British humor and humanity captivate the world

Danny Boyle's opening ceremony provided a perfect image of modern day Britain.

By TIMOTHY SPANGLER
Fireworks at London Olympics opening ceremony (photo credit: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)
Fireworks at London Olympics opening ceremony
(photo credit: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez)
As the American diplomat Dean Acheson famously remarked, “Great Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role in the world.”
Danny Boyle’s eccentric, yet deeply resonating opening ceremony for the London Olympics was a success on many aesthetic levels, but the ceremony's most unanticipated success was in posing a compellingly idiosyncratic answer to this blunt accusation.
Boyle’s fanciful pageant was distinctly different from the massive display of synchronized human endeavor displayed in Beijing four years ago.  Unfortunately, the Chinese pursuit of spectacle and scale teetered on the brink of tedium.  Instead of superficial displays of wealth and power designed to leave viewers shocked and overwhelmed, Boyle took a more British approach.  He told a compelling story – with ample amounts of drama and humor.
The London opening ceremony was not nostalgic – in the trite and manufactured sense – although it directly dealt with the role nostalgia plays in helping us understand our past. It was theatrical in the very best sense of the word.  And no country on the planet does theater as well as Britain!
Literally featuring a cast of thousands, the role of the British people in the monumental transformation of their country was consistently at center stage.  Kenneth Branagh’s reading of Shakespeare's The Tempest demonstrated how the arts and artifacts of the past can survive and inspire us as the world changes almost beyond recognition.
American viewers may have been shocked to see the affection towards Britain’s National Health Service that underlined the middle act.  Like all human institutions, the NHS is imperfect and flawed.  Although its efficiency and reliability are constantly questioned, the simple goals of the NHS effectively unite Britain.
As is their prerogative, Americans place other goals above the welfare and well-being of the youngest, the weakest, and the most vulnerable in their society.  American society reflects these priorities, and Boyle made sure that these differences were clearly shown.
The portrayal of Britons as groups of individuals, from various backgrounds, who have come together to pursue overlapping agendas markedly contrasts with both the solipsistic consumerism of America and the dehumanizing top-down regimentation of China.
The post-modern world – with its many complexities and contradictions – was not ignored. Boyle presented scenes from contemporary British life that were both familiar and anti prejudice.  In the digital age of text messaging and social networking, the British youth were well represented in all their exuberance and originality.
As memorable as the 2012 Games will be, London has been here before.  The British capital now has the unique record of having hosted the Olympics three times – no other city can make this claim.  First in 1908 and then again in 1948, London stepped up on short notice to ensure that modern Olympic movement would continue and thrive.  The Olympics have come home again in 2012 and the British have gone to great lengths to ensure that the world feels welcome.
Of course, there has been a hefty dose of British skepticism during the first week of the Games.
The debacles concerning missing security staff and the fiasco over empty seats in venue after venue are just two incidents in which Olympic enthusiasm has not prevented direct questions to be asked about why things were not better handled.  This was never going to be a games “in the middle of nowhere.”  London is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan capitals, and the games are being played at its very heart.
Of course, the Olympics are about much more than sports.
The millions of tourists are in London to spend money, take photos, and create memories that will forever shape their views of Britain.  As a result, 70,000 volunteers have turned out to ensure that these visitors leave London with an experience they will never forget.  In this regard, Britain is following the example first set in 2000 when Australians made an unprecedented effort to ensure that the Sydney games were welcoming, hospitable, and enjoyable for all.
The confidence of modern Britain was clearly displayed during Boyle’s film clip featuring the Queen and James Bond – portrayed by an urbane and mildly threatening Daniel Craig – on their short commute from Buckingham Palace to the Olympic Stadium.  The British are famous for their sense of humor and eccentricities. 
By staging the 2012 games in their capital city, the British are playing host to the world.  As athletes and spectators enjoy the competition and as billions more watch from home, snapshots of modern Britain are also on display.
Danny Boyle’s personal – and slightly bonkers – vision of Britain is, of course, only one interpretation.  Nonetheless, Boyle's vision will be utterly unforgettable.
The writer is a commentator who divides his time between the United Kingdom and Southern California. He has appeared on CNN, CNBC, BBC and Sky News, and has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Financial Times and the Economist.