By ‘Silver-Spotted Skipper’ of WendoverIt is sometimes said that a tsunami begins with a butterfly flapping its wings; you can trace the consequences. I know it is highly unlikely that a tsunami will ever appear at The Lee, but there is no shortage of intellectual, artistic, spiritual, professional and moral combined forces present to allow one to expect something equivalent to emanate from this towering and stimulating place in the Chilterns. At least that’s what it feels like the morning after another hugely enjoyable dinner party just off The Green.
We talked about the current climate of course, and it seems clear that we live at a moment in history when massive change is about to take place. The financial world is still in turmoil, with no clear picture yet as to how the new order will be shaped.
There is some concern that the regulators, financial and political, were not able to take corrective action to avoid this calamity – but both these groups are culpable. Also, during and before this present period, we have seen moral authority ebbing away from the ministers of religion in a similar way; all very worrying and disconcerting. The consequence is a lack of respect for the once unassailable professional class and a society and culture all the sadder for it. You have to ask: how could corrective action be taken, who would or could take the first crucial step?
Maybe it falls to the next generation to bring us out of this. We should not hesitate to put our faith and trust in future generations. However, this must never be confused with an understandable reaction from pensioners to feel sidelined or ignored. In some societies older people are revered and certainly listened to – but first, surely, you have to have something worthwhile to say.
Maybe, just maybe, a little flapping of older professional wings in The Lee could be the trigger for something big – a consequence to beat all consequences.
This is no time to stay passive and silent, for I have just reminded myself what pubs are for – to provide the venue where the big decisions of the world can be taken. So, what’s the problem? Now is the time to ‘start flapping’.