If I had the chance to pick one person from history who I could meet, it would be Emily Bronte. We all would probably answer that question differently based upon our interests, life experiences and passions but for me, Emily Bronte has always been an inspiration, specifically her poetry and its concentration on her community and the landscape in which she lived.
There are many lines she wrote that I could quote but I love the following:
“How beautiful the earth is still
To thee – how full of happiness?”
To me, the magic of poetry is that the words can be interpreted in many different ways. With the war in Ukraine and the many other challenges we face do we all see “how beautiful the earth is still”? Of course we do, the beauty we see around us is not when we go on an exotic holiday or visit a historic monument it is the actions of our friends, family and those who love us. We are bound together by a collective belief in the good of mankind and our endless capacity to find solutions to those problems that are impacting the happiness and opportunities of those within our community less fortunate than ourselves.
I see the earth through the landscape of our area. A walk up Holcombe Hill, the industrial landscape of our towns and buildings such as Gigg Lane linking us with those who have come before us and played their part in the long journey to the freedoms each one of us in the UK enjoys today. Emily Bronte was inspired by the people and countryside of Haworth and I hope that same belief is shared by those of us lucky enough to live in Bury, Ramsbottom, Tottington and all the villages in Bury North. The area you are from and the community are the building blocks of a shared collective unity that can change lives for the better.
“To thee – how full of happiness?” I believe this to be the profound question of our political age. Politics is the art of producing a society that allows individuals no matter their background or circumstances the chance to be free and happy. The question posed by Emily should be at the forefront of every politician’s thinking. How can the state assist, support and help you to live the best possible life?
Much like the question I posed in my opening paragraph, there are many different views on how this can be done but as we come to the local elections in Bury on Thursday, however we vote I hope everyone is inspired by a love and emotional connection to the place we call home.
All politics is local and there has never been a more important election for all those who reach for the stars and want a local council that is bold and ambitious for everyone in our Borough. If you share this view, please vote Conservative on Thursday.
