A New Camelot?
But there is an alternative narrative. In the case of Britain and Ireland, suppose Scottish and Welsh nationalists and united Irelanders, who equate the English with oppressive colonialism, witnessed a revival of an English nationalism at its best built on good ethical and eternal values?
A debut novel from Alistair MacKichan, The Camelot Club, recounts a typical English West country village, Little Meddlyn, which has historic roots as the Camelot of ‘King’ Arthur, reviving as a community in which everyone gives their best to meet the needs of everyone else. The St. |George Arms pub is a hub, which re-animates the true spirit of Saint George who is a selfless saint for people of all backgrounds.
The author plans further novels, because he is animated by a vision of the best of England being reactivated through hundreds of village communities inspired by ‘from each according to their ability to each according to their need’. Loyalty, valour and a willingness to fight for what is good animates Little Meddlyn.
If Britain and Ireland became a family of ‘tribes’ with empathy who knows what might be possible?
This is a selfless nationalism that every country can adopt. It is not based on possessiveness, it is based on gratitude.