Farrell's call

The late 1960s saw much change and radical transformation of society around concepts of liberty, equality and the freedoms individuals should have. Amidst the ferment of political disruption came one of the great films; OK an opinion but happy to hear others.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) might be said to have mapped the challenge that paved a way for modernity amid parochial power struggles, a story as old as Time: the fine tuning of the balance between prosperity, harmony and greed. Intriguing that it follows the Civil War trilogy of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly films. I don’t know if Leone was influenced by John Ford but The Searchers (1956), a towering epic of a film, charts similar themes but from a different perspective. It examines the relationship modern America has with much older traditions. These are genuinely wonderful films and if you haven’t had a look, you would do a lot worse than to set aside a couple of afternoons.

The recent documentary Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland shares a title and some of the themes. Charting the Troubles through the lives of those who lived it, it is a timely reflection on an era that seems so immediate and yet so distant. The profundity of people’s experiences escapes words, it certainly escapes mine.

I recall much of the History I was taught growing up in Ireland. We observed different ideologies, perspectives on what constitutes a good life, political loyalties and allegiances. The experiences of those of my vintage will remember the evening news brought only grief. Talks seemed to break down more often than they worked, ceasefires didn’t hold and it seemed no one was safe. There was a real sense that the difficulties were intractable. A Gordian Knot that would never be loosed.

I could go on here about how very difficult things were – the economic downturn, three-day weeks, mass unemployment and emigration, lights going out and so on – but that as ever is only one side of the story. The other much brighter and purposeful. One thing I took from the negotiations that brought the Northern Ireland Treaty was that talking through problems does bring solutions. It may not bring perfection but, as human beings, perfection is a tantalising target impossibly out of reach. Better to consider progress. Looking back over 25 peaceful years, it is not Nirvana. Tensions continue. Disagreeing is intrinsic to our nature but so too is dialogue and discussion. We are a social entity; we naturally seek solace in community but the instinct to gather may be inverted to become exclusive, to become a clique, closed through whatever perceived fear or concerns for loss that make us pull up the drawbridge of experience and hunker down. 

It is a curious notion of security; this supposed solace of self-imposed isolation or segregation and seems to me to be an unhealthy one. There are disagreements at Embley. In a community such as ours and in any community, there will be differences. The extent, depth and reach of difference and diversity is bewildering and breathtakingly wonderful. Last Tuesday morning at our Open Morning, I was tackling the question of what kind of child comes to Embley. I asked what sort of child comes home to your house, and what sort of friends follow through the door? Far from homogenous ‘yes’ people, they are all different, blessed and unique. We engage children in sharing concerns; but also, in owning up, being honest and taking responsibility.

The values we hold are self-evident when it comes to every aspect of what we do but are drawn into sharp focus in sport. Sport is predicated on a winner and a loser; invasion games require an attack and defence. You face endless challenge and a binary difference; the opposition are just that, they are ‘against’ you.  But there is a subtlety that allows for nobility. Grace in defeat; honest recognition that it was not your day or on the other hand, humility in victory and the willingness to congratulate a worthy opponent. We expect that no quarter is asked and are unlikely to give, but within the playing of the game there is a humble recognition of the sameness of the ‘other’. Shaking hands at the end, sharing match teas and walking away having given your best. Difference is celebrated properly, recognising that we all share a common humanity. That there is much more that unites than divides and that which divides could rightly be seen as ‘special’ more than it is ‘different’, ‘unique’ not ‘odd’.

I will never forget the welcome I had in Cardiff nor the ribbing I took after the game. It says a lot for our playful sense of togetherness and friendly rivalry when I am honoured to be included in an upcoming fixture, but if Farrell and O’Connell call, I’m off… hope Furlong et al aren’t reading this, might never live it down.

…I would like to thank the kind anonymous parent who sent an England shirt and greetings card to me earlier this week following Ireland’s loss and England’s win in the Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals. It was an endearing gift and a reflection of the good humour that exists within our Embley Community.