Cynicism

Any expression of hope, or show of human decency, is currently greeted by the British public with ill-conceaaled cynicism, or as something mildly amusing. So the visit to Ireland and now to the British Parliament by President Obama is received by the chattering classes with interest, but mild scepticism. The media are in raptures, apart from the Daily Telegraph, which may have caught the mood of the general public by being a touch cool. Never mind the brilliant oratory, what was in it for him? I have heard it asked. All Obama wanted was a boost for his 2012 election chances, it is inferred.  We have seen too much bad behaviour among people who are supposed to be our protectors and friends, really to believe in unalloyed goodness.  The default attitude is that nothing in British society really works, no promise is to be trusted; there are no good fairies, everything that sounds like good news is to be suspected. We are all being cheated, swindled, led up garden paths by banks, adverts, politicians, the media, and preachers. The presentation of a product, an idea, a philosophy, a guru, which calls for belief, trust and commitment is subject to the  Paxman sneer. It may be justified, but we have become conditioned now not to believe that anything is altogether good. Whatever, says St Paul, is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, worthy of praise,'think about such things'.   I don't know how the ancient Philippians reacted to this invitation.  It sounds mighty optimistic in the United Kingdom in 2011.