began with a complete program of soil testing, sampling of the Pond bottom, and a complete study of the four-acre parcel. 

            Membership:  Members of Millbrook Meadow are Charmaine Blanchard, Shannon Mason, Barbara Sparks, Ted Tarr, Marcia Lombardo, Aileen Morrissey, Stephanie Woolf and Sam Coulbourn. Shannon continued as vice-chair, Sam chair, and Marcia treasurer. 

Lisa Glover and Shannon Mason tell Rockporters about Meadow Plans at HarvestFest.

            Fund-Raising Committee. In January Shannon Mason organized a Fund Raising subcommittee, with Charmaine Blanchard and Sam Coulbourn as members and with Susan Gray and Betsy Giannoccaro as advisors.  The subcommittee initiated an application for membership in Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) in order to create a structure for providing a tax-exempt organization, qualified to accept tax deductible contributions.  We have raised $23,000 in private donations to date.

            Conservancy Formed. Since Millbrook Meadow Committee, as a town government entity, could not serve as fund raiser, the Committee began creating a board for the Rockport Millbrook Meadow Conservancy.  This Conservancy is an independent organization, qualified to solicit donations to be collected by ECCF.  The Conservancy Board works closely with Millbrook Meadow Committee and provides their individual experience and expertise in the Restoration project, associated fund raising, and stewardship of the park into the future.

            Named to the Board were Dianne Anderson, Tim Corrigan, Linda Cote, Chester Clark, Martha Jane Coulbourn, Deborah Cowan, Karl Norwood, Maura Wadlinger, Barbara Sparks, and Sam Coulbourn. Because of pressing duties, Linda resigned at the end of the year.

            Web Site: Also in January with help of Laurie Ann Condon LePine, the Conservancy initiated a website at www.millbrookmeadow.org

            Fighting Knotweed.  During the year the Rockport Garden Club, aided by Millbrook Meadow Committee, conducted several cutting sessions along the Mill Brook bank and on the shore of the Pond.  The Knotweed team collects the cut stalks and they are gathered up and taken to Franklin Park Zoo, where the giraffes, zebras and gorillas enjoy them.  Control of invasive plant life is a key item that will be carried forth in plans for restoration of the Meadow and Pond.

Volunteer Gil McCarthy assists “Knotweed Team”, Holly Yasaitis and Laura Hallowell.

            Eagle Scout Trail.  When Sayles Kasten approached the Committee to plan a project for his Eagle Scout badge, John Sparks worked with him to plan a trail around part of Mill Pond.  Sayles worked with boards and committees to obtain permission and in March, led a group of fellow Boy Scouts to cut a path through dense growth which would enable people to enjoy more of the flora and fauna of the Pond.

Boy Scout Sayles Kasten leads Eagle Scout Project at Pond

            Liaison Group. The Committee formed a special liaison group to work with the Contractor and DPW. John Sparks headed this effort, with Sam Coulbourn and Eric Hutchins, as Environmental Advisor.

John Sparks (1941-2014)

            Death of John Sparks. In May, as the contractor prepared to deliver a comprehensive briefing of its findings, John Sparks fell ill of meningitis, and died on May 22, 2014.

            After John died, his wife Barbara took over his role as liaison.  She added new advisors:  Gunilla Caulfield, Frank Hassler, John P. Campbell, AIA, and Laura Hallowell. 

             

Charmaine Blanchard, Barbara Sparks and Frank Hassler at HarvestFest 2014

            Getting out the Message.  All year Millbrook Meadow Committee and Conservancy members worked hard to get the message about Restoration out to the public. Members manned booths at Motif No. 1 Day, Harvest Fest, the Acoustic Festival and the Garden Club’s two-day Garden Tour. We held numerous public meetings, a visioning session, and provide detailed information on our website, www.millbrookmeadow.org

Rockporters hear plans for for Meadow from Jason Williams of MMI

            Master Plan.  In December the Committee agreed with the Master Plan proposed by Milone & MacBroom, and now the contractor is hard at work designing the plans for actual construction, to begin in spring 2016.

            Restoration Plan. The plan for the Meadow and Pond will include these items:

1.  Dredging of the Mill Pond, removing tons of sediment deposited over many years, and also much of the invasive aquatic plants on the part of the Pond near the dam. The granite stones along the bank will be re-set.

2.  Rebuilding of the watercourse that carries water in Mill Brook to the sea.  It will be widened to reduce the chances of its flooding its banks, and the course will be slightly sinuous, to make it more favorable for fish, eels and aquatic plants. The new design will make the Brook more accessible to children, as well. 

Mill Brook will be widened with more of a sinuous path through Meadow.

3.  Willows. Replacing the old, dying willow trees with new, vibrant willow trees and other species.

4.  The Meadow will be graded and re-shaped, its drainage improved to reduce the chance of flooding. 

5.  Rain gardens, designed to absorb water runoff from the adjacent parking lot, will be located along the Meadow path.

6.  The Meadow path will be rebuilt using pervious paving, and low-intensity path lighting will be installed.

7.  Planting throughout the Meadow will be restored, using primarily native species, with special steps taken to eliminate invasive, alien species, like Japanese Knotweed.

8.  The playground will be refurbished with new equipment.

9.  The Frog Pond will be dredged and made more accessible. 

Future plan includes Boardwalk across Pond

10.  Boardwalk. As the dredging in the Pond is completed footings will be installed for a future boardwalk that will allow people to walk along both sides of the Pond and then cross over in the area between the Union Cemetery and Holbrook Court, where they can view the ducks, frogs, turtles, birds and aquatic plant life.

11.  Water and Electricity. For the first time since the park has existed, a water supply will be provided.  Likewise, electrical receptacles will be provided for use during special events in the Meadow, and for low-level, night-sky friendly overhead lighting.

            Plan for 2015. Millbrook Meadow Committee, our Conservancy and Advisors are working closely with the Department of Public Works and Milone & MacBroom toward making the Restoration a reality.  Losing John Sparks was a blow for us, but we have gained some tremendous volunteer talent, and we are resolved to produce a restored Meadow and Pond that Rockporters will treasure for generations to come.

            We welcome volunteers who would like to join our Conservancy!

Respectfully Submitted,

Samuel W. Coulbourn,

Chairman