This year 2008 the venerable maritime city of Liverpool (or Dublin East as it is known in some circles) is the European City of Culture and it kicked off the festivities in fine form at the Pier Head last night.
Leading the festivities was the famous Children's T.V. narrator and some time musician Ringo Starr, as affable and as unpretentious as always. Ringo of course has never really recovered from John Lennon's riposte to being asked was Ringo the best drummer in the world "Best drummer in the world! He is not even the best drummer in the Beatles!!"
Now I'm not an advocate for the British Honours system but seeing the New Years Honours where various non-entities, worthies and time servers are honoured essentially for services to themselves (" C1, Ministry of Defence, For services to Government") and where even the ludricously bonused CEO of Railtrack receives a Knighthood the question must be asked why no Sir. Ringo? Or to put it another way if a person of Ringo Starr's acomplishment can't be granted an "honour" who can?
Indeed why did somebody like George Harrison, who as well as his musical accomplishments was the first to use music and media to raise funds and awareness of world problems (Concert for Bangladesh) die without being honoured.
Not for the first time can the great City of Liverpool feel excluded by the Establishment.
Arise Sir. Ringo I say!!
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