Crumble Brittania? There have been so many international crises happening that a notable event in the history of Anglo-Saxon tribal politics has virtually passed unnoticed. For the first time since spring 1861, a region populated by English-speaking peoples is seeking to separate without permission from the mother ship. In this case, it’s the land of Scotland with five million residents that is voting to secede from the United Kingdom. Recent polls showed the “Yes” and “No” camps running virtually even, despite the fact that nearly every significant Scottish corporation and bank has threatened to flee the North if independence actually occurs. What in the name of William Wallace is going on here? Watching the events unfold (and without prejudging the result on September 18), my mind reaches back to summer 2012 when London hosted the Summer Olympics. Now, London is a truly great city, with so much history and fascinating neighborhoods. And Great Britain is one of the most historically significant nations in world history, having merely controlled one-sixth of the world’s population at the height of its Empire. Watching the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics, you saw none of that. Instead, the ceremonies demonstrated a thoroughly banal and inoffensive British society: industrial revolution (with happy workers dancing about), leading to national health care (nurses pushing beds across the stadium floor), and culminating in a multi-cultural Internet age. Umm, what does that have to do with the history of Brittania? What about the island nation who pushed the French out of North America, stamped out slavery in Africa, and spread the Anglican faith around the globe. What about Richard the Lionheart? Sir Francis Drake? Winston Churchill?! What about the Charge of the Light Brigade? The Hole of Calcutta? Remarkably, this demotivating Olympic performance took place in front of HM Queen Elizabeth, while the (former) Archbishop of Canterbury dozed nearby. God, King and Country? Nary a mention of any of the above. Sadly, the idea of a national purpose, a national destiny, appeared dead on that summer night. Instead, of Great Britain — it was Generic Britain. With critics declaring that Britain now lacks a common civic virtue (and Scotland threatening to leave), is it possible that the world’s oldest democracy — the land which defeated the Kaiser and Hitler — could be headed for a crack-up? Let’s hope not. It’s hard to imagine a better ally for the USA than Great Britain. And it’s better in one piece than in several fragments. But you have to have a purpose and a history to hold it all together.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 02:19:47 +0000
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