A powerful force for progress

Tony Benn gave the 2011 Salter Lecture at Yearly Meeting Gathering

Veteran activist Tony Benn has described Quakers as ‘a powerful force for progress’. He urged Friends to take a stand against those who hold power in the world.  He made the comments while giving the Salter Lecture to hundreds of Friends at Yearly Meeting Gathering last week. The lecture is held annually by the Quaker Socialist Society (QSS), which celebrates its thirty-fifth anniversary this year.

Tony Benn said he had learnt his values from his Congregationalist parents, whose beliefs committed them to the priesthood of all believers. He quoted his mother, Margaret Benn, who told him that the Bible ‘is the story of the conflict between the kings who have power and the prophets who have righteousness’. He explained: ‘She taught me to support the prophets against the kings. It’s got me into a lot of trouble.’ His mother was the first president of the Congregational Federation, launched by Congregationalists who opposed a merger with other denominations to form the United Reformed Church in 1974.

Tony Benn encouraged his listeners to campaign for justice wherever they find themselves. He said: ‘Whatever age you are, do what you think is right. If you’re still at school, campaign for it at school. If you’re old enough to work, campaign for it at work. Campaign in the community.’

The lecture focused on the threats posed to democracy by capitalism. ‘At least you can get rid of a government by voting, even if you can’t get rid of Mr Dow Jones or the FTSE,’ said Tony Benn. He was critical of the ‘unaccountable’ power of institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. ‘If you worship God or mammon, they clearly worship mammon,’ he added.

Tony Benn, who is now eighty-six, stood down from Parliament in 2001 to give ‘more time to politics’. He retains his Labour Party membership.

Questions from the floor covered topics ranging from Quaker decision-making methods to the designer William Morris and the coalition government’s NHS policy.

Problems arose when the chair of the meeting appeared to be unable to see much due to lighting problems. She was heckled when nobody from a particular area of the audience was called to ask a question. In addition, several Friends told the Friend that they were disappointed that little provision seemed to have been made to address Tony Benn’s hearing difficulties.

One of the final questions was from a young Friend who was concerned that her generation does not have anyone like Tony Benn to be a pioneer for change. ‘I don’t really believe that we’re looking for leaders,’ replied Tony Benn, ‘You do have to have people who you can listen to and trust, but mainly trust yourself’.

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Comments

I believe it is becoming clearer and clearer that the unfettered power of Global institutions and multinationals is ruining our world and our future lives. All the myths about the absolute necessity for these powers need to be challenged. This must be done both on behalf of the poor of the South who have undoubtedly suffered from the greed of the North and on behalf of all of us if there is to be a world for our successors. Friends have a direction, we have to try to bring heaven on this earth. Let us get clarity and challenge the worlds very unstable status quo.

By SarahL on 11th August 2011 - 12:06

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