I Waved a Freaking FLAG!

Published by Rick on Tagged Uncategorized

             Four years ago, I was working on a Mediterranean cruise ship that left from Southampton. As it was setting sail, British flags were handed out to all the passengers, and as “Land of Hope and Glory” blasted through the speakers, and all sang along in full voice, I watched a burst of pride that seemed so much more real and heartfelt than any type of similar ceremony I’d ever witnessed in America. Instead of seeming to take a “We’re Number One” attitude, this one just went for, “Hey, We’re proud of who we are.” I saw a similar display last night at a classical music concert in East London.

              While there are greater orchestras around, the London Royal Philharmonic is no slouch, and in East Ham’s Central Park, they performed as the finale to a series of free concerts under the title “Under The Stars.” This is the 13th year running for the concerts, and they take no chances. They do the “hits,” with emphasis on British composers, though this time out, with the high of the Olympics still fresh and the Paralympics about to start, they couldn’t NOT do “Chariots Of Fire” (written by a Greek) or William Walton’s “Crown Imperial,” the theme song of the Games. The perennials included “William Tell Overture,” and “Nessun Dorma,” both by Italian composers, as were all the other operatic numbers, but otherwise it was pretty much Elgar’s Greatest Hits.

                    And why not? “Pomp And Circumstance” is a staple of most American college and high school graduation ceremonies, though they only use the slow majestic march section, which they can repeat for up to 30-45 minutes depending on how many graduates are in the procession. Unfortunately, they leave out the allegro opening, which really gets things in gear. In England, you can’t play the slow march passage without the “Land of Hope and Glory” singalong. As Union Jack flags 

were passed out to the audience members, and as the tune built to its climax, I found myself so caught up in the celebration of Englishness that there I was, not only singing along, but waving the freaking flag! It’s there on Facebook, as my friend Phil Cobham caught me in the moment and then posted the picture on his page. Oops!


 

            There is still no plan to renounce my American citizenship, even though there’s no plans to leave here in the foreseeable future. I’ve still got Eileen to look after, and that’ll keep me here until further notice, though I’m still planning to be in US in October, and also planning to fill in an absentee ballot while I’m there. If Romney’s elected, then I’m pretty sure I’m in Britain for the next FOUR years, if not eight.   

                Back to the Concert. It wasn’t just the Elgar tune that pumped everyone up; that was just icing on the cake. Before that, we’d been treated to the other “contenders” for British national anthem, though it would take an inordinate amount of politicking to dethrone “God Save The Queen.” That tune, which Americans re-wrote as “My Country Tis of Thee,” is really blah compared to the tunes on display here. “I Vow To Thee My Country,” “Rule Brittania,” and “Jerusalem” all leave “God Save” in the dust, just as there are much cooler patriotic songs in America than “The Star Spangled Banner.” (“America The Beautiful” for one.) By the time we made it to “Glory,” and the fireworks display to accompany it, I was seduced. I still can’t figure out why it works so well. Of all the many July 4th celebrations I’ve been to, I have never been as impressed by the “pride in country” thing as I was here.

                    One other sidelight that showed this country’s diversity: The mayor of the London Borough of Newham was roaming through the crowd meeting and greeting. He’s Scottish by birth and has the name of Robin Wales! You can’t make that stuff up.  

 

August 27th, 2012



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