Dachshynddawg
Verified User
This is another of my long posts. I realise they are too long for most people to read, but I think to myself: "Well, maybe one or two people will, and maybe they will be able to provide me with some useful feedback ? Because in the longer posts I write and send to JPP, what I am mostly trying to do is get my own thoughts on a particular political issue/s issue I find very complex and very important @down on paper." Having to write down your thoughts in coherent sentences that others will be able to understand - because you have followed the standard rules/conventions of English grammar and syntax - is a discipline. Untangling the many and often complex factors in a messy political question like: "What should Donald Trump do? Right now, he has to to (somehow) judiciously balance the (potentially deadly) risks to the American public posed by COVID-19 if most people are allowed to return to work AGAINST serious harms that could be inflicted on the public if they they do not go back to work and the US economy crashes, causing a severe economic recession ?" Forcing yourself to write down your own thoughts on the question is difficult but helpful in that it forces you to concentrate, make the effort to try and draw on your higher rational cognitive functions, and bring them to bear on the problem.
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BACKGROUND
I am a great fan of the old wartime, black-and-white " B- Movies" that featured the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Eleven of them were made in America by Universal Pictures between 1942 and 1946 and starred Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes with Nigel Bruce as Dr Watson, his good-hearted (but not too bright) companion. The original "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes stories" were written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late Victorian era.
During the Second World War, a number "Universal's" Sherlock Holmes films were shot in the setting of wartime London, for example "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" (1942) and "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" (1943). In these films, Holmes, the great detective, is retooled as the ultimate counter-intelligence agent who masterfully foils the the plots of Nazi infiltrators and Fifth Columnists. Apart from their value as entertainment, these movies were also intended to convey key British propaganda themes. One was that Britain was involved in a "Peoples' War", thus key scenes in these movies show ordinary members of the British public keen to assist Sherlock Holmes in his efforts to defeat the enemy; indeed, we come to realise that without the contributions of the ordinary Londoner, Holmes would not have prevailed. During the years of the Second World war, English society's notorious class structure was still very much in place: there was an Upper Class, a Middle Class and the Working Class, and these three social groups did not ordinarily intermingle. The English class structure in the 1940's was not as rigid as it had been in, say, the later half of the 19th century, but it was still intact and Sherlock Holmes symbolised a member of the elite, upper class of English society. Though in "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" we see the great Holmes fraternising and collaborating with London Cockneys (archtypal working - class Londoners of the period). There is no hint of class-related stigma or resentment in the interactions, and we note an unmistakable expression of mutual respect as Holmes and the commoners work together on the all- important task of foiling the Nazis. The message from the British government was clear, these are desperate times, we must foster a strong ethos of genuine solidarity in order to fight this deadly threat to our island home. A second critical propaganda theme the wartime Holmes versus the Nazis films were intended to convey to the British public was the need for constant vigilance against the danger posed by Nazi agents and Fifth Columnists. The British public , of course, knew Holmes chiefly as a great detective - a brilliant gentleman - who solved crimes by using his razor - sharp powers of observation. Lastly, the public were also being encouraged to buy war bonds. For example, one particular Holmes vs the Nazis movie (I forget which one it was) which ends with priceless scene where Holmes and Watson are seen sitting next to each other in a horse-drawn buggy that is travelling down a lane. The camera then zooms in to focus the head and shoulders of the two men. After a few seconds of silence, Watson coughs - to clear his throat - and says to Holmes: "Damn close thing that, Holmes, but we got the blighter." Holmes, in an intensely sombre tone of voice replies: "Yes, but there'll always be more like him, Watson, and we must never let down our guard. We must never let it down. For we will always fight to defend it. And we shall never surrender it - this Island, this Fortress...this England !! Watson then stares ahead with misty "middle-distancing" eyes and mumbles softly:" Well said, Holmes; well said, old man."
