First class writing Paul! This is so suitable for me to forward to family and friends who are in thrall to the new “progressivism”. They either keep quiet and put up with it or see it as a genuine advancement. In fact its another example of stuff being imposed from top down. They need to wake up!
I always enjoy reading your posts, Paul. Although you’re on the money again here, I fear Mark is right. The multicultural experiment is simply too far gone to undo (at least by any means that are remotely acceptable). Current minority groups will eventually assimilate but the resulting society will have a completely different character from the one we know now. The challenge is to try and ensure it doesn’t change too much for the worse.
Paul, thanks for putting so clearly and concisely something which has been playing on my mind and likely the minds of so many others for some time. It's as you said in our conversation Thinking Class a few weeks ago - people crave a bit of cultural stability. Unfortunately, cultural stability hasn't been in vogue for the best part of 65 years.
I wonder what drives those governing our public and private institutions to keep hastening the demise of the our culture and promoting those we came to host. Fear and the hope of appeasement? Wanting to seem enlightened? Blind universalism? Being a 'change maker'? Whatever is the driving force, each of them threatens the same outcome - the end of an order and the beginning of a new that no one really wanted.
I agree with this. We seem to have lost basic common sense. Of course, everybody is equal - it’s pathetic to argue otherwise - but we have become a weird self-harming parody of inclusion, where the game is to constantly outdo the last inclusive initiative, with an even deeper concession this time around.
I’m afraid it may end in fury. Certainly, in the States, the progressives are a gift to Trump, who scares the bejesus out of me. The fact they can’t see that he is a monster they have created is the cruellest irony of all. What an awful mess it all is.
My version of inclusion is completely different to the one we actually practise. Everyone should be included, but you have to fit in with the way "we" operate. I put the "we" in scare quotes because I'm beginning to wonder if there is a we left.
This approach doesn't quite fit in with Paul's football fan analogy. You would have to distinguish between away fans who eventually become home fans and away fans who eventually go back to their own stadium.
Am I mad for thinking this is (or at least was) a viable attitude?
You may have hit on the only formulation of this point that will have enough cut through that even the media calling the purveyors of this analogy racist will not stop it having the desired effect. Well done.
If only this message could be promoted more strongly.
Paul, seeing as you use football as an analogy for much of this piece, I feel compelled to ask you a question - why Wolverhampton Wanderers as your team?
Given your birthplace, I had you down as West Ham United or another London club as the most logical choice. Is it due to expat family ties, or is there another reason?
I saw Wolves play on TV as a five-year-old in 1980 and fell in love with the old gold and black. That's the only reason. And I have stuck with them ever since. You are right that by geography I ought to support the Hammers!
Only just found you on Substack Paul, but really value your stance on many things - though I gave up on socialism many years ago. Interesting that the Muslim call to prayer can be honoured at the same time that Christianity is reviled.
Brilliant article, Paul! You've hit the nail on the head. It's something I think more and more about (although from afar, as I live in Hungary) Today, I got talking to another ex-pat, from Leicester, and he was telling me about how he'd visited his home city last week and how drastically it had changed...and not for the better. Like me, he has no problem with immigration and diversity in itself. Leicester has always been multi-cultural. But at this level, and this speed, without uniting values and willingness to integrate, it's a recipe for disaster. Having experienced living in a high-trust, safe, cohesive society, like Hungary (as the U.K used to be) I could never return to England. I am truly heartbroken to see what it has become/is becoming, but feel hopeful to see there are more left-leaning thinkers such as yourself, Paul, who are brave enough to talk about the elephant in the room. For so long, the fear of being called 'racist' or 'far right' meant that people self censored, but I feel that's starting to change now as people realise what's at stake.
"'tolerance', 'inclusion' and ‘diversity’" are a trio taken from a quartet, the other being compromise, in that all are bi-directional terms. They all require that bi-directionalism to work. If any, all, are taken as omni-directional then the situation will not work and because the norm of your culture is any, all, of them it would be injudicious to assume the same of other cultures. If they are other cultures then maybe, probably, that's why they are a different culture. Culture is the 'commonality' which binds a society together.
