Somewhere or Anywhere

Hi everyone

Are you a ‘Somewhere’ person or an ‘Anywhere’ person? Since my last column (perhaps a bit pretentious to call it this but it has been suggested by one of the overseas distinguished readers) much has happened including over 60 million people voting for the now sulking Trump. Plus the shameless response to Priti Patel’s bullying, the exit of Dominic Cummings, the rising hope for a vaccine, a thin Green plan from the government, Leicester FC sitting at the top of the table. All quite big events in themselves but my attention has been on the 60 million. I have become curious about what is the Donald’s attraction despite (or because of) being so offensive to so many people.

Which brings me back to the ‘Somewhere/Anywhere’ issue. David Goodhart’s rather heavy book ‘Head, Hand and Heart’ suggests this is a good way of looking at the two camps that divide society whether in the US or over Brexit here. ‘Somewhere’ people are those who value where they are – localism, their community, their land, their family, tradition, simplicity, freedom from interference, an intense dislike for big government, intrusive technology. They tend to have jobs working from their heart and with their hands such as the caring services, drivers, manual services – people who have become more visible with the pandemic. ‘Anywhere’ people value ideas, internationalism, the power of the internet, equality, difference. They act from their head and tend to hold more prestigious positions. ‘Somewhere’ people are in general less valued in our society and often feel it. We all have a bit of both in us but which set of values drives your behaviour? Indeed your votes? I remember being in the voting booth for the Brexit referendum and my head saying Remain and my stomach saying Leave. It seems to me that this Somewhere/Anywhere model is a good basis for starting to listen to each other as there are so many values on both sides that we can identify with or at least understand.

We have arrived at this point of division not least through the effect of technology which has a ‘silo effect’ – reinforcing our views by showing us only information that supports those views. It polarises. On the other hand, the pandemic may have left many of us now feeling on less sure ground than before in this new reality – perhaps revisiting our values and plans. As Mike Tyson said ‘Everyone has a plan ‘till they get punched in the mouth.’ This time is therefore an opportunity to reach out. If Covid has taught us anything it is the importance of connection to each other, of acceptance of each other and of being kind. Perhaps we now have a framework to do this.

Finally I only attached this joyful clip belatedly last week so in case you missed it… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcsSPzr7ays

And finally to provide some balance another musical clip:

https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=D5D5C68205F088BD&id=D5D5C68205F088BD%21309010&parId=D5D5C68205F088BD%21303025&o=OneUp

with love

Derek