Tuesday
I quite enjoy going to the Proms, the renowned series of concerts held in the Royal Albert Hall, west London during the late summer. As many readers know, the last night of the Proms ends with a rousing performance of some of the best-loved works of Edward Elgar, such as "Land of Hope and Glory". A government minister has claimed that the event does not fit in with the bright, shiny vision of Britain that the Gramiscians of New Labour believe is the one to which we should all aspire.
I could not agree more. It is time to face the fact that Britain, or indeed just England, is no longer a land of hope or much glory. Far better that the symbols of modern Britain be such things as state ID cards, unfunny standup commedians like Ricky Gervais and lumps of dead animals at The Tate.
Ok, rant over.
The citizenship ceremony in Airstrip One, at which a barcode will be tattooed on the back of the citizen's neck, should be held in some concrete 1970's council office in full view of a bunch of CCTV cameras. Now THAT is the true reflection of British values, at least as promulgated by the state.
Posted by Perry de Havilland at March 4, 2008 02:11 PM
I hate to put it so crudely, but on this occasion it seems entirely apt.
Why doesn't this government just fuck off and die?
Posted by Niall at March 4, 2008 02:27 PM
Niall, I have asked this question many times. I never get a convincing answer.
Posted by Johnathan Pearce at March 4, 2008 02:59 PM
Niall,
Why doesn't this government just fuck off and die?
You can't kill a vampire.
At least, not without fire and sharp stakes and decapitation and... hmm... I have a plan...
Posted by Anomenat at March 4, 2008 03:04 PM
I don't know what Ricky Gervais is like as a stand-up, but as a writer and director with Stephen Merchant and as a comedy actor he was the creative force behind 'The Office' which was one of the funniest comedy series ever.
I haven't seen 'Extras' but I'd certainly tune in given the chance.
Don't knock Ricky Gervais, he has enhanced the quality of life of a lot of people.
That you don't like him doesn't much matter, any more than that I didn't much enjoy 'Terry and June' matters.
As to why this government doesn't just fuck off and die; this government is made up of self-interested power hungry scum. Just like nearly all governments.
The right to overthrow the government was expressed by Mr. Jefferson better than I can express it today.
Posted by Kevyn Bodman at March 4, 2008 03:56 PM
You can't kill a vampire.
You can if you hang them from lamp posts in the sun.
The right to overthrow the government was expressed by Mr. Jefferson better than I can express it today.
What I would like to know is - Given the relationship with the United States, does British law recognise the right of people to overthrow the state using violence?
Posted by CountingCats at March 4, 2008 09:55 PM
Just read the article. Surely this is just another example of the dislike of diversity evidenced by the nasties?
To those setting the agenda, diversity means a room full of faces of many shades, from milky white to deepest midnight, all chanting from the approved text.
Diversity, to them, is purely a matter of genetics and ethnic minorities being able to buy traditional foodstuffs at Tescos. Any sort intellectual diversity, any variety in thoughts and ideas, is anathema.
Seriously, it shows just how insipid the tories are that they can't mount a serious challenge to these hated people.
Posted by CountingCats at March 4, 2008 10:05 PM
A float of token white people coming to a Notting Hill Carnival near you!
I did wonder if Hodge's comments were just emitted to allow Gordon Brown to appear reasonable. Having read more I now understand her to be an idiot.
Posted by Gareth at March 4, 2008 11:07 PM
I have to say that I think you're wrong on this one, Johnathan.
I'm 100% behind Mrs Hodge.
How on earth are we supposed to take our place at the heart of a progressive, forward-looking, multi-cultural, post-secular society if we insist on clinging to such outmoded concepts as largely white, Euro-centric musical forms, which immediately alienates whole swathes of our already disaffected population.
The Proms should be made more accessible (in all senses) and more relevant to the 21st Century. I would suggest we start by scapping little England's Land of Hope and Glory and replacing it with something more meaningful. Perhaps the Last Night of the Proms could be used to promote a different ethnic minority each year, thereby celebrating the rich diversity of our cultures.
Posted by Hector Plasm at March 5, 2008 01:18 AM
"All too often our sectors are not at their best when embodying common belongings themselves.
Ms. Hodges evidently has embraced linguistic diversity by speaking to the reporter in something other than English. Aleast you guys have a "hire the retarded" program for Culture Ministers.
Posted by Sunfish at March 5, 2008 07:53 AM
Perhaps Mrs Hodge prefers, like so many rabid coffee-table socialists before her, not to have to meet the electorate up close and personal at such events as the Last Night Of The Proms ... all those students celebrating - such a din!
The late Alan Coren once wrote that he fully approved of Sainsburys, since it kept the riff-raff out of his beloved Waitrose - a sentiment I am sure Mrs Hodge fully endorses.
Posted by Julian Taylor at March 5, 2008 03:39 PM
