Dear Sir,
I was reminded of my early radicalism when Labour’s new left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn was noted not joining in the singing of “God Save The Queen” at the St. Paul’s Cathedral service celebrating the bravery shown during the Battle of Britain. This was his first public appearance as shadow PM. The criticism was vitriolic although Corbyn is well known as an anti-monarchist. Perhaps he would have joined in a less royalist national anthem.
Some of you golden oldies will remember the golden days of the cinema when they were our major source of entertainment. Then the national anthem was a guaranteed way of emptying the cinema in minutes as people tried to avoid the ceremony of standing to attention and not budging till it was finished.
People would leave their seats as the movie was coming to its climax often walking backwards up the isle still watching the screen but moving closer to the exit to make that last dash before the first drum roll sounded. On one occasion with some university friends (I think in my first year)m we watched the riveting end of the movie still seated and remained so during the anthem, much to the chagrin of two nearby old ladies (55+ years would seem so to me then).
In further mitigation of Mr. Corbyn, it seems normal that every thinking person will, at least in their youth, flirt with communism. The idea of “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need” is common to most religions. The fact that not enough people are so public spirited means that these selfish bad eggs put many good eggs off, but I bet towards their immediate family they are communist although outside their home capitalistic self-interest holds sway.
At least I have the excuse of being a stupid self-opinionated 18-year old who moved on and not a cantankerous 66-year old republican who has yet to repent!
Mike Lillico
Playa de Palma