Guardian writers have long been rightly critical of the concept of British "exceptionalism", that somehow our country is different, with a history unlike any other country`s, and a people blessed with characteristics dissimilar from those of anyone else. With myths, like Britain fighting on alone in 1940, still popular, and the Queen recently describing such human traits as "self-discipline" and "good-humoured resolve" as "national attributes", one is nevertheless taken by surprise on learning that this exceptionalism extends even to science!
In South Korea, where the government listened to its scientific experts and started to "test, trace and contain" in February, "life is slowly returning to some form of normality" (Seoul gives a lesson in how to get over worst, 23/04/20). The UK government, however, "led", as we are repeatedly told, "by science", chose to ignore the WHO`s advice to "test, test, test", and, as a result, "highly disruptive social distancing" is likely to be needed until next year (Social distancing until 2021 to stop new wave of virus, warns Whitty, 23/04/20).
Your editorial pointed out that the prime minister`s "indolence and indifference to advice" are well known as "established facts", but with the country likely to have the highest number of Covid 19 related deaths in Europe, many of them the result of government incompetence, it is clear that the UK`s leaders have a lot to learn (Star, 21/04/20).
British "indifference to advice", resulting from arrogance, must end. Remember how the World Health Organisation`s advice to "test, test, and test" was ignored? Dr Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said it was "an unnecessary measure", as the advice was to "all countries across the world", but the UK had "an extremely well-developed public health system"! How could anyone in government think that guidelines for all countries were not for them?
This arrogance has been obvious for centuries, at least since the days of empire, but it still exists, especially in the minds of the so-called ruling classes. In her talk to the nation recently, the Queen said that our "national attributes" of "self-discipline, quiet good-humoured resolve and fellow-feeling" would see us through the crisis, and no one mentioned how ridiculous this was. "National attributes"? Really, rather than merely human ones? This exceptionalism, much of it the result of the manipulation of our history, has led to racism and absurd feelings of superiority, which means we give, not take, advice! That has to change!
School history texts have to be rewritten, ridding young minds for a start of ludicrous ideas like Britain on her own wins wars, ignoring the role of colonies and allies, and victories are won by national heroes, rather than collective and multinational effort. If ever there was a case for opening up the hidden history files, secreted away in Hanslope Park, it has to be now!
Lisa Nandy is of course right to accuse the Foreign Office of "unforgivable failings" over its handling of the Harry Dunn case (Star, 09/05/20), as indeed, she was when attacking the absurd belief held by too many with power in the UK in the myth of British exceptionalism. An earlier Star editorial pointed out that the prime minister`s "indolence and indifference to advice" are well known as "established facts", and with the country likely to have the highest number of Covid 19 related deaths in Europe, it is clear that this arrogant belief in British superiority has a lot to answer for.
British "indifference to advice" must end. Remember how the World Health Organisation`s advice to "test, test, and test" was ignored? Dr Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, said it was "an unnecessary measure", as the advice was to "all countries across the world", and that the UK had "an extremely well-developed public health system"! How could anyone in government think that guidelines for all countries were not for them?
This arrogance has been obvious for centuries, at least since the days of empire, but it still exists, especially in the minds of the so-called ruling classes. In her talk to the nation recently, the Queen said that our "national attributes" of "self-discipline, quiet good-humoured resolve and fellow-feeling" would see us through the crisis, but no one dared to mention how ridiculous this was. "National attributes"? Really, rather than merely human ones? This exceptionalism, much of it the result of the manipulation of our history, has led to racism and ridiculous feelings of superiority, which means we give, not take, advice! That has to change!
School history texts have to be rewritten, ridding young minds for a start of ludicrous ideas like Britain on her own wins wars, ignoring the role of colonies and allies, and victories are won by national heroes, rather than collective and multinational effort. If ever there was a case for opening up the hidden history files, secreted away in Hanslope Park, it has to be now!
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