Change Your Times for the Better
Monday, November 1, 2010 at 10:22PM “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."
Joanne Kathleen Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000).
It is not often that one has the chance to experience all the joys of human goodness, cultural unity, musical thrill and political hope all within a couple of hours. Yet that was my most fortunate experience last Saturday night, when I sung in the autumn concert of Carshalton Choral Society, where we performed Karl Jenkins’ utterly brilliant The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.
If anyone hasn’t heard this piece, I advise you to do so as soon as possible, for many reasons (perhaps the most dramatic and brilliant movement, ‘Charge’, can be found below, for a taster). It deals with the descent into and the terrible consequences of war, and uses texts and music from around the world and different religions to build bridges and show how the horrors of conflict affect all.
The work was performed in St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, and surely never before has the grand old venue seen such diversity and unity. Not only was the choir composed of those of many denominations and none, but the piece includes a Muslim call to prayer - quite beautifully rendered by the delightful young imam Mustafa Raj, whose humble delight and honour at being invited to play his part was a joy to behold - and what a joy it was to hear it.
God famously works in mysterious ways, and it can be no coincidence the piece was released just a single day before 9/11; a plea for peace which, especially in these traumatic times, we must fight ever harder to achieve. I don’t think I need to tell you, intelligent readers that you are, how important unity between all right-thinking men and women across the nations and cultures is, and I’m sure we all talk and genuinely think of its importance, especially at these oh-so-difficult times of suspicion and fear around the world, further fuelled by the latest frightening developments.
The difference, however, is that this piece actually does something, walks the walk (well, sings the songs); it genuinely brought cultures together to listen and learn, to mix and enjoy each other’s company, to debunk the suspicions and the myths. As the old saying goes, one person cannot change the world; but he or she can change his/her own life, and maybe thus his/her street, and then the local concert venue, and so on …
It’s often said, and again correctly, that it is a vocal minority that causes inter-culture tensions, with their poisonous words and deeds; deeds and words that all the decent majority on both sides deplore. But it is often forgotten - and we are all guilty - that those amongst this right-thinking majority, from both sides, sometimes lack the courage or force of mind to speak out enough against such horrors, to decry them and the falsity of their connection to the cultures they claim to represent, and perform the actions that disprove the myths; in short, to fight fire with love and understanding. I was so proud to have been part of this demonstration of unity that did just that, and I urge you all to try something similar and love your neighbours, that in our own small ways, we may bring this world a step closer to peace.