Wednesday, August 15, 2012

REDEFINING BRITISHNESS


Being married to a Brit I have always taken a lively interest in the goings on of our nearest neighbours.  I have two children who are half English and, if I am to be very honest, that part of their heritage is not ever something I was that excited about.  Their Irishness contained all the attributes that I would have considered preferable for life – an ability to talk the hind legs off the proverbial donkey, an inner knowing of what ‘the craic’ is, the love of a good party and an understanding that slagging someone you love is really a show of affection.  Other than great organisational skills I was unsure what other national traits their English heritage gifted them.  I suppose you could short hand all this by saying my attitude to the Brits is that they’re grand – a bit boring and predictable – but grand.

To back up this dodgy theory I would regale my kids with the story of the first time I travelled to London to spend the weekend with my beloved.  I was to accompany him to a wedding – a daunting prospect as I knew absolutely no-one.  The wedding itself took place in a beautiful ancient English church complete with lychgate and with real bells tolling to announce the newly wedded couple.  The reception was in an equally lovely country hotel with duck pond and gorgeous gardens.  The day was sunny and warm.  The people I met were all very nice too and made me feel very welcome.  But it was all over by 9pm.  The bar closed and everyone went home.  I couldn’t believe it.  This to me summed up England – grand but a tad dull.  And yes I am quite aware that this was a very lazy view of the neighbours.

So when I sat down to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremony I was expecting to see a well executed show complete with a dollop of Royalty and the usual line up of British greats from the world of music.  What I was not expecting was to see was Her Majesty playing a cameo role in a Bond skit where she apparently jumps out of a helicopter into the arena.  What was this?  Were the Brits laughing at themselves?
The great organisation I had come to expect was there alright – but it was used to create a show that was chaotic, quirky, exuberant and magical.  Sure there was great lighting and pyrotechnics but over-riding all this was a creativity that was mind-blowing; the cyclists with the luminous wings, the children jumping on hospital beds, the Mary Poppins’s who floated into the arena – breathtaking and enchanting.  And there was powerful symbolism too, particularly in the lighting of the magnificent ceremonial bowl of flame by the next generation of young athletes.

The Opening Ceremony seemed to set a tone that was miles away from the bad press in the weeks leading up to the games with stories of Olympic Lanes forcing motorists off the road and the security shambles.  For the last two weeks we have watched an Olympic Games where almost everything was golden – from the smiling volunteers to the good humoured crowds.

I wondered if the Closing Ceremony would revert to type.  We already knew that we were going to be treated to a ‘symphony of British music’, but once again the Brits surpassed themselves and surprised me.  We were all invited to join in a wild party with performers singing on juggernauts, in convertible Bentleys and on top of Taxis.  Annie Lennox appeared like some kind of warrior Goddess on the prow of a ship singing Little Bird.  And best of all The Who, closed the show delivering My Generation to at least three younger generations of British musicians who joined them on stage.

As I watched I began to feel that this Olympics was about so much more than sport.  Over the last two weeks our neighbours have redefined what it is to be British.  They have revitalised Brand GB into something alive, colourful, witty, creative and magical.  It has been a joy to watch.  And I am very relieved for my children and think I will stop with the wedding story now.

One of the most poignant moments of the Closing Ceremony was when the face of John Lennon appeared on the screen singing Imagine..... “you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.  I hope one day you’ll join me.  And the world can live as one.”  London 2012 came very near to providing us with an insight as to what such a world would feel like.  Maybe the Mayans were right after all about 2012 heralding in a new era of peace and understanding on this troubled planet.  I hope so.  But, seriously who would have ever thought it would have been the Brits who would deliver the goods.

Bravo GB.  What a wonderful couple of weeks and I am very pleased to have better stories to tell my kids about what it means to be English!

5 comments:

  1. I would agree with everything you've written about the Olympic ceremonies - both opening and closing. A few minor quibbles perhaps, but nothing major and the whole thing generated a massive feelgood factor which was great. One other quality that the British possess is the ability to get on with whatever life throws at them whether it was the bombings during the second world war, the IRA bombing compaigns or indeed natural disasters.

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  2. Well written as usual, poignant, and also - the first time you've publicly acknowledged the kids heritage - well done you !

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  3. Excellent post. Imagine looking at the ceremonies from the perspective of a citizen of a closed and repressive society (e.g. Saudi Arabia). The amazement at the magnificence of the spectacle must surely have been accompanied by a realisation that it arose out of a free, tolerant and multicultural society. As such, the ceremonies will have served more than as a celebration of British cultural achievements - they will have inspired others in less fortunate parts of the world to work towards a society where such achievements can be realised.

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  4. I missed the opening ceremony, but I had to check out the Queen's entrance after reading this. That's fantastic.

    I have to admit, when you put the Olympics against so much bad news over the last few years, you've got so many great moments. This display of art and humour. A young woman from Bray who's gone from training in an old bingo hall with no heating to winning gold. The first Saudi woman to ever compete. The first person to cross compete in both the Olympics and Paralympics. And more stories besides. For a couple of weeks the majority of the world came together and shared something wonderful.

    Makes me feel good about the future.

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    1. I had to laugh at your wedding memory. During the Olympics we travelled to Ireland, just West of Dublin, to join friends in their 50th wedding anniversary. Being a boring Brit I sat and stared in utter wonderment at these elderly couples drinking and dancing until some of them literally keeled over on the dance floor. Our friend was proud to show us how the Irish know how to have fun. I don't drink so I drove us back to the hotel at half one. The party continued til 4am I was told. Yes, Barbara, you're right, we certainly don't know how to throw a party in comparison but the Olympics went some way to teaching us.

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