Andrew Hook
What did you find most encouraging?
In a bleak decade, its best and most encouraging moment emerged directly from its darkest hour: the world's reaction to the tragedy of 9/11. Just for a moment, all of humanity seemed united in a shared sense of horror and sadness. Just for a moment, all the nations in the world seemed able to come together in condemning and resisting the forces that had produced such chaos. Just for a moment, it appeared that the good everywhere would at last work together to eliminate such evil. What a pity that the actions of the Bush administration soon put an end to such a hope.
What did you find most discouraging?
The most discouraging aspect of the decade is one that continues to confront us: the growing power of an irresponsibly destructive media. Newspapers, TV and radio news and comment, the 24 hours news cycle, and the internet in all its manifestations from blogging to Facebook, have combined to overwhelm rational discussion of serious issues. The political agenda is no longer set by principled politicians but by the press's headline writers, radio and television commentators and interviewers, and so-called focus groups. Sensationalism and exaggeration rule: every change of mind is a humiliating u-turn, every rational policy reconsideration is an equally humiliating climbdown. We desperately need reason and principle to turn back the media's hegemony before our society and culture are ruined by it.
Which public figure did you most admire?
President Obama wins easily here. To an unprecedented degree, his victory in 2008 renewed hope both for the US and the rest of the world. At the time of his election I wrote that in office he would prove to be a pragmatic idealist. Events have shown I was right about that. But I was completely wrong about the behaviour of Senate Republicans. Driven by the American version of the media forces described above, they have done everything in their power to thwart and frustrate the president's ideals. But with the qualified success of healthcare reform behind him, I still believe that President Obama will slowly transform the face of both national and international politics.
Which public figure did you least admire?
I'm afraid I still find Tony Blair's conduct over our entry into the Iraq war unforgivable. For all his protestations about the sincerity of his beliefs, he effectively deceived both parliament and all of us. To overthrow one dictator, countless thousands died – and many continue to die – while the Middle East is more, not less unstable. Gordon Brown, who did much to prevent the total collapse of the world economy, is mocked by comedians, derided by second-rate celebrities, and apparently disliked by most of the British people. Meanwhile Mr Blair swans around the world, making bankers' bonus-style money, and is appointed the UN's and the EU's envoy to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict. I find this extraordinary.
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