I have just been listening to Ed Miliband choosing his favourite records for a desert island. I went to sleep depressed by what was happening in Arctic Sweden - Those of you who watched the video will understand that it is the attitude of the mining bosses almost as much as their actions. - and now after hearing the bland music chosen by our Leader of the Opposition I am even more depressed.
I do not want to be governed by anyone whose favourite record is Robbie Williams's Angels.
That sounds snobbish but I don't think it is. Perhaps it comes back down to idontlikeism. So much it seemed he didn't like. There is all the music and sounds that have ever been recorded to choose from. It seems so disappointing to choose a rather banal pop song as your fave.. But Ed seemed to choose only music with sentimental associations and that gives rise to the interesting question; why not have the recorded voices of the people you want to remember rather than a song?
It is very likely, almost certain, that all Ed's records were chosen for him by his spin doctor. This is sad too. Such an effort not to appear to be 'clever' or 'showing off' by choosing classical music or jazz. Or -God forbid! - Modern or ethnic music -.
Edith Piaf - guess which one - was the choice to show that he knew that there was life across the Channel.
Very English and it should go down well with the voters, but it depresses the life out of me. I came away with the impression that Ed's Socialism was learned at the University of 3H (Hampstead, Harvard, Harrods.)
Why is it tempting to thing that life would be better under a cultured, interested and sympathetic tyrant* who shares your taste in music than a philistine democrat?
Thought For the Day.
Have I said that I am sleeping with four rats? Two Good Rats that live in a cage at the foot of the couch, and two Bad Rats that live in a cage on the other side of the room.
It is almost a Homeward/Badfort situation. The Bad Rats are not interested in me. One, the least bad, has mycoplasmosis, and is very wheezy, poor thing. So he has an excuse. The other rat is just 'bad' and once bit me.
The two Good Rats on the other hand are always cheerful and full of a bright eyed curiosity, always wanting to know what I'm up to.
But last night there was a fight between the Two Good Rats and I was forced to yell, very loudly and very firmly, STOP FIGHTING!
The effect was both surprising and comical. The rats immediately did a vertical take off, let go of each other and fled to hide quivering in their bedrooms, and only came out reluctantly when later I offered them treats, and said sorry.
I can shout at The Bad Rats all I like and they take no notice.
There is I think a lesson that we learn from this.
To be Good is to be Sensitive. And being Sensitive means spending a lot of time in your room trembling and depressed with awful feelings of guilt, fear and regret.
But being Good is worth it because, in the end it will be alright.
It really will.
Some Higher Power will give you a Special Treat.
Now back to the Visa form
* This is the Muslim ideal of the just Sultan, in Indonesian the Raja Adil. There are some very interesting ancient Arabic and Malay writings on the subject. I studied some of them at SOAS.