So here we go again. Former socialist and now 'Barking' MP, Margaret Hodge, has said that the Proms should 'engender new common values' , according to the Grauniad. Apparently the Proms attract a narrow, unrepresentative audience and this should be addressed.
Now there is a lot of truth in this. The gene pool which is represented in the average Proms concert is often smaller than Tony Blair's conscience but the BBC, the sponsor of the Proms, has done its utmost to spread the net more widely with its outside broadcasts on the last night and the sheer range of music played during each season.
The Last Night is a flag waving event but it is hardly a Nuremburg rally. One of the most striking things about the Last Night is the abundance of flags from other countries. Sure, the chinless inbreds have occasional bouts of their mind-numbing shouting and some dick always takes a hooter in (rubber gloves and a pot of Vaseline should be made available to deal with the offender) but this isn't America or France - thank God. We're always mildly embarrassed by this show of patriotism so we play it down - and long may it remain so. In the country that gave the world understatement, the apology as catch-all question/statement/answer and the weather as the ultimate conversation piece, this fits in with the national mood.
Hodge also says that the 500th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Henry VIII next year should be a time for reflection about the good and the bad bits of what he achieved. Why, precisely? Is it really evil to focus on the good stuff? Do we always have to be negative.
Henry VIII was clearly trouble, not least in his somewhat careless treatment of his wives. He was a grade A b*st*rd in many respects but he was also an inspired leader who gave us a common language, clear borders, a religion separate from the dominance of Rome and the makings of a navy. It would be nice, just for once, to actually be positive about a major English historical figure without having to bemoan the fact that he could eat Rutland for Breakfast and still be peckish, for example.
It would be good for ex-Comrade Hodge and her fellows to celebrate the often odd traditions of our country for what they are and perhaps only to seek to develop them or to add more. We do have a dominant culture and that's not a bad thing as long as it does not exclude other traditions.
We really don't need to change everything - apart, that is, from the government of course. Wouldn't it be lovely if the Barking MP was one of those to get the chop next time round...Where's Henry when you need him?
Tuesday, 4 March 2008
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4 comments:
Any reason why we in Scotland might wish to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's accession? A couple of aggressive wars against us and the death of James V in one of them?
As a good Lib Dem I am very happy for Scots to decide what they wish to celebrate, as long as they allow the English to celebrate our history.
I think we're at cross purposes and apologies for any misunderstanding. I read Margaret Hodge's remarks on Henry VIII's anniversary as celebrating Britishness and if it is all about the joy of Englishness fine and proper.
First rule of New Labour: don't trust a word they say. Ever.
These islands have a very varied history and any attempt to tell a unified story is doomed to failure so we should perhaps all look to whatever makes us happy and damn the government for trying to impose 'Britain-lite' on us.
That said, I live in Oxfordshire where we are overrun with strange men in white clothes assailing unwitting visitors with their bells and hankies so its not all good...
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