One year ago, St. David's Day and an afternoon out down the Bay. We were picking up on the tail-end of the annual procession. A young woman was desperately trying to get a dragon's head on assisted by her father, near the large security barriers designed to stop the Super Furry Animals and their tank painted in CCFC colours from invading the Senedd.
We expected something to happen. The parade dispersed into the crowd : there were quite a few St. David flags which I mistakenly attributed to Bluebird fans. A couple of politicians gave very tedious speeches from the steps of the Assembly and then everybody looked around for an event. The only thing happening was a Breton dance group who didn't have the full accompaniment and were nowhere near as good as the many we'd witnessed in Llydaw itself.
For the many atheists, humanists, agnostics and non-Christians in Cymru it must feel strange celebrating our national day (not even a public holiday) in recognition of a Christian saint. As an ardent atheist ( who had an intense flirtation with Zen Buddhism as a student) I cannot identify with this day at all.
What alternatives are there, however? An Owain Glyndwr Day? Though as a republican, I reject all princes, including our own. From a purely Merthyr and socialist perspective, I'd want a national day which commemorated the Merthyr Rising of 1831. Not a Dic Penderyn tribute, but a genuine celebration ( like May Day used to be) of the Welsh people's ability to resist oppression and, what's more, raise the red flag for the first time. However, other places like Newport and their Chartist uprising, would have equal claims.
There's no easy solution, but perhaps March 1st could be re-named Cymru Day and those who wish to identify with the Christian side of it can do so, while others can dress as dragons and listen to one of the very best albums of the last decade 'Dark Days/ Light Years' and read the works of our National Poet, Gillian Clarke.
How much better it is to have a National Poet rather than Poet Laureate, who must ( even if not her poems) be necessarily deferential to the monarchy. I heard that Gillian Clarke has refused Honours from Elizabeth Windsor and she has gone up even higher in my estimation as a result of this. Clarke has produced many excellent poems in her role and though her political views are equally sound, I believe she is somewhat confused.
In the Academi's latest newsletter she writes about the possibility of the Tories gaining power in the next General Election, describing them as 'those who fought against' the very existence of the Senedd.
As someone who took part fully in both 'Yes' campaigns for a National Assembly, I find this comment astounding. Despite it being Labour Party policy in '79, the most vociferous politicians opposing it came from that party, in particular the likes of Neil Kinnock. As a referendum on law-making powers comes closer, it is significant that the leading 'No' campaigners are Labour activists like Rachel Banner of True Wales.
It may well be that the Tories gaining power in Westminster will be the best scenario for Wales. Any clear red water ( well, very pale pink anyway) could well become a ruddy moat and the Tories this side of it could have to decide between Welsh policies based more on fairness and co-operation and a British Government intent on decimating public services. I hope I'm right. I hope that, given a likely Tory victory, the coalition in the Senedd will seriously resist such cuts and , in fact, lead the resistance.
At any rate, the Labour Party in Westminster in the shape of Murphy and Hain, have maintained their scepticism towards devolution and clung to their ever-decreasing powers like beseiged barons. Neil Kinnock could even emerge again as champion of the 'No' campaign : True Wales are certainly flirting with him.
In the following sonnet - written aeons ago - I depicted the events when Lizzy Windsor opened our National Assembly and the whole of Cardiff Bay was turned into a police state for a day...........
ST.DAVID'S DAY
It was the Senedd's opening day
a bloated brown rat crossed my path
from dockland huddles to apartment Bay,
yellow security fence-posts were a stark
signal in the distance and rooftop marksmen
brought back Belfast, where even hospitals
were transformed into military garrisons ;
republican banners were sails blown full.
A suspect package, people tipped onto quayside
and a slightly dark, moustachioed man
was surrounded, ambushed and turned inside
and out by policemen sniffing an explosion.
The building, a glass shelter and cellar,
waiting for the first cracks to appear.
We expected something to happen. The parade dispersed into the crowd : there were quite a few St. David flags which I mistakenly attributed to Bluebird fans. A couple of politicians gave very tedious speeches from the steps of the Assembly and then everybody looked around for an event. The only thing happening was a Breton dance group who didn't have the full accompaniment and were nowhere near as good as the many we'd witnessed in Llydaw itself.
For the many atheists, humanists, agnostics and non-Christians in Cymru it must feel strange celebrating our national day (not even a public holiday) in recognition of a Christian saint. As an ardent atheist ( who had an intense flirtation with Zen Buddhism as a student) I cannot identify with this day at all.
What alternatives are there, however? An Owain Glyndwr Day? Though as a republican, I reject all princes, including our own. From a purely Merthyr and socialist perspective, I'd want a national day which commemorated the Merthyr Rising of 1831. Not a Dic Penderyn tribute, but a genuine celebration ( like May Day used to be) of the Welsh people's ability to resist oppression and, what's more, raise the red flag for the first time. However, other places like Newport and their Chartist uprising, would have equal claims.
There's no easy solution, but perhaps March 1st could be re-named Cymru Day and those who wish to identify with the Christian side of it can do so, while others can dress as dragons and listen to one of the very best albums of the last decade 'Dark Days/ Light Years' and read the works of our National Poet, Gillian Clarke.
How much better it is to have a National Poet rather than Poet Laureate, who must ( even if not her poems) be necessarily deferential to the monarchy. I heard that Gillian Clarke has refused Honours from Elizabeth Windsor and she has gone up even higher in my estimation as a result of this. Clarke has produced many excellent poems in her role and though her political views are equally sound, I believe she is somewhat confused.
In the Academi's latest newsletter she writes about the possibility of the Tories gaining power in the next General Election, describing them as 'those who fought against' the very existence of the Senedd.
As someone who took part fully in both 'Yes' campaigns for a National Assembly, I find this comment astounding. Despite it being Labour Party policy in '79, the most vociferous politicians opposing it came from that party, in particular the likes of Neil Kinnock. As a referendum on law-making powers comes closer, it is significant that the leading 'No' campaigners are Labour activists like Rachel Banner of True Wales.
It may well be that the Tories gaining power in Westminster will be the best scenario for Wales. Any clear red water ( well, very pale pink anyway) could well become a ruddy moat and the Tories this side of it could have to decide between Welsh policies based more on fairness and co-operation and a British Government intent on decimating public services. I hope I'm right. I hope that, given a likely Tory victory, the coalition in the Senedd will seriously resist such cuts and , in fact, lead the resistance.
At any rate, the Labour Party in Westminster in the shape of Murphy and Hain, have maintained their scepticism towards devolution and clung to their ever-decreasing powers like beseiged barons. Neil Kinnock could even emerge again as champion of the 'No' campaign : True Wales are certainly flirting with him.
In the following sonnet - written aeons ago - I depicted the events when Lizzy Windsor opened our National Assembly and the whole of Cardiff Bay was turned into a police state for a day...........
ST.DAVID'S DAY
It was the Senedd's opening day
a bloated brown rat crossed my path
from dockland huddles to apartment Bay,
yellow security fence-posts were a stark
signal in the distance and rooftop marksmen
brought back Belfast, where even hospitals
were transformed into military garrisons ;
republican banners were sails blown full.
A suspect package, people tipped onto quayside
and a slightly dark, moustachioed man
was surrounded, ambushed and turned inside
and out by policemen sniffing an explosion.
The building, a glass shelter and cellar,
waiting for the first cracks to appear.
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