The Sherlock Holmes character was created in the late 19th century, and it displays some of the most distinctive characteristics of the English psyche. One is an almost puritanical obsession with justice. Holmes never seeks personal revenge against any enemy that had tried to do him in, rather he is absolutely determined to see the villains he pursues face trial in a court of law for their wrong-doings. Another is the will to calmly persevere in adverse circumstances no matter how difficult and hopeless they may seem For Holmes the greatest sin is despair and capitulation, one must "carry on" no matter what. One must never give up and surrender before "the slings and arrow of outrageous fortune"Patriotism and loyalty to the Crown are also quintessential attributes of the native English identity. Holmes loves England and everything it stands for; he is Queen Victoria's most fiercely loyal and worshipful subject. The the overwhelming majority of native Englishmen and women today in 2020 likewise revere their Queen Elizabeth II, regardless of their p political positions. It was pride in their English identity - their cultural heritage, their history, their values, their institutions, religion, customs and social mores - and a desire to defend and protect their English legacy that was a critical factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum result. The decision that was made to have the United Kingdom withdraw from the European Union was made by the native Englishmen and women (the "Anglo-Saxons") of regional England, NOT by the Scots nor the Welsh nor the Ulstermen nor the residents of the big cosmopolitan, multiracial/cultural, English cities of London and Birmingham and the like. Finally, the Sherlock Holmes movies set in wartime London highlight how the English, when they are threatened by some dire peril will instinctively come together in a spirit of solidarity to fight the threat; rich and poor, members of all the different social classes, men and women, young and old, all will pitch in and work together in an effort to prevail.Oh yes, there is one other English character trait I forgot. This is that the English people will not be bullied. The native English are, generally speaking, an unobtrusive, congenial and very tolerant race.In the South of England, the natives are typically quite reserved However the English will absolutely not tolerate being menaced by bullies. That is why when the 20th century's greatest bully, Adolph Hitler, threatened them, their immediate and unflinching response was to fight him and his Nazi war machine to the death if necessary,
The native White English are also a very STOIC people - something not many foreigners understand - there is real "iron in the soul" of the ordinary native, White Englishman/woman. Many, today view the English as an effete race of tea-sipping weaklings and whingers. If that's what you believe, then you have been duped by a false stereotype.
I think, that the stoicism of the White English character is a psychological trait that has evolved over time as a result of the unusually tempestuous and often violent vicissitudes of English history. Many great social and economic upheavals, political rebellions and revolutions have rocked England since the Anglo-Saxons colonised East Anglia, and the impact and harmful fall-out from these convulsions has been amplified has b by the fact that England is like a "crucible" insofar as it is a small, insular, isolated island which concentrates the forces unleashed by intense and calamitous social/economic/cultural/political convulsions.( NB: I know that England itself is not an island, but is located on an island along with other countries like Scotland, and Wales. The thing is that I see the English character and its culture as being so distinctive and historically dominant in the British Isles that I have fallen into the habit of referring to the "island of England").
Throughout much of its history England and Englishmen have been involved in countless large-scale battles and wars. A number date back to the Medieval era in conflicts such as: the Norman Invasion of England; the Battle of Hastings in 1066; Richard the Lion Heart and hi English Crusaders who fought the Muslim enemy on the continent. After the end of the Medieval period in England such wars as:" The War of the Roses"; "The English Civil War"; "The Battle of Agincourt"; "The Hundred Years War"; "The Anglo-Scottish Wars" and many others were fought ALL OF THEM WERE EXCEPTIONALLY BRUTAL AND BLOODY AFFAIRS. To have your life as a soldier in the 21st century ended by being shot through the head with a round fired from a powerful assault rifle is one thing; but to be hacked to death by a sabre or battle - axe, bludgeoned to death with a mace, or stuck to death with a pike, is another thing altogether.
