This picture has no commercial value. It will not be sold and is only included on this blog to share my art to be viewed by my blogging friends.
I don't know if Google will let me do this, as the logo in it is super-copyrighted. I'm displaying this, my original picture as a record of my personal feelings of excitement, pleasure and yes, pride at being British born.
I am an American /Brit. I love America and am so thankful for all that living in America for more than 50 years has done for us.
We are some of those immigrants who came over with nothing -- literally. The Lord blessed us as He has blessed this nation, so that we are now able to live our retirement years contentedly. We have tried to cherish godly hard work, concern for our fellow man, honesty and integrity over the years. These values we have tried to pass on to our sons so that they in turn can contribute to this nation .
But we cannot forget our British heritage. Our formative years were molded in Britain with the people who dug in their heels and took a stand against evil, who drew on the strength of their unforgettable history and love for their land and sea. They lived out their values during times of unspeakable horror. They fought their way back up from the disillusionment, destruction and pain of two wars which decimated their people and cities.
As I watched the closing ceremonies I was concerned. Are today's young people as deeply rooted in the things which made our two nations strong? Are the pop-star mentality and transient wealth and fame enough to grow the healthy values that will inevitably be needed for the future? The tough love and enduring strength that has been needed in the past century will, I feel certain, be required for the century ahead.
Am I a pessimist? NO I am a realist!
Change will only come when the human heart is changed.
6 comments:
Beautifully worded, Chris. Your artwork truly stands out on my Blogger page and I was drawn to it straight away.
Our two nations have much in common and I hope the connection will always stay firm and strong. x
Well said.
Jane x
That is a nice montage of the opening, it sums up most of what I recall of the games.
I think you would be disappointed in how the life values have changed here in the last 50 years. The monetarist government that de regulated everything opened up huge opportunities for amoral greed and have changed attitudes immensely. 50 Years ago no police went armed, they did not need to. 50 years ago nurses were not attacked by their patients, surgeons were not sued if the patient did not recover from a recognisably difficult operation and fire engines were not stoned when they arrived to deal with a fire. Now there is so much equality, tall people will soon have to have their legs shortened to make them the same height as vertically challenged people and kids will all go to university without having to pass any difficult tests, because any other means of selection is ‘elitist’. Some people say I am cynical, I don’t know what gives them that idea. ;)
Well, I am happy that Blogger allowed you to post that picture. It has so much life and energy and love in it, and, as Gillian noted, it jumps off the screen and I would add, into my heart. Your words are heartfelt (like your picture) and they stimulated much thought. I have grown attached to history lately, and like you, love my country, although there is also a greater sense of loving my world. Perhaps, my stint teaching in an international school has brought home to me as never before how, in the end, our cultural differences are on the surface, but our deepest emotions are universal. Although I sometimes despair for the world's future, there are also quite a few times when I have been heartened by the attitudes of many of my former students, And, call it hiding my head in the sand, but when I read your thoughts, I feel we will be okay :)
I love your depiction of the opening of the Games. I've been trying to get a videoed copy of the ceremonies, but no luck so far.
and concur with all your statements. I am so grateful for my British heritage, but very thankful for the life I have lived in Canada, too. Grateful, too, for my sister and her husband who invited me here in the first place. Not sure how much I came with, but definitely not very much!
There were a few 'heros' on both sides of the Atlantic when you and I were growing up, and some wholesome values were encouraged and taught by example.
I agree with your concern about the change in role models--I can only hope there are still a few people who are respected for their wholesomeness--as opposed to the 'stars' who seem to promote a reckless lifestyle.
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