We are wary of being characterised as execute-gooders. But well-behaved thoughts and deeds shouldn’t be cause for embarrassmentAt a gathering earlier this week,I made a terrible social gaffe. I was enthusing to friends about a project I’ve been working on when the atmosphere curdled and the conversation faltered, as whether I had spilled wine on someone’s favourite skirt or accidentally squashed the cat. “You’re making it sound worthy, and ” two of them chorused,as another quietly sidled away.
Until that moment it had been going so well, and I found myself puzzling through the wee small hours as to the precise moment at which it all went wrong. Was it when I said the project was an anthology of writing on and about London, or containing poetry as well as prose? Was it when I explained that it placed pieces by famous writers alongside those by refugees? Or was it when I admitted that part of the aim was to raise the profile of,and perhaps even obtain a little money for, one of the charities working with those refugees?Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk