Of all the irresponsible actions that we’ve seen online and in the streets of Britain during the last week, the most irresponsible have to be the words of Elon Musk, the American owner of X (formerly known as Twitter); one of the world’s richest men and now, it appears, a man wanting to flex his muscles and prove he’s also the most powerful by using his own platform to wade in on our domestic unrest.
In my view, violence and physical intimidation of the sort we’ve seen in British streets recently are never justifiable, whatever the supposed rationale behind it. There are issues to be addressed which have caused some of the nation’s polarisation, but the best way to deal with them is by calm talking – not the barbarous, confrontational racism we have been witnessing.
I went to see my son in one of his first professional acting roles last week, a play called Posh, a thinly disguised attack on the Bullingdon Club and the roots to the sense of entitlement of some of our previous political leaders. I think Elon Musk has now demonstrated his own sense of entitlement by using his high profile to offer his own highly divisive and dangerous opinions.
I have said this before, but it is really important in my view that our leaders, both elected and in business, use their elevated status to take a responsible approach to dealing with national and international issues rather than using the same social media tools that sparked some of the misinformation which led to the disorder. These large organisations have a duty of care to ensure information is fact checked. It has made me seriously consider whether we as a charity should make some statement and withdraw from ‘X’, a discussion I will have with trustees.
It is also really important that people feel safe. I am pleased there have been no incidents here in Merton but if people have anxieties, it is critical, both as workers and as citizens, that they engage either with their employers or the authorities to address those concerns and risks. Having said all that, one of the most heartwarming and brave things I saw in the news this week was the Imam at a mosque in Liverpool opening his doors to talk to the protestors and offer food to them, and the subsequent response of some of the men – a sign that good common sense and a bit of love and compassion can go a long way in dealing with our differences.
For me love and human understanding is the only way to move forward. I despise violence. We all get angry. It’s a normal human emotion, flowing through from a feeling that the world is not as it should be, but we all see the world from our own perspectives, our own upbringing and our own experiences. By seeking to understand others’ perspectives and showing a bit of kindness and empathy, we grow as human beings.
Loving and seeking love are hardwired into our DNA. Opening ourselves up to really talk and understand others is a way of showing that love, compassion and understanding. I saw another play last week, as part of the Putney Theatre Boxset Festival, titled A Hundred Words for Snow, a coming-of-age story, delightfully told by a talented young woman, about seeking love and connections after the death of her father. Theatre has the power to do that.
Over the years I’ve learnt that loving and being in love aren’t necessarily the same thing. Falling in love feels like a madness… I recently opined the view that Shakespeare’s works might have taken a different direction had his story been different. His influences are explored in the stage adaptation of Tom Stoppard’s film being performed next week by Carlton Theatre Group – a story of star crossed lovers, beautifully told, and a theme close to my heart that I will return to one day.