The Vikings teach a lesson
If you are paying attention, there are lessons to be learned in the Vikings streaming series. There are some truths historically to be found.
The Vikings were intrepid and innovative explorers roaming the seas to trade and conquer long before history was able to catch up with them. There are sociological truths in the series as well. Our lesson for today illustrates that Socialism does not really work and never has.
The particular Vikings I’m discussing are traveling on the open seas in search of a new and bountiful land. Their provisions, their food and water are rapidly dwindling. They pledge to share what is remaining to hopefully ensure their survival.
This is an admirable thing in a critical situation, the obvious willingness to share, the helping one another and looking out for each other. What a great life lesson! It is something we should admire and hope we could find our way to do in a similar situation.
So pay attention, here is where the lesson starts
The bold title for your PowerPoint slide (I know I date myself here) is; Socialism Does Not Work!
This starving, thirsty, band of explorers finds land, but not the bountiful one for which they had hoped. This land, rock really, is barren, providing little to support the group as they continue to struggle for survival. The “land” is divided but they still plan to share any food found or grown in hope of survival.
And then it happens! A whale washes up on the land. There is great joy! They are saved! The whale represents nourishing food, and for a long time.
But! “Everyone can see the whale has washed ashore on my land,” Kjetill says as he prepares to defend his whale. And therin lies the problem. He then adds a bit of icing to his cake, “The God’s have favored me!” In those few words you find your lesson. Kjetill refuses to share!
Socialism and Communism, full of concern for the masses, with great sounding rhetoric, platitudes and theories of human government always provides a Kjetill who thinks the whole whale, the one that could save us all, is really his. Oh, and if that isn’t enough, the gods have also favored him.
Here is the new rule for a socialistic world. He who has the whale no longer wants to share!
There will always be a Kjetill who thinks the whole whale is his and that the gods favor him. The rest of us, well it’s the Gulags for us.
Disclaimer: My Scottish wife’s DNA tests a fairly high percentage for Scandinavian. I live with a Viking!
And we have been to the JORVIK Viking Center in York. I recommend it.