Nelson Said – “I See No Ships”

Turn your telescope around and look through the other end – the view changes.

Admiral Lord Nelson is said to have “turned a blind eye” – whilst saying “I see no ships”. The story relates to flag signals – ship to ship messaging in 1801 - during the Battle of Copenhagen when Nelson ignored the signal to retreat. By all accounts, Nelson was a very brave seaman and competent strategist.

During the sea battle he is said to have raised his telescope to his blind eye and was truthful when he said, he saw no ship’s signals. That was Nelson. But are we as a people today not seeing the signals – due to being blinded? Alternatively, are we looking through the wrong end of the telescope?

I believe we could be forgiven for being blinded to all the signals going on – all the frantic flag waving catching our attention and blurring our vision – let alone blinding our minds to what is really happening.

There is not a day which passes when I don’t see – in my view – people making what appears to be a mistake. I saw it again yesterday while watching a video podcast between two giant commentators. In fairness to them – they are both skilled commentators and are fully aware of the danger of being silenced if they overstep the mark and say too much, too bluntly. Both commentators have oodles of followers in the media – that is the people’s media as opposed to mainstream – and it’s not in their interest, or the people’s, if they get cancelled. We’re living in times when free speech is in short supply and is not a given in the world being shaped for us right now.

So, what exactly was the mistake – if it was one – that I saw?

Author: David Charles
3065 RD