Olympics 2012 - The Pollyanna Tendency

I had intended to ignore the Olympic closure and consign it to the bin of history with a cruel oath to follow it. But two commentators have goaded me into this rant. First Jon Snow, a normally sensible man, becoming all emotional and 'England's green and pleasant land' on us on Channel 4. 'This defines what we could become'. Eh? Because some ponce can ride a bike faster than the Belgians? Maybe when the NHS finally collapses people can console themselves with a memory of bronze medals in the shooting. Then, Simon Shama, another normally sensible(ish) man telling us that this is the new multicultural, optimistic Britain - on to glory, boys. This is the same Simon Shama who wrote about the London riots (that's the real London) those few short months ago. Pollyanna routines against a background where the UK is a failing state (NHS, double dip recession, bank crimes, benefits cuts for the poor, failed war after war, crime, political and press corruption). Could go on about it but won't depress myself. When Scotland votes in 2014 to go it's own way, I will write to Shama and ask what happened to the dressage gold medal factor. I will end with the observation that the closing ceremony is one of the naffest things I have seen on TV. It could have been the Royal Variety Performance from 1980.