| Overlooked Again |
5 January 2004
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New Year's Awards for Ruggers, Geeks and a Janitor
One of Britain's more amusing, yet also deadly serious, customs is the awarding of peerages, knighthoods and medals in the New Year's Hono(u)rs List. This is also done in the birthday list, which coincides with her Majesty's official birthday (not the anniversary of her arrival in the pageant that is her life). While it is rather odd having a Queen makes someone a baron or knight in the 21st century, the idea of honoring those who contribute to a society is one that should be broadened and taken far more to heart.
A full list of those being recognized can be read in the London Gazette. The most notable on the list are the knighthoods for Clive Ronald Woodward for services to Rugby Union (he led the English World Cup team to the championship), Simon Jenkins for services to journalism, and Tim Berners-Lee for inventing the worldwide web (Al Gore did not). Less noteworthy is Eric Ross, School Janitor, Grange Primary School, Bo’ness, West Lothian, Scotland, who receives an MBE (Ordinary Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to Education.
The reason for a janitor to be recognized for his work by Her Majesty has eluded the recipient himself. "I do my job to the best of my ability and look after the kids, the staff and the building, but there are millions of janitors out there who do a job like mine and never get this kind of recognition," he told the BBC. Perhaps, they should. While one objects to someone being honored because an ancestor backed the right candidate in the Wars of the Roses, it is hard to quibble with honoring meritorious acts and those who undertake them.
The trouble with a 21st century, market economy is that one's value to society is mistakenly equated with one's value to the economy. In other words, a man is worth what he earns. Mr. Ross said, "I just go out and do my job, but it is just amazing to think that people recognize you are doing a job that is worthwhile." One would hate to live in a world without janitors; it would be dirty, dark and nothing would work. The pay may not be great, but the work is greatly appreciated if only by going unnoticed by so many for so long.
Her Majesty does have a higher profile than most, and her thanks represent the thanks of a nation. However, she does not have a monopoly on gratitude. Should anyone still lack a New Year's resolution, expressing gratitude more frequently wouldn't be a bad choice.
Finally, despite being overlooked (again), the Kensington Review will soldier on.
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