Ode to Joy

Fantasy Bob will not be joining a red, white and blue street party today.  Nor will he listen to Winston Churchill.  Nor will he sing We'll Meet Again.

It is not that he thinks that Victory in Europe was not something worth celebrating.  And Lord knows in these troubled times we need something to celebrate.

75 years on, it is the peace that followed are the real cause for celebration.  The years of partnership which lead to the defeat of the Nazis, and the years of partnership since.  He is not sure from the tone of the red, white and blue that these are what is being celebrated. 

World War 2 was a significant presence in FB's childhood - all the adults he knew had done their bits in various different ways.  Some talked about it, some didn't.  But he cannot remember there ever being a celebration of VE Day, even though the population then had more cause to celebrate.  FB's parents told him that, yes there was celebration but the real feeling was that of relief - relief that it was all over and real life could start again. The sharp reality of experience on the home front or in combat, of rationing, of losing loved ones had not yet been mythologised.  And look at us now.  AT a time when international partnership is more important than ever. You might be forgiven for thinking that it was not so much Victory in Europe as Victory over Europe.

FB has nothing in particular against We'll Meet Again.  But there is only one piece of music that can properly represent what is being marked today.