As well as military conflicts, England has, from the era of the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century, to Brexit in 2016, been subjected almost continuously to social, cultural, political and economic upheavals, turmoil and revolutions of one kind or another. Here are some examples: the signing of "The Magna Carta" by King John in 1215 near Windsor, This would change the Anglosphere forever. Consider...The American Constitution/Bill of Rights and the US Declaration of Independence would never have come to exist were it not for that one document - the "Magna Carta". That means that America, by which I mean the REAL America and not the current pre-socialist dog's breakfast of: "SanfraSHITsco", sanctuary cities, Detroit-type Black hell-holes multiculturalism; the promotion of the doctrine of equity (equality of OUTCOME); reverse racism (Affirmative Action) state subsidised illegal immigration; massive Welfare State dependency; mandatory "politically correct" codes of expression; globalist ideology; dysfunctional universities staffed by cultural Marxists and Postmodern academics, MUSLIMS sitting in CONGRESS (!!) (!!); the social discord and strife generated by the promotion of leftist Identity Politics, hare-brained policy like the Green New Deal being embraced by senior politicians, proposals from official Democrat candidates for the Presidency to do away with America's borders and simply allow anyone who wishes to enter the US to enter (??!!) Return to the point I was making above; what I have just described is the vandalised and disintegrating America of today which bears little resemblance to the bone fide America that was envisioned and then brought to life by the Founding Fathers after the Revolutionary War against the British Crown was won in 1783. The REAL America endured from 1783 to 1965 which was when the socialist, Democrat President, Lyndon Bain Johnson, sowed the seeds of its destruction in 1964 and 1965.
Moving on. Some more examples of English catastrophes are : The Great Famine of 1315 - 1317 which hit England's economy very hard and resulted in a cessation of population growth."The Black Death" of 1346 an infectious disease that wiped out half of England's population in short order. "The Peasant Revolt" of 1387 shook England's feudal order to the core and succeeded in reducing the amounts of Royal tax payable for the next 100 years. As I mentioned above, "The English Civil War" (1642 - 1651) referred to a series a battles in England that were exceptionally violent and cruel and saw many atrocities committed The battles were fought at close quarters with clubs, pikes, swords, muskets and artillery. After it concluded the"The English Civil War" left deep and lasting scars of misery and suffering throughout English society. " The English Civil War" was chiefly to do with divisions in the Protestant Church: on one side were the fundamentalist Puritans who were opposed, on the other side, by the Anglican Church (whom the Puritans regarded as crypto- Catholic decadents). This disputes between the two Protestant groups were very bitter and reverberated throughout all levels of English society: the working-class; the gentry; city dwellers and country dwellers and so on.. So traumatic was this clash that a frequent slogan of the times was "the world turned upside down.". In 1592 there was an another outbreak of a particularly persistent stain of the "Bubonic Plague." In London, 100,000 odd people were killed by the contagion; and it goes without saying that the economic, cultural and social fall-out from this tragedy would have been profound and enduring.
Another upheaval was the English Reformation, which is typically associated with King Henry VIII's declaration in 1536, that England has severed all ties with the Church of Rome ( BTW, if you are one of those Lefties who thinks that Donald Trump is a crude, narcissistic, bully and sexist tyrant, let me assure you that he has nothing on Henry VIII. Henry WAS a brutal, egocentric, psychopath with a ferocious temper. If you think Trump has no respect for women because he liked to "grab them by the pussy", then how would you like to have a Head of State who treated all of his SIX wives appalling:, divorcing two, beheading two, having one die shortly after childbirth for whom he showed zero concern, and a final one who was very lucky to survive by outliving him ??; the execution of the autocratic monarch, Charles I, saw England become a Republic under the leadership Oliver Cromwell, yet another period of profound change in English history.
In 1688, after "The English Civil War", there was a political revolution in England, though it was a "bloodless revolution" and it was/is called the "Glorious Revolution" In the "Glorious Revolution", Catholic King James II was overthrown and replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband William of Orange. The political and social significance of the "Glorious Revolution" was far-reaching because of the the fact that Parliament was now established as the ruling power in England. In other words, England shifted from rule under the political principles of absolute monarchy to those of Constitutional Monarchy. I must conclude this list of examples now (because there are literally hundreds that I could cite, so I'll do that with the English Industrial Revolution which began around 1760, and by the time Queen Victoria ascended to the throne (1837) had already begun to radically, extremely and extensively transform EVERY aspect of English society, culture, economics, and politics.
