If ever there was a man to make a liberal squirm, Robert Scotland Liddell would fit the bill. Imagine a man from early 20th-century Britain who, despite facing a world in chaos, stood firm in his conservative values and raised a few eyebrows along the way. Born in 1885, Liddell was a British soldier and author whose adventures spanned the globe, from the bustling streets of Tokyo to the ancient pathways of the Middle East, with a pit stop in the dusty arenas of war.
Liddell, often overlooked in the annals of history, was a multifaceted individual: a soldier by profession, a writer by passion, and an all-around thorn in the side of progressive thinkers. His adventures took him far and wide, many times to places where his firm grasp on his beliefs was in stark contrast to the environments he found himself in. Liddell's years in Japan are particularly noteworthy. He arrived in Tokyo in 1918, a time when the country was on the cusp of modernity but still steeped in tradition. While others might have been swept away by the prevailing liberal ideas emerging around the world, Liddell took the time to document what he saw, with a refreshingly conservative and often critical perspective on Western intervention.
His work on Japan, 'The Unhappy Moon,' is not just a glimpse into a bygone era, but a rebuke of rampant cultural assimilation. A criticism modern-day multiculturalists would inevitably call problematic. But guess what? Liddell’s acute observations on Japanese culture, governance, and society during such a transformative era are a reminder that he understood the importance of national identity long before it became a topic of furious debate.
Liddell's chronicling of his experiences as a British expatriate in the Middle East during the early 20th century adds yet another layer to his storied life. At a time when colonialism was becoming a dirty word, Liddell traveled extensively through Egypt and Palestine, among other regions, capturing the changing political climate. He highlighted straightforward truths in a world where many preferred fantasies. His writings demonstrate a grasp of geopolitics that seems scarce among modern pundits today.
In his various works, Robert Scotland Liddell often questioned the morality of European intervention in Asia and the Middle East. His critical eye didn't spare the British Empire either. But rather than condemning the empire's values, he questioned its inconsistency, calling for a genuine adherence to the principles it supposedly cherished. How dare he? In an era sprinting towards increasing liberalization, Liddell's steadfast advocacy for maintaining cultural uniqueness without forceful assimilation is nearly unfound today.
Liddell's military career also speaks volumes. He wasn't just an armchair critic; he put his beliefs into action. Having served during World War I, his experiences likely provided him insights into human nature and governance that he later poured into his writings. Liddell understood that to maintain peace and prosperity, strong, principled leadership was essential—not wishy-washy policies shaped by focus groups. His military service coupled with his literary legacy makes him one of those rare historians who understood both the theory and practice of governance and morality.
The world Robert Scotland Liddell inhabited was rapidly evolving, much like ours today. Yet, with each step, he remained grounded in his convictions and wasn't shy about sharing them. Liddell's sharp portrayals of race relations, cultural imperialism, and the importance of national identity might be dismissed by critics today as outdated or naive. But perhaps it's these very critics who could benefit from Liddell's example of refusing to bend his beliefs to the whims of societal trends.
Robert Scotland Liddell led a life that spoke louder than any blog post could. He ventured where others faltered, stood still when others wavered, and wrote a narrative that continues to challenge today's so-called progressive discourse. His life isn't just a footnote in history—it's a lesson to be learned from.