Enough,enough. I'm too curmudgeon for this world ?
The
celebrations go on and on and on. The crowds turn out in their
thousands. The word-smiths reach ever deeper into hyperbole as they pour
words over the athletes, the volunteers, the organisers, (the only ones
who "never" get a mention are "we" the Tax Payer, who paid for it all) !!
It all went against the grain and yet as I watched and listened there were tears hovering around my sockets.
What
is it that has captured the nation and why. I kept thinking. Why
aren't these people at work, why were they prolonging a good thing, let
it go, like any party, go home at a reasonable time, don't be the last
to leave and not legless.
The
speeches have been made in front of Buckingham Palace and the crowds
slowly disperse, tomorrow, hopefully to go to work (if you have a job).
Cameron
the Prime Minister made a typical politicians speech,flat and largely
unconvincing. Princess Ann made a good sensible speech, she reflected
her position very well and I liked her. Finally the "Clown Prince",
Boris Johnson wowed the crowd with a barnstorming delivery which had
everyone cheering (except Cameron).
He's
a total enigma. An Eaton toff who bumbles through an important job,
London Mayor,where he avoids the London Mayoral Chambers councillors
questions with a smile and a gag and seems to rely on his quick witted
turnabout, like a comedian at the Apollo. Yet the "people" love him !!!
But
the original question, why. Why have the Poms made such a good fist of
following the games. Why have they bonded so well with everyone, in the
stadiums, and on the pavements waiting patently for a glimpse of
something or other,happily parting with their money.
Normally we are
known for our stand offish, insular nature.We sit in the tube staring
ahead, talking to no one and showing our distaste if someone did.
Don't
they know we are in the midst of a serious depression, don't they know
their jobs are insecure. We haven't (unless we are executives or
bankers) had a pay rise in three years and it could be another three
(five,ten) before we get one. With inflation, that means we are poorer
by 30% and counting.
Did "they" know that we
would be in such a state when they signed up for the Games seven years
ago, what foresight.Obviously they had seen the books.
They were in power and knew the direction of future finances ?
Lead
them by the nose and they will arrive where you need them. Remember the
Somme, remember Passchendaele they queued to get on the troop ships
because they had been convinced that their country needed them. When they got there they were treated as cannon fodder.
Can
we trust the current crop of leaders to treat these people, who have
shown such willingness to respond to the national call, with respect and
take them into the political calculation.
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