I was upbraided by a “Facebook friend” for not being present at one of the women’s marches against President Trump and his administration last Saturday. Well, there was no such march in my area, and anyway, I’m still not quite fit enough to join a street march after a Christmastime fall (stone cold sober too!)
But there were so many different causes embraced by the international Women’s Marches against Trump that I’m not entirely sure what was the exact focus.
Some participants were objecting to Mr Trump’s “abusive” – and certainly verbally offensive – attitudes to women. Others were marching for peace, equality, Black Lives Matter, environmentalism, migrants, Muslims, Mexicans and abortion rights.
In America, the powerful abortion provider Planned Parenthood was one of the major sponsors and pro-life women were disallowed from joining the mainstream marches – formally taken off the register by the sponsors (the billionaire pro-abortion George Soros was associated with many of the sponsors for the march). However, some individual pro-life women joined in with the Washington marchers and the pro-life movement is having its own demonstration this Friday.
I have always liked the advice put forward by Alcoholics Anonymous about any disparate group that gets together: “Identify with the similarities, not the differences.” There are surely some causes among those upheld on these marches with which any of us might identify. Peace and equality, respect for migrants and stewardship of the environment are all perfectly worthy ideals.
But can you build a movement by targeting all of them together? There’s the problem. If you want to build a political movement, it is best to have a specific, even narrow, focus on objectives. When the Suffragettes went into action, they had one cry: “Votes for Women!” Despite some regrettable activities – arsonism was among their tactics – the clearly defined goal was unmistakeable.
The trade unions, in their glory days, knew what they wanted: workers’ rights. Moses knew what he wanted: “Let my people go!” It might even be argued that triumphalist Islam knows what it wants: Sharia law and the universal caliphate.
But “rainbow coalitions” – with a wide range of objectives – can seldom achieve much, because they dissipate their focus over too wide an agenda.
The “women’s march” expressed an explosion of rage – some of it justified – at the Trump electoral victory. But can it build a movement on that? Doubtful.
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Pope Francis was surely wise in saying that he would judge President Trump after, rather than before, his administration got going. The New Testament says: “By their fruits ye shall know them.”
Perhaps, in the past, a Christian leader might have suggested that a thrice-married politician was hardly an exemplar of virtue. But that doesn’t seem to be an issue that arises nowaday in the public realm.
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One of the most wonderful innovations of recent times is that of “streaming” performances of theatre, ballet, opera and concerts from places of excellence right into our local cinemas.
Without paying the eye-watering ticket prices for Covent Garden or the West End theatre, we can sit in our local cinema and see a screen version of the best there is.
Last Sunday, I was able to see the Bolshoi Ballet’s performance of The Sleeping Beauty from a local cinema in Kent. It was enthralling, and on Sunday, February 5, I hope to attend the streaming of the Bolshoi’s Swan Lake.
Of course it is not exactly the same as being at a live performance – nothing is quite like being present. But it’s a marvellous alternative experience. (In ballet, a little of the magic of the ambience is lost: but the detail is better – you can really appreciate the amazing technique of the dancers.)
There’s a great programme over the coming months, from Hedda Gabler at the National Theatre to Eugene Onegin at the Met. Details are available through screenarts.co.uk.
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Debrett’s has issued a list of the 500 most influential people in Britain, listing them in categories from “Advertising” to “War and Peace”. There is no category for “Religion” or “Faith”, so neither the Archbishop of Canterbury, nor the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster nor the Chief Rabbi appear. Oh well, the kingdom of heaven is not of this world, assuredly.
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