The Law Games: The Opening Ceremony

From nauseating nostalgia to shows of inspirational strength, the Olympic Ceremony did, as they say, have it all. Even as a cynical, Republican, who finds fervent patriotism generally discomforting I enjoyed it, but it wasn't easy. To channel my anxiety I will be blogging on all things Law and Olympics throughout the Games. #TheLawGames

On the one hand, I still think that the Olympics has costs us money we simply cannot afford, its commercialisation is an affront to the so-called "Olympic movement" and the manner in which it is and will be policed will push (and inevitably breach) the boundaries of the Rule Of Law.On the other, I live within sight of the Olympic stadium and couldn't help but get excited when the Red Arrows flew past my window.

Although, when all around were impressed by the rising chimney stacks representing the industrial revolution, I just thought "yeh, but in those days, we were sending children up chimneys and busying ourselves with the rape, pillage and enslavement of the "uncivilised" world"in the name of "progress".

There was a nod to the Windrush generation, great. Then again, look how most of them were treated for having the temerity to come to the heart of the Empire to see how the other half lived. The countries that made up the Empire were essential to the defeat of Fascism - rightly featuring. Shame that the gap between Rich and Poor has only continued to grow since then and that we still live in a society where your race and socio-economic background are bigger factors in achieving your goals than your talent.

That generation was also used as the foundation for the NHS - just one of the pillars of our society that deserved to feature. By the time the pop culture bit was on, I was much more comfortable in my seat. The default characterisation of most African nations as poor or struggling to overcame this or that disaster is so common as to be a dull drone in the background.

Undoubtedly my highlight was seeing first, Muhammad Ali and then Doreen Lawrence in the closing stages
(Shami Chakrabarti was a nice little bonus).

Essentially, the ceremony encapsulated everything I feel about being a Brit. There is no doubt that in many ways we have taken huge strides. In others we still have much to do. Recalling Britain's colonial history with criticism rather than reverence tends to evoke the objection of dwelling the past. Inequality, prejudice and racism are the epithets of the past, they say - despite the fact that the Lawrence story is just one retort to that notion - to say nothing of last year's Riots.

Meanwhile, the Olympics has been used to justify the detention of undesirable prisoners because the police do not have the resources during the games to monitor them on stringent bail conditions (see my previous post). Also, last night, 130 people were arrested as the much derided tactic of kettling was used to stop London's environmental campaign group Critical Mass from cycling around Stratford. This is despite the fact that the cycle takes places every month and is usually free from police interference. No doubt, the much heralded fast-track justice proposals are swinging into action as we speak and will be in slow should there be further arrests at a Counter-Olympics protest taking place in Mile End as we speak.

My point is not that all the demons of our past should have been on display alongside Lord Voldermort and the Child Catcher last night. And it is important that we recognise and cherish what we do well even if that sounds like "Leftie, multi-cultral clap-trap" to odious characters like Aiden Burley. However, one's pride in the achievements in a country's history and culture cannot giveway to the kind of complacent nostalgia that motivates people like Piers Morgan to (apparently) call for the restoration of the Empire. Even if it transpires that he didn't actually tweet that, there are plenty who love the idea.


Twitter: @MEtienne12 #TheLawGames