Many of our prejudices against ‘all things British’ were dissolved this week by the smiles and friendliness of the Queen and our President. The four day State visit to the UK, with multiple speeches creating multiple opportunities to blunder, was navigated with aplomb on both sides. Pride replaced prejudice and filtered through the four classical definitions of the word in a healthy way.
Pride of Race. This is something which has bedevilled many nations and could easily have reared its ugly head to put one over on the other side. Thankfully there was no such point-scoring. Instead there was genuine appreciation for the qualities each race brought to the others wellbeing.
Pride of Face. Perhaps it was the age of those involved that precluded any display of physical attributes. The attire of all involved was appropriate for the occasion whether it was at Windsor Castle or the Albert Hall. Some may have thought that Michael D could have done with a haircut but it would be churlish to dwell on the matter!
Pride of Place. There cannot have been many times in the past that immigrants could said to have been ‘living in both the shadow and shelter of each other’ as the President so eloquently put it. This visit however has enabled the Irish immigrant to emerge from the shadows with pride in his or her roots and be glad to be Irish.
Pride of Grace. There was no question of one religion vying with another for supremacy. There were traces of Christian values in the mutual recognition of past wrongs and the symbolic gestures of contrition. In addition there was the grace that welcomed the former enemy and sat down to eat with him. Also humility was evident in the Queen’s commitment to be represented at the centenary of the 1916 Rising.
‘Hope and History’ may yet rhyme as the poet longed for.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”
1Peter Chapter 5 verse 5.