One final modern - era example of tumultuous change and social/economic upheaval in English society was the election, in 1979, of the ultra Right-wing, Conservative politician, Margaret Thatcher, who would go to form a very close relationship - both personal and political - with American President Ronald Reagan - ("Ronny") - whom she greatly admired. Lest she be mistaken for a weak, insipid female in the very aggressive, male-dominated world that British politics was 40 years ago, Thatcher famously dubbed herself: "The Iron Lady of Europe", and that was an absolutely perfect sobriquet. She quickly ushered in a radical, new Conservative, political/economic order - that came to be known as "Thatcherism". Under the new dispensation, life changed - one way or the other - for every English citizen. Some worshipped her, others despised her; she was an extremely DIVISIVE English leader. The mere mention of her name can still provoke very passionate responses from the English to this day (seriously)
TO BE CONTINUED SHORTLY
.
BACKGROUND
I am a great fan of the old wartime, black-and-white " B- Movies" that featured the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Eleven of them were made in America by Universal Pictures between 1942 and 1946 and starred Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes with Nigel Bruce as Dr Watson, his good-hearted (but not too bright) companion. The original "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes stories" were written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the late Victorian era.
During the Second World War, a number "Universal's" Sherlock Holmes films were shot in the setting of wartime London, for example "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" (1942) and "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" (1943). In these films, Holmes, the great detective, is retooled as the ultimate counter-intelligence agent who masterfully foils the the plots of Nazi infiltrators and Fifth Columnists. Apart from their value as entertainment, these movies were also intended to convey key British propaganda themes. One was that Britain was involved in a "Peoples' War", thus key scenes in these movies show ordinary members of the British public keen to assist Sherlock Holmes in his efforts to defeat the enemy; indeed, we come to realise that without the contributions of the ordinary Londoner, Holmes would not have prevailed. During the years of the Second World war, English society's notorious class structure was still very much in place: there was an Upper Class, a Middle Class and the Working Class, and these three social groups did not ordinarily intermingle. The English class structure in the 1940's was not as rigid as it had been in, say, the later half of the 19th century, but it was still intact and Sherlock Holmes symbolised a member of the elite, upper class of English society. Though in "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" we see the great Holmes fraternising and collaborating with London Cockneys (archtypal working - class Londoners of the period). There is no hint of class-related stigma or resentment in the interactions, and we note an unmistakable expression of mutual respect as Holmes and the commoners work together on the all- important task of foiling the Nazis. The message from the British government was clear, these are desperate times, we must foster a strong ethos of genuine solidarity in order to fight this deadly threat to our island home. A second critical propaganda theme the wartime Holmes versus the Nazis films were intended to convey to the British public was the need for constant vigilance against the danger posed by Nazi agents and Fifth Columnists. The British public , of course, knew Holmes chiefly as a great detective - a brilliant gentleman - who solved crimes by using his razor - sharp powers of observation. Lastly, the public were also being encouraged to buy war bonds. For example, one particular Holmes vs the Nazis movie (I forget which one it was) which ends with priceless scene where Holmes and Watson are seen sitting next to each other in a horse-drawn buggy that is travelling down a lane. The camera then zooms in to focus the head and shoulders of the two men. After a few seconds of silence, Watson coughs - to clear his throat - and says to Holmes: "Damn close thing that, Holmes, but we got the blighter." Holmes, in an intensely sombre tone of voice replies: "Yes, but there'll always be more like him, Watson, and we must never let down our guard. We must never let it down. For we will always fight to defend it. And we shall never surrender it - this Island, this Fortress...this England !! Watson then stares ahead with misty "middle-distancing" eyes and mumbles softly:" Well said, Holmes; well said, old man."
