It’s time for ch-ch-change

We find ourselves at an odd point in time, says Philip Howard, who is both excited and fearful of what the future holds. We need to talk...

Ch-ch-ch-ch changes (Turn and face the strange)/ch-ch changes, just gonna have to be a different man are the lines that have been coursing through my brain synapses for the past few months. I have always loved the music of David Bowie and how well he crafted his lyrics. Changes ranks highly on my Spotify compilations or, as the kids refer to them: ‘Phil’s Big List’. But like many of my now antediluvian generation I had forgotten most of the words. Especially the verse that goes: And these children that you spit on/as they try to change their worlds/are immune to your consultations/they’re quite aware of what they’re going through.

Thanks, Google. Though now, I do remember angrily spitting out those words in my bedroom, as I contemplated the injustices of youth and my parents, following it with the different chorus endings: don’t tell them to grow up and out of it and where’s your shame, you’ve left us up to our necks in it.

It is an odd moment in time. I must admit I am excited about the potential for a big future recalibration. On climate, on the countryside, on politics, on the haves and have nots, and on how we treat each other regardless of race, colour or creed. But I do appreciate that an equal number are frightened and fearful.

The bit I am most fearful about is that whilst we find ourselves in the age of the internet, where technically free speech is virtually limitless, we are terrified of expressing our views. I recall a few years ago writing a 700-word article about Karen Matthews, the lady from Dewsbury who you might remember was jailed for kidnapping her nine-year-old daughter, Shannon. It was, I confess, edgy. Possibly too edgy for my Field readers and certainly too edgy for the sub-editors, who dutifully removed all the contentious bits and returned it with 67 words remaining. So, I had to find another 633 on squirrels.

I read an excellent article in The Times by Paul Boateng. He was, I believe, Britain’s first black cabinet minister. In it he wrote: “We need to have a national conversation around race and what it is to be British that goes beyond government. We need to be prepared for some uncomfortable truths and some discordant voices.”

Lord Boateng, whom I respect, although I don’t always agree with, mentioned how South Africa had confronted its demons with a truth and reconciliation Commission.

He rightly questioned whether Boris and the men from the Ministry can facilitate this conversation. I note he did not bother to comment on an American response, or indeed an Indian or Chinese one. I was taken by the phrase he used: “the spirit of ubuntu”. ‘Ubuntu’ translates as an affirmation of our interconnectedness and interdependency as a prerequisite of personal and national success. It simply means we are what we are because of others. I definitely agree with him over this, though perish the thought ubuntu sounds anything like the ‘we’re all in this together’ slogan of David Cameron…

What surprised me most was the sheer vitriol in many of the comments that resulted from the article. Everybody is so polarised.

Not just by race and affluence but generationally. Quite how you achieve a national conversation on anything – be it race, the NHS, the environment – is now beyond me.

We need to prepare for a national conversation and debate. We need to be able to listen to, disagree with and be prepared to compromise with other people’s views. That is what should happen in a democracy. But like all good conversations, it needs to be based on respect, honesty, kindness and humour. What better way is there to expose bigotry and injustice than by creating a monster like Basil Fawlty or Alf Garnett to laugh at. Bigotry and injustice are all about power and control. If censorship stops us writing, talking or indeed laughing about such matters we will have little chance of effecting any let alone lasting change.

I am thinking of creating my own little micro-national conversation with our local village. I have been looking into creating a 60-acre community woodland that will have unrestricted public access. And conversations with Natural England about including more river and meadowland within a larger environmental scheme, so people can walk, picnic and possibly even camp. Conversations with English Heritage, the Forestry Commission and the Church. We have scope to remove all livestock and fences, to build otter holts and regenerate some beautiful habitat for flora and fauna and wildlife. We have earmarked six acres for an apple orchard full of Cumbrian rare breed apples. The cricket club has become involved – its members want to build a new pavilion and possibly some all-weather tennis courts.

It is an exciting project but a huge change. The last time I tried something similar in Lanercost, it was a disaster. I did manage to unify the village – against me. This time I will make sure there are five or six of us with our heads above the parapet invoking the spirit of ubuntu. Otherwise, I can always erect a statue of myself in the knowledge of the pleasure that will be gained by others in pulling it down.

I will leave the last words to Bowie: Time may change me/but you can’t trace time.

It is an exciting project but a huge change. The last time I tried something similar I did manage to unify the village – against me