George Duff, the Express' International Editor, explains how the row over the Last Night of the Proms reflects on the BBC and it's role in British society in the future.
The BBC has said that Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory will be played without their lyrics
The row over the BBC proms demonstrates that, far from the BBC being a progressive organisation that reflects the people in the UK, the BBC is in fact a regressive organisation that had failed to understand the public mood, instead putting themselves on a pedestal, serving as the de facto arbiter of all things cultural and political.
For those abroad, many may find it bizarre that the national public broadcaster that claims to reflect the diversity of the United Kingdom would choose to take away songs which many do, in fact, view as important to our culture and history.
We're all aware that the motivation behind this decision is to respond to calls for more diversity and also to reassess Britain's colonial past. The BBC believes that, in order to 'properly' respond to these 'calls', it must ditch any symbol of Britain's history or pride in its history. I don't have to say anything to describe the lunacy of this decision. Let us remember that this does nothing to drive forward the cause of diversity and representation for every group in the UK. If anything, this is driven by nothing but vain attempts at self-satisfaction by organisers. This does nothing to help anyone. While this itself didn't go through, the BBC took their next best option: playing them without the lyrics.
The BBC has failed on two counts: Firstly, they have failed as a public broadcaster that has also taken on the role of being a purveyor of British culture, both in terms of advertising Britain and providing entertainment and arts to preserve that culture (i.e. the proms). This is a matter of poor judgment. Secondly, they have failed to provide cultural services that are, in fact, reflective of the British people. In other words, they don't reach their own standards. Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia are meant to serve as uniting songs, taking pride in the British navy, in Britain's position in the world, and whatever we choose to make it.
The BBC has not only made a decision that doesn't fulfil it's original commitments to the British people, but it has also made a decision that doesn't reflect the British people. The BBC's decision was an attempt to show themselves to be a progressive, forward-looking organisation, seeking to reflect Britain's diverse society. Instead, the BBC have become the symbol of an inward-looking culture of ignorance which none of us, no matter what our political perspective, would support in principle.
It's time to seriously evaluate what the BBC stands for and how it should continue to serve as a public broadcaster.
George Duff is the International Editor of the Harbour Express, and is based in London. Follow @HonGeorgeDuff
Email: georgescduff@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment