Preface:
On Turf, Tension, and the Curious Nature of Unity
This is not a history. Nor is it a sermon. It is a sideways glance at the curious nature of human rivalry, identity and belonging.
The Spectrum of Harmony began with the absurdities of neighbourhood tribalism, but gradually wandered into something rather larger: our remarkable ability to quarrel with one another, yet discover common ground when circumstances demand it.
From the familiar rivalries of Dukinfield, Newton and Hyde to the shifting allegiances of nations and empires, the boundaries of our loyalties are seldom quite as permanent as we imagine.
It is satire, certainly, but not satire that sneers. Rather, it invites us to recognise something of ourselves in the contradictions of human nature and perhaps smile at the extraordinary lengths to which we go to distinguish ourselves from one another.
For those who grew up where grass had politics, accents carried allegiances, and history was both a burden and a punchline, much will seem familiar.
And for everyone else, welcome to the carousel.
After all, today’s adversary may well become tomorrow’s closest ally.
Until, of course, somebody else comes along.
The Poem: A Satirical Reflection on the Dance of Rivalries and Unity
In a land of winding streets and stubborn hearts,
My neighbours quibble over grass and turf
the louts of Dukinfield scrapped annually with the yobs of Newton,
until the clowns of Hyde wanted to play,
turning their fists into laughter.
The unified Mancs often scowl at Liverpudlians,
perhaps a tad jealous of the Beatles,
not content with their own Oasis.
However, they stand shoulder to shoulder
when the Yorkshire folk of Leeds and Bradford
assert their ‘God’s Country’ yore.
Proud and benevolent Lancastrians
ever grumbling about thrifty, stubborn Yorkshiremen—
or is it the other way around?
find time to unite when the Southerners,
with their posh received voices,
tell them what to do.
The English, bless them, ever wary of the Scots,
somehow find unity
when the French talk of Napoleon and Les Rosbifs. That rivalry runs deep.
And though the English and the French share a brotherly bond
forged in the conflicts between 1066 and the Great Wars,
they still mutter about their Jerry cousin.
When THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA flexes its muscle might…
Us Brits, Frogs, Jerrys and Romans recall—
quarrels aside, our blood runs deep.
Though more than common ground is found
with its new cousin over the pond
when the Russian Bear stirs from its lair.
In the land and times of Vicky,
did Nicky, Willy and Georgie miss their golden opportunity?
And today, all, from east to west,
we watch the rising sun over the new Eastern empires
with awe, and unease.
Thus, the world spins on its carousel
of conflict and camaraderie,
harmony and disharmony
dance in the eye of the beholder.
And should one day, from Alpha Centauri,
Some curious visitors come calling,
Perhaps the Russians, Yanks and Chinese,
The Brits, the French and all the rest,
Will suddenly discover, much to their surprise,
That being Earthlings isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Until, of course, we discover
That our new neighbours have their own bloody neighbours!
Postscript:
Humanity has always found reasons to divide itself, yet those divisions have a curious habit of fading whenever something greater comes along.
Perhaps harmony is not the absence of rivalry, but the recognition that, beyond our differences, we share a common belonging.
And perhaps one day, we might recognise this without needing someone from another star system to remind us.
Although, knowing humanity, I wouldn’t put money on it.