the torment of tantalus

Whilst watching a recent episode of the BBC series Coast, I was reminded somewhat poignantly that Cuckmere Haven is not the only part of the south-east to face the dilemma of the irresistible elements, and like King Canute attempting to turn back the tide, we are, for all our arrogance and ingenuity, powerless to subdue the forces of nature.

We are not an immovable object. I wonder why we try to be?

Like Tantalus attempting to slake his thirst, the solutions to our problems, though seemingly tangible, often recede from our tentative grasp to become infuriatingly quixotic and mercurial. Even those we succeed in apprehending, butterfly like in our nets, occasionally prove impractical and idealistic when implemented and we are left to marvel at the naivety of our faith in them – or more often our faith in ourselves. It is at times like that these therefore that we should ask not ‘how do we strive to overcome this difficulty?’ but rather ‘how do we best prepare for the inevitable?’

The sea is coming whether we like it or not and continuing to fight it for even ten years, let alone fifty, is merely burying our heads in the sand. For all our good intentions we may, by deferring a long term or even permanent solution, be guilty of making the whole issue ‘someone else’s problem’. We are already leaving an unfortunate legacy for generations yet to come and despite recent warnings, many still refuse to accept the truth. So when faced with the dilemma of working with nature or ‘holding the line’, I would, for the sake of our children’s, children’s children, like to put in one small, plaintive vote in favour of the forces of nature - who don’t really need our help, but will punish us mercilessly for any contempt.

[Image courtesy of Science & Society Picture Library]