We are family

Friends, Europeans, countrymen, lend me your ears....

We are just weeks away from a “stay or leave” vote in the United Kingdom on membership of the European Union, which is a throat-parching thought. Yet many in my country seem to be salivating at the prospect. Indeed, all across this fractious continent, the cradle of so many appalling conflicts, isolationists brandishing at Brussels an alarming list of economic, political and social negatives are on the rise.

Amid this disquiet and the enormous weight of the refugee crisis there is a significant risk one vital wheel on the extraordinary if far from perfect union will fall off. Next would be a total derailing.

WHAT THE...?

Somehow there are many who firmly believe there is a more powerful argument to outweigh the vessel of lasting peace, free trade and a place at the family table where solutions to the toughest issues are endlessly sought. The cyclical traits of the species, of disillusion and a dire need for something to change, can be for the better good, but sometimes it is headlong, destabilising and wrong.

It is far easier, always, to walk away, but if Britain did that I believe the tragedy for all states would indeed be of Shakespearian proportions.

The Bard who penned those timeless pan-European dramas has been explored and celebrated across the continent, his vision and scope being played out to multi-cultural and multilingual audiences for 400 years. He belongs to the continent, and I believe as a communicator and a Renaissance man he would be firmly of the lobby for tireless endeavour, diplomacy and cooperation.

The grey hamsters on the EU wheels can be infuriatingly bureaucratic and, of course, there are issues, many issues. But for very good reasons there are forward-thinking nations like Catalonia who want to be at the heart of it, making it work, to be an equal member of that peaceable and prosperous family. So should we all.

For me it boils down to community, through thick and thin, an unwavering search for accord and solution, all of which only come if we share the belief in diplomacy and interdependence as pioneered in the Renaissance, whereby dialogue and constant contact are the answers to the touch papers of suspicion, hegemony, and fracture.

Yes, the need for greater understanding and transparency is paramount. No, the European Union does not have enough accountability. For me there is also another significant point. Where is the tub thumping leadership? In truth I favour the quiet, corruption-free diligence of the hamsters, but in this age of sound bite, bluster and Trump, it hasn't helped that they all appear to have had charisma bypass operations and are disinclined to defend themselves.

I will not let go of the family analogy.

As if to underline by thoughts about the wonder of it, between people, between nations, we've just had a call from London, from one of our oldest and dearest friends. He telephoned to tell us that a few hours earlier he had just become a Dad. He was brimming with the news that a long wanted and awaited much loved child, had been born in a London hospital to his dear German wife, under the tender care of two dedicated midwives, one Italian the other Polish, who stayed for 12 hours to ensure all was well. Our friend could not be more emotional and grateful for all he had just experienced.

There was so much hope in his voice.