Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 May 2009 21:47:27
Been listening to an 84 year old bloke getting opinionated and answering questions from the audience at the local theatre tonight. It was a sell out and I only managed to get a ticket, earlier today, because despite a no returns policy the box office where selling on tickets for somebody who couldn't get there. So who was the Third Ager who inspired such interest? Tony Benn.
The evening took an interesting form. He wandered onto the stage, set up his tape recorder and clock and then chose a volunteer for the evening, (a young undergrad), to chair the questions. He then proceeded to talk to us for about 20 mins and them moved straight into a q&a session. Basically, we now live in an age where people pay through the nose in order to go to what in a previous age would have been a political meeting. That said, I'm not complaining.... nobody forced me to buy a ticket.... and it was entertaining aswell as thought provoking.
So what wisdom, or otherwise was imparted by this person who acknowledged he is starting to be seen as a national treasure? Well first thing was he isn't a national treasure..... national treasures are generally regarded as harmless and he isn't. As he said to a later question he has the idealism of old age. This is an idealism which nobody can dampen by saying "you'll learn".
Amongst other things he stated his support for moral responsibility, comprehensive education, council housing, the post office, young people, life long learning, Open University,The Labour Party (but not New Labour), and peace.
Things he did not support included New Labour, colonialism, privatisation, education being selective or just seen as for the young and SATS tests.
There were some excellent points made about the need to realise political engagement is about more than voting once every five years, major climate changes not being new, realising that all religions are about treating your neighbour as you would be treated... not going to war, politicians being there to represent and not manage us and how dividing different groups through fear and cynicism being a way we are controlled. He also highlighted the power of the internet, saying that whilst the BBC wouldn't broadcast political speeches at demonstrations and rallies that didn't matter so much now... we have blogging and You Tube. When talking about politics he explained change is instigated by teachers and movements and these are at the core of politics.... not spin.
Less convincing were answers about how to re-engage young people with politics... he said that they were angry and so not disengaged. This did not answer the central question about how to re-engage them with the democratic political system. His comments about the Labour Party also appeared somewhat contradictory... but then I guess when you'd been a member of the party for that long and your son is part of the government you're going to remain loyal, to some extent.
For me the regular references back to what he'd learnt from his parents were touching. He talked of having his mothers passion for justice which came from her religious beliefs. One of my favourite bits was when he talked of being told the bible contained lots about prophets being against kings.... and God being on the side of the prophets. He also talked of his father, also a member of parliment, influencing him to do what he said and say what'd he do...and not to fight with chimmney sweeps. (This latter point apparently means if you fight with someone playing dirty you will end up fighting dirty aswell).
My favourite quote of the evening was when he pointed out that "he had come into the country without a passport and couldn't speak the language".... something true of most of us I guess.....(the ripple of laughter grew as the audience engaged brains and got the point he was making).
For the second time this week I found myself incredibly inspired having been given the opportunity to listen to the kind of deep wisdom which comes with age and a lifelong thirst for learning and communicating.