I guess that most of us wonder what this one life is about and particularly how we are living it.
They are questions perhaps for those of us firmly in third age but shared by other generations too. If I had one regret ( or to name one here ) it might simply be that I wish I had been bolder in almost every sphere of my life. More of that at some other time …. perhaps !
I always take a bag of books away with me on holiday. The must read alongside take to the charity shop sit in a pile tormenting my lazy use of time between the moments of dropping off to sleep! The great thing about books is that they have the capacity to sit and wait for the moment. I wonder what pages you will find illuminating 2023 draws to a close?
I have had a mild addiction to political biographies for some years. Suddenly they appear out of nowhere – as did Michael Foots Debt of Honour this week in a charity shop in Llangollen. Two pounds – what is not to like ! Some biography stands out – others get shelved gathering dust with barely the first few chapters read. What can be most off putting is the tendency in these pages ( as indeed in our own lives) to justify the self, our legacy and the difference we think we have made. Less apparent in these pages are the chaos that human beings cause and walk away from and honesty about the sheer complicatedness of our untidy lives.
Politicians are unique animals. May is no exception. Nine years in two great offices of state, the Home Office and 10 Downing Street at a turbulent time in our national life give her knowledge and wisdom. She is unashamedly open about the shaping influences of her childhood in a vicarage and her Christian faith. There is a sense of vocational integrity as se tackles head on a series of issues in which the abuse of power led to consequences that destroying lives, integrity, and public trust. Put simply – the powerful repeatedly chose to use their power not in the interests of the powerless but to serve themselves or to protect the organisation to which they belonged. These chapters are searing, impassioned and sometimes brave.
Lest you think I have been sampling too much from Christmas drinks tray there are some serious questions that might have redeemed this book and inevitable self justification all us humans indulge in. There is a whole dollop of self justification that goes on here and between the pages some serious gaps.
The Hillsborough tragedy, Grenfell, the Rotherham Sex Abuse Scandals and bullying in Parliament are all discussed. Absent is the Post Office Scandal involving the wrongful prosecutions of hundreds of post office operators leading to imprisonments of the innocent, sackings, bankruptcies, ill-health and suicides. What was the criteria of choice we might ask ? Let all writers inform their readers of missing connections !
May fails to interrogate her own place in this particular period of history. Some of the analysis is clear and convincing but her righteousness doesn’t extend to her own power and role. How do any us nurture honesty about our own failures of nerve, judgement or action ? Should we expect politicians ( or religious leaders for that matter) to do the same? Pointing the finger to others is fine – looking in the mirror sobers the best of us !
My most significant difficulty with this book is its handling of the Brexit deal through parliament. I confess I am so blinkered ( why did we do it and have we any sense of the consequences for our children of the populist and divisive narratives peddled by politicians ?) that my expectations may just be unrealistic !
So a good read but challenging to my Christmas spirit too. Perhaps this volume is heading to the Charity shop and I must go and get some last minute shopping ……. ice cream and brandy to name two on the list. Have a good and happy and blessed weekend.