The Sherlock Holmes character was created in the late 19th century, and it displays some of the most distinctive characteristics of the English psyche. One is an almost puritanical obsession with justice. Holmes never seeks personal revenge against any enemy that had tried to do him in, rather he is absolutely determined to see the villains he pursues face trial in a court of law for their wrong-doings. Another is the will to calmly persevere in adverse circumstances no matter how difficult and hopeless they may seem For Holmes the greatest sin is despair and capitulation, one must "carry on" no matter what. One must never give up and surrender before "the slings and arrow of outrageous fortune"Patriotism and loyalty to the Crown are also quintessential attributes of the native English identity. Holmes loves England and everything it stands for; he is Queen Victoria's most fiercely loyal and worshipful subject. The the overwhelming majority of native Englishmen and women today in 2020 likewise revere their Queen Elizabeth II, regardless of their p political positions. It was pride in their English identity - their cultural heritage, their history, their values, their institutions, religion, customs and social mores - and a desire to defend and protect their English legacy that was a critical factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum result. The decision that was made to have the United Kingdom withdraw from the European Union was made by the native Englishmen and women (the "Anglo-Saxons") of regional England, NOT by the Scots nor the Welsh nor the Ulstermen nor the residents of the big cosmopolitan, multiracial/cultural, English cities of London and Birmingham and the like. Finally, the Sherlock Holmes movies set in wartime London highlight how the English, when they are threatened by some dire peril will instinctively come together in a spirit of solidarity to fight the threat; rich and poor, members of all the different social classes, men and women, young and old, all will pitch in and work together in an effort to prevail.Oh yes, there is one other English character trait I forgot. This is that the English people will not be bullied. The native English are, generally speaking, an unobtrusive, congenial and very tolerant race.In the South of England, the natives are typically quite reserved However the English will absolutely not tolerate being menaced by bullies. That is why when the 20th century's greatest bully, Adolph Hitler, threatened them, their immediate and unflinching response was to fight him and his Nazi war machine to the death if necessary,
The native White English are also a very STOIC people - something not many foreigners understand - there is real "iron in the soul" of the ordinary native, White Englishman/woman. Many, today view the English as an effete race of tea-sipping weaklings and whingers. If that's what you believe, then you have been duped by a false stereotype.
I think, that the stoicism of the White English character is a psychological trait that has evolved over time as a result of the unusually tempestuous and often violent vicissitudes of English history. Many great social and economic upheavals, political rebellions and revolutions have rocked England since the Anglo-Saxons colonised East Anglia, and the impact and harmful fall-out from these convulsions has been amplified has b by the fact that England is like a "crucible" insofar as it is a small, insular, isolated island which concentrates the forces unleashed by intense and calamitous social/economic/cultural/political convulsions.( NB: I know that England itself is not an island, but is located on an island along with other countries like Scotland, and Wales. The thing is that I see the English character and its culture as being so distinctive and historically dominant in the British Isles that I have fallen into the habit of referring to the "island of England").
Throughout much of its history England and Englishmen have been involved in countless large-scale battles and wars. A number date back to the Medieval era in conflicts such as: the Norman Invasion of England; the Battle of Hastings in 1066; Richard the Lion Heart and hi English Crusaders who fought the Muslim enemy on the continent. After the end of the Medieval period in England such wars as:" The War of the Roses"; "The English Civil War"; "The Battle of Agincourt"; "The Hundred Years War"; "The Anglo-Scottish Wars" and many others were fought ALL OF THEM WERE EXCEPTIONALLY BRUTAL AND BLOODY AFFAIRS. To have your life as a soldier in the 21st century ended by being shot through the head with a round fired from a powerful assault rifle is one thing; but to be hacked to death by a sabre or battle - axe, bludgeoned to death with a mace, or stuck to death with a pike, is another thing altogether.
As well as military conflicts, England has, from the era of the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century, to Brexit in 2016, been subjected almost continuously to social, cultural, political and economic upheavals, turmoil and revolutions of one kind or another. Here are some examples: the signing of "The Magna Carta" by King John in 1215 near Windsor, This would change the Anglosphere forever. Consider...The American Constitution/Bill of Rights and the US Declaration of Independence would never have come to exist were it not for that one document - the "Magna Carta". That means that America, by which I mean the REAL America and not the current pre-socialist dog's breakfast of: "SanfraSHITsco", sanctuary cities, Detroit-type Black hell-holes multiculturalism; the promotion of the doctrine of equity (equality of OUTCOME); reverse racism (Affirmative Action) state subsidised illegal immigration; massive Welfare State dependency; mandatory "politically correct" codes of expression; globalist ideology; dysfunctional universities staffed by cultural Marxists and Postmodern academics, MUSLIMS sitting in CONGRESS (!!) (!!); the social discord and strife generated by the promotion of leftist Identity Politics, hare-brained policy like the Green New Deal being embraced by senior politicians, proposals from official Democrat candidates for the Presidency to do away with America's borders and simply allow anyone who wishes to enter the US to enter (??!!) Return to the point I was making above; what I have just described is the vandalised and disintegrating America of today which bears little resemblance to the bone fide America that was envisioned and then brought to life by the Founding Fathers after the Revolutionary War against the British Crown was won in 1783. The REAL America endured from 1783 to 1965 which was when the socialist, Democrat President, Lyndon Bain Johnson, sowed the seeds of its destruction in 1964 and 1965.
