tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post3164766149895687231..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Universal values can't be uniqueJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-41317104336706864302018-05-28T11:21:36.804+01:002018-05-28T11:21:36.804+01:00You are in sparkling form, Borthlas. Love the piec...You are in sparkling form, Borthlas. Love the piece. But I wonder if you have quite nailed it?<br />I agree with you that there are universal values. But any country is going to try to express them in its own way, in its own language as it were. I like this, because I like the diversity that we find in life. But its hard to do, as you have in mind. Some countries can do it convincingly and some can't. I think it depends on whether the country can point to a common core that will stand scrutiny and attract supporters. Got to distinguish the hard core from the "soft" peripheral which does count.Three examples<br />1. UK. Lots of the periphery like the King James Bible and cricket and the pound sterling. But the core is - you are spot on - royalty and wars. In the Middle Ages this was enough. But that the UK has no core is why we are floundering at the end of a historic era.<br />2. USA - they claim the same exceptionalism. But in a different way. The US does have a core which you can read - Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And oath and Pledges of Allegiance and a real belief that they are there for all mankind and the future. Outside the Declaration etc they have a periphery eg - per Trump this week, to the effect that - "When we go to NFL football games we stand for the anthem, put our hand on our heart and remember those who serve!" One can agree or laugh at this, but it is just periphery. the US does have its core.<br />3. What is the Welsh core? This really bothers me. We are so vulnerable to the English myth of royalty and war since Wales have no core. What to do? The best I can do is to say that the best/least bad model to follow, like scores of countries round the world, is the US model. So Wales must have its little revolution, get its Declaration (of Independence, Arbroath or whatever) and it must get a Written Constitution ie call a Convention and ratify what comes out. Basic. And then Welsh people must get behind their Constitution. (By a Pledge - or is that un-er-British!?) And yes we can invent some periphery (done that - the Gorsedd!) or big up some existing Welsh National stuff. Here is a list to be going on with:<br />- more widespread use of the Ddraig Goch on public buildings and on front porches (US-style)<br />- Singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau goes on the Welsh teaching curriculum<br />- Prince William Cup gets a Welsh name<br />- get a Welsh airline to fly to the US just for the hell of it.<br />But we do need that core. For me it always comes back to - Constitution - or nothing.<br />Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05937342201811857738noreply@blogger.com