One week

The sixth of a short (?) series on the EU Referendum

What’s that saying?  A week is a long time in politics?  A very long time.

One week on from the vote I’m feeling genuinely philosophic about it all.  The UK and its politics could not go on turning a blind eye to such an undercurrent of dissatisfaction.  I wonder if anyone anticipated the unleashing of such turmoil?  I did not.  

But change was needed in our politics, in the EU and we and our systems seldom change without a shock.  It takes a lot to challenge our complacency.  To interrupt the momentum of business as usual.  The assumptions underlying what we take for granted, the gap between a good idea (the vision thing) and our human capacity to live it, to embrace its challenges and contradictions.  Always our reach exceeds our grasp, Browning* tells us this is how it should be.  I think there’s truth in that.

A friend sent me this link, it certainly made me cry (again).  The magic unleashed by the girl’s gesture of generosity is a wonder to behold and, I hope, a symbol of hope or faith in the midst of the current chaos, a compass bearing even.  I should mention it is a sponsored video, no less touching for that IMO.

Watch it and weep for the spirit embedded in the very idea of the EU.  That hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s just being refined and renewed.  Its evolution, its embodiment is up to us.  More on this tomorrow.

*  ”Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, 
    Or what's a heaven for?”