As the great freeze continues, it occurs to me that we have become a nation who have become obsessed with fear. A friend of mine commented yesterday that he believes the reason that so many schools have closed, is that they are scared of the possible Health and Safety implications of someone slipping over. Working in theatre, I find myself constantly having to read and abide by rules and regulations that are designed to instil fear. If I don’t abide by this that and the other, I could face a custodial sentence. If I so much as look at a child in the wrong way, I could face prosecution. People have stayed at home where I live because they are scared of Ice...It’s always been there, but the media is full of figures as to how many people are hospitalised. We are scared to make jokes about anything for fear of a “Sachsgate” style backlash. Anyone wishing to make Television or Radio has to go on a compliance course. I wonder what has happened that the nation has arrived at this place? Is it the apparently lazy assertion that we have become another state of the USA? I’m not so sure. There are certainly aspects of the American way of life that have forever stamped themselves on our lives. Fast food, Massive choices in Television channels etc etc. The culture of suing and counter suing definitely started in the USA, but are we not a nation who are used to standing up to other nations of we don’t agree? As Morrissey once said, he couldn’t understand why the troops were not called in when MacDonalds started to set up shop in this country. My biggest fear is that we are now trying to lose the freedom of speech. How many people are calling for “Extremists” to not be allowed to speak? Are we going to go back to the ridiculous days when Gerry Adams had a voiceover on every TV appearance? What good did that do for the peace process in the long run? Are we that afraid of what these people have to say? Or is it more that we are afraid of our reactions? Are we afraid that we might just be wrong on things? Do we really have no courage in our convictions? I for one was delighted when the BNP were allowed to appear on Question time, because at no point did it even cross my mind that they might come across as intelligent or correct in any way shape or form, so why were people against the appearance....Are they not sure of what they believe in? Do they really think that little of the human race? I find the concept all rather sad.
No comments:
Post a Comment