GETTING ON

I am “getting on” (in years) and now and then I come to a land-mark. This Blog is actually my  500^th one, and since launch in July 2011 I have subjected my readers to an unremitting cascade of my views on politics, great historic figures, styles of architecture, cathedrals and churches, works of art, places to visit, the glories of Scotland, England and Greece and various other highways and byways. I thank my very kind readers for their patience and forbearance leading often to generous praise and only occasionally to raspberries, doubtless well deserved! The only bad news is that I am going to persist with my blog-writing, although you may see a slackening in its regularity!

An evocative view of the Statue of William Wallace in Aberdeen by His Majesty's Theatre

As this is my 500^th I will strike a happy note. I will sheath my poison pen, blunt my back-teeth, hold my tongue and find good in all men, although some will make me dig deep. I really do attach importance to “getting on” (with other people) – it is easy to make enemies but less easy to make friends. We are sociable beings and any obstacle to congeniality must be quietly overcome. Britain is a moderate country, in size, in climate, in political tradition and in common inter-action between its citizens – any display of extremism is best left unsaid. Vociferous expression of controversial opinions is deemed unwise. Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re (gently in manner, resolute in deed) was a Roman, and later a British, watch-word.

I am blessed with a supportive family. My lovely wife does not always agree with me but crucially we “get on” and are able to smooth over our little differences. My 3 sons are proudly independent and a generation ahead of me in attitude, yet they tolerate and even enjoy my peculiarities and age-encrusted enthusiasms, be they fragrant scallops, stirring patriotic songs, Six Nations rugby, wry ceremonial music by Purcell, University Challenge or schoolboy memories of games of conkers. Every man develops his own hinterland and uses it as a kind of reserve dynamo.

Looking outwards, my nation is gingerly making a great transition, leaving the EU, as democratically ordained, and developing new relationships in a fast-changing world. We hope for cordial interaction with our old EU friends and wish them well although their direction of travel is not ours. Inevitably our negotiations with the EU have been abrasive, there is much at stake on both sides. We share most EU values and recognise the fundamental importance of “getting on” in the medium term.

Our strongest ally historically is the USA, although the Trump Presidency has shaken many assumptions. A stranger to diplomacy or polite communication, populist Trump has nevertheless kept the US out of new military entanglements, overseen a strong economy, woken up complacent NATO members and even softened some Arab animus towards Israel. He could easily win a second term although the bien-pensant favour elderly Joe Biden. More than ever, a key aim of the UK is to “get on” with whoever is at the helm in Washington. Our bonds with the Old Commonwealth will strengthen as we develop a CANZUK bloc, hopefully to be joined by India and South Africa and others who share our democratic fundamentals.

Internally, the UK faces many challenges. The elephant in the room has been the Covid pandemic, throwing business, schools and the NHS into confusion. Our Conservative government has not performed well, slow to react initially and changing tack with regular U-turns. But the pandemic was unforeseen and the struggle to control it required talents notable in their absence. Boris’ style as a cabinet chairman rather than a chief executive has marginalized his contribution which must be hands-on. But his government is well entrenched and contains astute ministers, who will surely win through. Although I deplore her ruinous Scottish independence fantasies, I give credit to Nicola Sturgeon for running her devolved SNP government reasonably efficiently and decisively.

Finding common ground?

                                                                  

When the pandemic abates, people of goodwill should unite for a radical programme of reform. Surely a rejuvenated and inspiring role can be found for the moribund House of Lords, maybe a half-nominated and half-elected regional Senate. The raising of educational standards is a priority in our technological age and the elimination of deadening poverty and discrimination would remove an affront to our rich society. Equality of opportunity, high aspiration and material amplitude can be our bedrock as we face the glorious future. If we “get on” with our fellow-citizens, we can bring to fruition the dream of the poet, Robert Burns:

Then let us pray that come it may,

(As come it will for a' that,)

That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,

Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

It's coming yet for a' that,

That Man to Man, the world o'er,

Shall brothers be for a' that.

SMD

26.08.20

Text copyright © Sidney Donald 2020

CAST ADRIFT

I and many others in the UK live a relatively privileged life (and long may it continue!) but another world increasingly encroaches, inhabited by the angry and the envious, the violent and the irrational, the moronic and the unscrupulous. Sadly, our leaders are failing to defend us against such elements and many of us must feel almost abandoned, as we bob about on today’s storm-tossed seas.

Expansionist Xi Jinping

KGB Hero Vladimir Putin

                                                               

The most sinister of our international enemies are Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi Jinping. Putin’s men poisoned an opposition leader a day or two ago, drop barrel bombs on Syrian civilians and encourage the rash adventures of Erdogan’s Turkey:  how is it possible to negotiate with leaders who stoop so low?  Xi wishes to snuff out the precarious freedoms of once-British Hong Kong, ruthlessly persecutes the minority Uighurs, seeks to control the South China Sea, threatens Taiwan, and plans to infiltrate Western economies through its areas of technological expertise. Both China and Russia are vast, important nations with whom a modus vivendi is essential, but seldom has common ground been so elusive. At present, the best policy for the West seems to be to re-erect some cordon sanitaire to contain their influence – shades of the Cold War (1945-65)!

The West itself is in poor fettle. Its unity has been put to the test by the erratic policies of Donald Trump’s America, disparaging NATO and the EU in pursuit of his America First priorities. A Joe Biden presidency might be less abrasive, but American eyes are closely watching the Pacific rather than the Atlantic arena. The EU’s economic performance has been disappointing and the Brexit negotiations have engendered bitter internecine tensions which may not readily be resolved. United Europe is maybe a laudable aim but all European nations have cherished institutions and attitudes which they are not ready to abandon for some supposed common good.

No longer close friends

Europe’s leaders have not shone. Hitherto reliably engaged Angela Merkel has idled on the sidelines while her Germany has become increasingly estranged from America and dependent on Russian energy. Macron’s attempts at domestic reform have failed, making his much-vaunted radicalism irrelevant. The UK correctly, in my view, convinced itself that Brexit was the best course to take but failed to convince a majority of the 10% living in Scotland and have a debilitating internal struggle with the SNP to save the Union on its hands. More worryingly Boris Johnson seems to be losing his political touch in respect of the EU and his notionally strong government is losing the confidence of voters, so necessary for national cohesion.

All politicians globally are trying to cope with the unwelcome appearance of the Covid pandemic. Few have displayed deft handling or fancy footwork. Stop-start, contradictions, panic regulations have been the order of the day – nowhere more so than in the UK whose reactions to the pandemic have been more economically damaging than most and whose presentation has been particularly cack-handed, incompetent and inept. I sympathise, given this wholly unexpected situation, but fine words of sympathy do not butter any parsnips. Boris needs to find his old formidable energy, barn-storm round the country and give us confidence in the present and a vision of much better times coming.

Boris Johnson, where the buck stops

Issues like immigration, improving educational standards, free speech in our universities, crass corporate salaries, bloated bureaucracy, unnecessary tax complexities, the underperformance of white working class boys, discrimination of many kinds, low productivity, parliamentary reform – a multitude of controversial problems will crowd the in-tray of a UK government when, if ever, normality returns and the ship of state sails with a firm pilot at the helm, reassuring to all her citizens.

SMD

21.08.20

Text Copyright Sidney Donald 2020