Impact

I notice that sometimes, when people want to say violence has been extreme, they use the word ‘brutal.’ When I heard President Trump in his 2017 inauguration-speech I surprised myself by using the word ‘ugly.’ Unfortunately, it proved to be an accurate word for a person and world-leader whose aggressiveness and divisiveness has done so much harm. Voting and paying taxes does not set the bar very high in citizenship. But, thinking of us in the UK, I would argue for at least one more responsibility for us whatever our political views. I expect leaders and politicians - to be law-abiding; to work critically at improving the institutions of state; and to behave with commonly-held values such as ‘respect,’ ‘inclusiveness,’ and ‘humanity.’ And – the crucial test many would say - to work to end poverty and discrimination.