So it looks as if Gordon Brown is going to bring in this idea of a holiday (even if not a full Bank Holiday) at the end of October and for it to be British Day, a celebration of who we are.
He believes that a greater sense of national identity
and belonging is necessary in an era of globalisation and the computer
culture which allow instant communication across the world.
It
would also help bolster sentimental attachment to the Union with
Scotland and help see off the threat of independence posed by the
Scottish Nationalists.
This brings us to the point raised by Notsaussure. My arguing for October 21st might seem to be trumped by his arguing for the 25th. I’m certainly open to that argument, but think that the 21 st still wins.
Yes, I agree absolutely, giving the French a sound thrashing is something that the British would enjoy celebrating, indeed do enjoy celebrating. But the earlier victory, Agincourt, was won by the English and Welsh. This is insufficienty inclusive, it leaves the sporran munchers (that’s right isn’t it? Sporrans you eat and haggis you wear?) north of the border left out and that would never do in a celebration of Britishness.
So Trafalgar Day I’m afraid it has to be. Yes, we biffed the French again on this day, but it was us British who did it. Added bonus points of course, for the fact that we biffed the Spanish on the same day and clearly, the celebration of our defeat of a centralized Europe would only be a coda, something with little relevance to current day events.
I think I’m correct in stating that the current (or perhaps most recent but one) Earl Nelson worked for some time as a bus conductor so he would be the perfect person to have as our Master of Ceremonies, showing that in our vibrant society we do indeed have economic mobility downwards, as well as upwards.
Something for everyone to celebrate, don’t you think?
We can even go one stage further.
Stuart Etherington, the chief executive of the
National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: "We badly need a
national day on which we can celebrate the inspirational work that
voluntary and community organisations do throughout the year.
"It would also encourage more and more people to engage in community activity. I hope Gordon Brown will make this a priority."
As a society one of our defining attributes is that we don’t really pay much attention to what we’re told we should be doing. Most holidays, whether they have been Saint’s Days or whatever, have traditionally been celebrated with massed football matches and synchronized drinking. The TUC and other such concerned prodnoses can talk about community inclusion and we can all raise a glass of (hopefully smuggled) brandy to HMS Pickle. What could be more British than that, that we enjoy ourselves while ignoring our Lords and Masters (except the Good Earl, of course)?
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