Moving on. Some more examples of English catastrophes are : The Great Famine of 1315 - 1317 which hit England's economy very hard and resulted in a cessation of population growth."The Black Death" of 1346 an infectious disease that wiped out half of England's population in short order. "The Peasant Revolt" of 1387 shook England's feudal order to the core and succeeded in reducing the amounts of Royal tax payable for the next 100 years. As I mentioned above, "The English Civil War" (1642 - 1651) referred to a series a battles in England that were exceptionally violent and cruel and saw many atrocities committed The battles were fought at close quarters with clubs, pikes, swords, muskets and artillery. After it concluded the"The English Civil War" left deep and lasting scars of misery and suffering throughout English society. " The English Civil War" was chiefly to do with divisions in the Protestant Church: on one side were the fundamentalist Puritans who were opposed, on the other side, by the Anglican Church (whom the Puritans regarded as crypto- Catholic decadents). This disputes between the two Protestant groups were very bitter and reverberated throughout all levels of English society: the working-class; the gentry; city dwellers and country dwellers and so on.. So traumatic was this clash that a frequent slogan of the times was "the world turned upside down.". In 1592 there was an another outbreak of a particularly persistent stain of the "Bubonic Plague." In London, 100,000 odd people were killed by the contagion; and it goes without saying that the economic, cultural and social fall-out from this tragedy would have been profound and enduring.
Another upheaval was the English Reformation, which is typically associated with King Henry VIII's declaration in 1536, that England has severed all ties with the Church of Rome ( BTW, if you are one of those Lefties who thinks that Donald Trump is a crude, narcissistic, bully and sexist tyrant, let me assure you that he has nothing on Henry VIII. Henry WAS a brutal, egocentric, psychopath with a ferocious temper. If you think Trump has no respect for women because he liked to "grab them by the pussy", then how would you like to have a Head of State who treated all of his SIX wives appalling:, divorcing two, beheading two, having one die shortly after childbirth for whom he showed zero concern, and a final one who was very lucky to survive by outliving him ??; the execution of the autocratic monarch, Charles I, saw England become a Republic under the leadership Oliver Cromwell, yet another period of profound change in English history.
In 1688, after "The English Civil War", there was a political revolution in England, though it was a "bloodless revolution" and it was/is called the "Glorious Revolution" In the "Glorious Revolution", Catholic King James II was overthrown and replaced by his Protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband William of Orange. The political and social significance of the "Glorious Revolution" was far-reaching because of the the fact that Parliament was now established as the ruling power in England. In other words, England shifted from rule under the political principles of absolute monarchy to those of Constitutional Monarchy. I must conclude this list of examples now (because there are literally hundreds that I could cite, so I'll do that with the English Industrial Revolution which began around 1760, and by the time Queen Victoria ascended to the throne (1837) had already begun to radically, extremely and extensively transform EVERY aspect of English society, culture, economics, and politics.
One final modern - era example of tumultuous change and social/economic upheaval in English society was the election, in 1979, of the ultra Right-wing, Conservative politician, Margaret Thatcher, who would go to form a very close relationship - both personal and political - with American President Ronald Reagan - ("Ronny") - whom she greatly admired. Lest she be mistaken for a weak, insipid female in the very aggressive, male-dominated world that British politics was 40 years ago, Thatcher famously dubbed herself: "The Iron Lady of Europe", and that was an absolutely perfect sobriquet. She quickly ushered in a radical, new Conservative, political/economic order - that came to be known as "Thatcherism". Under the new dispensation, life changed - one way or the other - for every English citizen. Some worshipped her, others despised her; she was an extremely DIVISIVE English leader. The mere mention of her name can still provoke very passionate responses from the English to this day (seriously)
TO BE CONTINUED SHORTLY
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