Taking part

Some fascinating little squabbles on Twitter regarding the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony and Danny Boyle's political affiliations and intentions.

Conservative MP Aidan Burley, sparked a wee Twitter row by commenting on the leftie multicultural bias, as he saw it, so plenty of leftie multiculturalists showed their true colours by demanding his execution. Or at the very least, his resignation.  One Tweeter gloated that DB had used a Tory government's money to fund a Socialist statement - except, of course, the government doesn't actually have any money of its own, so that was a moot point. Apart, of course, from the irony that the majority of government spending of your money is wasted on socialist projects seeking to subvert human nature itself.

I hear that the saintly Billy Bragg, whose Twitter profile says "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." also got in on the act and showed what a good actor he is by spouting the usual ill-thought-out, inflammatory, class-war statements, in apparent contradiction of his peace-and-love byline. I say I heard about this as I only get to see his Tweets when others re-tweet them - he blocked me ages ago for daring to agree with somebody who disagreed with him. Such a sensitive [arse]soul.

None of any of that matters. The whole spectacle was magnificent and quirky, celebratory and proud and very inclusive. If you choose to see messages - and symbolism was everywhere - then that's fine too. Britain is still [just] a free country and if a movie-maker wants to engage in a bit of politicking, so what?

Nope, there is something quintessentially British about the whole Olympic spectacle; the notion of doing your very best, meeting with triumph and disaster and treating those two impostors just the same. The opening ceremony, far from being divisive, seemed to repeatedly centre on the very, very British characteristic of joining together and becoming more as a result. It's promising to be a fantastic two weeks of sporting mayhem, so let's just get on and play the game, eh?

Vitai Lampada

("They Pass On The Torch of Life")

There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night,

Ten to make and the match to win.

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play and the last man in.

And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,

Or the selfish hope of a season's fame.

But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote -

'Play up! play up! and play the game!'

The sand of the desert is sodden red,

Red with the wreck of a square that broke;

The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead,

And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.

The river of death has brimmed his banks,

And England's far, and Honour a name,

But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks -

'Play up! play up! and play the game!'

This is the word that year by year,

While in her place the School is set,

Every one of her sons must hear,

And none that hears it dare forget.

This they all with a joyful mind

Bear through life like a torch in flame,

And falling fling to the host behind -

'Play up! play up! and play the game!'

Sir Henry Newbolt (1862-1938)