This week I’ve been thinking about greatness. More specifically Boris Johnson’s claim that he will “set out a vision for Britain as the greatest place on Earth”. It’s a fine statement in itself but as with so many pronouncements from our more colourful politicians, it lacks in any kind of detail about what that actually means. What would it actually mean for Britain to be the “greatest place on Earth”? Who gets to define that greatness? For those on the Far Right, greatness might require the expelling of other races, for those on the Left it might require 90% tax. For those who voted Leave greatness is Global Britain, for those who voted Remain it means staying in the EU. And of course for some people – people like Boris Johnson perhaps – Britain is probably already the greatest place on Earth. Low tax, privilege, power, celebrity, money.
Chucking vague, emotive words like “greatness” into the political arena allows everyone to interpret as they wish without having to engage with the realities of what it would actually mean to achieve it – who we’ll have to compete with and who will have to suffer to get the greatness they imagine. We only need to look across the Atlantic to see the impact that “Make America Great Again” has had on minorities, the poor and the vulnerable. Perhaps we should focus less on greatness and more on inclusion, equality, human rights, compassion, kindness, respect, opportunity, sustainability and joy. But in the tub thumping, bravado rich politics of today the only word the electorate really responds to is hyperbole.
What’s your vision of Great Britain?
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