Defending Kipling

[Terrance]

Defending Kip, O didn't defend British Imperialism. Of course today he
would be accused of being a fascist Bush supporter. But O understood
that those in power are obliged to confront practical realities, like
bombs falling on the homeland. That those obliged to govern, to act, to
make the tough decisions, must be practical. They can't very well sit
out on the grass, legs crossed, bottle of wine and loaf of bread, roses
in their hair, contemplating theoretic panaceas. When an elephant enters
the picture you can't sit around like a jackass playing political poker,
you've got to act and your actions will have consequences, moral ones.
You may be damned if you do and damned if you do, but you got to do.