Return / Overheard in a library

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I won’t be posting weekly (as before) and in fact there may be very lengthy periods between publication. I also can’t see myself knocking out the lengthy posts as I did once but I am returning to this website. (But then if things did pick up, and this website could relate to that; matters could change.)

I do think that whilst it’s good to analyse, argue, debate and record; the point isn’t to interpret, it’s to force change. I suspect in such circumstances the efforts of all Lefts would be best expended on bigger fish elsewhere rather than writing websites such as this which gets more hits now, with people looking at one particular photo, than it has ever done from those who wanted to read something I wrote.

I’ve also just punted a guest article at Dave’s Part on my recent experience, and my continuing views, about the Left List.

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Overheard in a library

“And the Queen has two birthdays. Who has been doing their homework and can tell me when they are?” I’d wandered again into some training session in the library - they had put the screens up but that didn't stop the teacher’s forceful monotone banging on my brain as I tried get to grips with one of the magazines on the tables.

I suppose I don’t mind the new uses for libraries; web access, for example, certainly gets the punters in although it’s noticeable that you now need to have a web card to go online in every library (which presumably could record all the sites you look at) whereas just a few years ago you just put down any old name on a list to use the internet facilities there. (But then it used to be claimed that the details of anyone who borrowed the 'Anarchist Cookbook', or similar, from a library were forwarded to Special Branch).

Yes, it’s good to see all these new and non-traditional uses of libraries (although not so for stations - a few less non-traditional shopping arcades and a few more traditional seats would be nice. Reading station is now a shopping centre with a few attached platforms).

So I decided it was the content of the lesson that was grating, not the noise. Those assembled were going through a course that is designed to meet the new requirements imposed upon those seeking British citizenship. I’d already become ill disposed to this citizenship test and ceremony initiative when I saw a photo and report about it in a council magazine on a previous visit to the library.

The photo in that magazine featured the Mayor centre stage. He was stood there with as much dignity as could muster - a dubious small businessman, with legendary sharp elbows, and always with eye open for an opportunity to switch and pocket his valuable civic chain.

He stood portentously in front of the largest Union Flag I have ever seen with a portrait of Elizabeth Windsor placed over the middle of the Butcher’s Apron. The photo gave the impression of being a still from a film set in a South American police station using that stereotypical large image of El Presidente that is to be found on the wall of every public building in a dictatorship.

And under the Mayor in that photo were gathered a carefully colour co-ordinated coterie of supplicants, obliged to display themselves such to receive their passports.

Back in the library the teacher was going on. He was now talking about the central role of the Queen and the oath of loyalty that all potential British citizens have to take. Likewise back in that article, I remember various migrants waxed effusively about their gratitude to Britain, and their acceptance of ‘our’ values (that'd be an interesting list).

This is all a big sham. The smiling faces from every continent that were being patronised by the civic leader did so because they had no choice to receive a British passport and an end to the hassles that living as a non EU citizen in Britain entails. A day trip to Calais with an Third world passport? Sure, with a week long visa process thrown in as well.

In the photo they were taking the oath to Her Majesty after being obliged to listen to chapter and verse on their responsibilities as new Brits. I understand that you can’t just send off for a passport in the post after proving your knowledge and loyalty - you also have to go through this charade as well.

But the most insidious side of it all was the lies that were being told to our new or potential compatriots - such as the necessity of being loyal to the Queen. I’ve never taken an oath to Elizabeth Windsor - this Brit says fuck Her Maj.

I also don’t have to accept a list of responsibilities as though I rest here by the grace and leave of some authority. I and everyone else, from wherever they may originate, have as much right to walk these streets as anyone else.

There’s an attempt to force a revived patriotism on us all. Maybe they will start playing the National Anthem again in cinemas. But first they target the vulnerable; forcing those seeking a surer status to act in their little performances, recite their little lines and learn superbly useless stuff like when are the birthdays of the Queen. Stuff the citizenship tests, oath, ceremonies and all.

And don’t they know anything? Everyone already knows when Elizabeth Windsor’s birthdays fall. Every day is her birthday; she has a party, with presents from us and a day off from work, 365 days a year.