I was working at a conference recently when the keynote speaker showed the video produced as part of London’s bid for the 2012 Olympic games. It’s a rousing piece, set to ‘Proud’ by Heather Small. Admittedly, the song hasn't aged well unfortunately given that it was used for comedic effect in the sit-com Miranda, but I must admit it brought a bit of dampness to my eye. Not that it was particularly soppy or emotional – rather, it represented, to me at least, something huge and significant that’s been lost. The Britain I grew up in, a nation that I felt proud to be part of, is no more and I was saddened to be reminded of this loss.
All the values expressed in the film are admirable and worthy – the kind any modern civilised nation would want to be. Sadly they don’t apply to Britain any more (although claiming that the UK was fully ‘inclusive’ and ‘tolerant’ seems a bit of a stretch even for the early 2000s). We have become a people divided and impoverished – both economically and culturally – thanks to decades of inept, short-sighted and self-interested leadership (on both sides of the political spectrum). Meanness, cynicism, indifference, hopelessness and selfishness pervades the land like a cancerous tumour.
As people struggle to heat their homes, pay their bills, see a doctor, secure a decent home, run their businesses or swim in the ocean without swallowing untreated sewage, the rich and powerful have gleefully hollowed out the soul of the nation and made a pretty penny to boot. It’s easy to blame Brexit and the manufactured culture wars (which I do to some extent), things which arose after the success of the Olympics, but I think the rot was there long before that. I’ve written before about how the British Empire is paying for its past sins (perhaps because it’s failed to really acknowledge them) and I think it just shows that, with the best will in the world, things will soon fall apart if you’re resting on shaky ground.
The spirit of 2012 showed us what we could have been, but maybe when we examined it closely enough we knew deep down that it didn’t reflect the true nature of Britain. I suspect all that baggage of centuries gone past was just too much.
An economy in turmoil, looming Scottish independence (with NI and Cymru not far behind), shrinking civil liberties and world events (amongst many other things) are conspiring to put that final nail in the coffin of the so-called 'Great' Britannia. Rather than address these issues with intelligence and care, our government is collapsing under the weight of its own incompetence. I don't think it's any surprise that I've heard the term 'banana republic' being used a lot to describe the UK recently.
And that is a scary and unsettling thing, even for a republican supportive of Welsh independence like myself. Like many I long for change – but I also long for life to return to 'normal' for a bit.
But, as they say, you gotta have hope. There is a rising tide of dissatisfaction with what is happening across the country, and eventually something has to give.
Whatever rises from the ashes of the Old Empire, I hope it is a nation – or nations – that values kindness, tolerance, interdependence and integrity above greed and self-reliance. Where the mistakes of the past are acknowledged and learned from, rather than swept under the carpet and left to fester.
That way, the spirit of 2012 – and the hope that it represented – won't be lost forever.
All the values expressed in the film are admirable and worthy – the kind any modern civilised nation would want to be. Sadly they don’t apply to Britain any more (although claiming that the UK was fully ‘inclusive’ and ‘tolerant’ seems a bit of a stretch even for the early 2000s). We have become a people divided and impoverished – both economically and culturally – thanks to decades of inept, short-sighted and self-interested leadership (on both sides of the political spectrum). Meanness, cynicism, indifference, hopelessness and selfishness pervades the land like a cancerous tumour.
As people struggle to heat their homes, pay their bills, see a doctor, secure a decent home, run their businesses or swim in the ocean without swallowing untreated sewage, the rich and powerful have gleefully hollowed out the soul of the nation and made a pretty penny to boot. It’s easy to blame Brexit and the manufactured culture wars (which I do to some extent), things which arose after the success of the Olympics, but I think the rot was there long before that. I’ve written before about how the British Empire is paying for its past sins (perhaps because it’s failed to really acknowledge them) and I think it just shows that, with the best will in the world, things will soon fall apart if you’re resting on shaky ground.
The spirit of 2012 showed us what we could have been, but maybe when we examined it closely enough we knew deep down that it didn’t reflect the true nature of Britain. I suspect all that baggage of centuries gone past was just too much.
An economy in turmoil, looming Scottish independence (with NI and Cymru not far behind), shrinking civil liberties and world events (amongst many other things) are conspiring to put that final nail in the coffin of the so-called 'Great' Britannia. Rather than address these issues with intelligence and care, our government is collapsing under the weight of its own incompetence. I don't think it's any surprise that I've heard the term 'banana republic' being used a lot to describe the UK recently.
And that is a scary and unsettling thing, even for a republican supportive of Welsh independence like myself. Like many I long for change – but I also long for life to return to 'normal' for a bit.
But, as they say, you gotta have hope. There is a rising tide of dissatisfaction with what is happening across the country, and eventually something has to give.
Whatever rises from the ashes of the Old Empire, I hope it is a nation – or nations – that values kindness, tolerance, interdependence and integrity above greed and self-reliance. Where the mistakes of the past are acknowledged and learned from, rather than swept under the carpet and left to fester.
That way, the spirit of 2012 – and the hope that it represented – won't be lost forever.
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