I'm going to be harsh, so forgive me for this in advance.
Unfortunately, the UK is slowly losing its identity. As an immigrant myself that has been living in London for over a decade, I never felt like I was in the UK, even though I feel Brexit has helped the situation a bit. The entire nation is sinking into a sea of minorities and really wrong and damaging "diversity, inclusion and acceptance" policies. It's always good to help others, and mixed societies are simply amazing, however no country should leave aside culture and traditions, just to make room for ungrateful guests and weird societal shenanigans.
Agree whole heartedly with the article. I fear we (as a country) are too far gone now. The country we once knew has gone.
First class writing Paul! This is so suitable for me to forward to family and friends who are in thrall to the new “progressivism”. They either keep quiet and put up with it or see it as a genuine advancement. In fact its another example of stuff being imposed from top down. They need to wake up!
Thanks, Mary.
I always enjoy reading your posts, Paul. Although you’re on the money again here, I fear Mark is right. The multicultural experiment is simply too far gone to undo (at least by any means that are remotely acceptable). Current minority groups will eventually assimilate but the resulting society will have a completely different character from the one we know now. The challenge is to try and ensure it doesn’t change too much for the worse.
An excellent essay Paul that hits the nail on the head.
Thanks, David.
Bang on the money Paul. Please go into politics…..🙏
Outstanding analogy and summary of British society.
Paul, thanks for putting so clearly and concisely something which has been playing on my mind and likely the minds of so many others for some time. It's as you said in our conversation Thinking Class a few weeks ago - people crave a bit of cultural stability. Unfortunately, cultural stability hasn't been in vogue for the best part of 65 years.
I wonder what drives those governing our public and private institutions to keep hastening the demise of the our culture and promoting those we came to host. Fear and the hope of appeasement? Wanting to seem enlightened? Blind universalism? Being a 'change maker'? Whatever is the driving force, each of them threatens the same outcome - the end of an order and the beginning of a new that no one really wanted.
Thanks, John. I think it's all the things you list, particularly the one about wanting to be seen as 'enlightened'.
I agree with this. We seem to have lost basic common sense. Of course, everybody is equal - it’s pathetic to argue otherwise - but we have become a weird self-harming parody of inclusion, where the game is to constantly outdo the last inclusive initiative, with an even deeper concession this time around.
I’m afraid it may end in fury. Certainly, in the States, the progressives are a gift to Trump, who scares the bejesus out of me. The fact they can’t see that he is a monster they have created is the cruellest irony of all. What an awful mess it all is.
Well said. I completely agree.
My version of inclusion is completely different to the one we actually practise. Everyone should be included, but you have to fit in with the way "we" operate. I put the "we" in scare quotes because I'm beginning to wonder if there is a we left.
This approach doesn't quite fit in with Paul's football fan analogy. You would have to distinguish between away fans who eventually become home fans and away fans who eventually go back to their own stadium.
Am I mad for thinking this is (or at least was) a viable attitude?
You may have hit on the only formulation of this point that will have enough cut through that even the media calling the purveyors of this analogy racist will not stop it having the desired effect. Well done.
If only this message could be promoted more strongly.
A very well thought out and presented article, Paul. You have put into words what many of us feel, but lack the talent to do so. Thank you.
Many thanks, Anna.
Paul, seeing as you use football as an analogy for much of this piece, I feel compelled to ask you a question - why Wolverhampton Wanderers as your team?
Given your birthplace, I had you down as West Ham United or another London club as the most logical choice. Is it due to expat family ties, or is there another reason?
I'm City, by the way.
I saw Wolves play on TV as a five-year-old in 1980 and fell in love with the old gold and black. That's the only reason. And I have stuck with them ever since. You are right that by geography I ought to support the Hammers!
Only just found you on Substack Paul, but really value your stance on many things - though I gave up on socialism many years ago. Interesting that the Muslim call to prayer can be honoured at the same time that Christianity is reviled.
Many thanks.
Brilliant article, Paul! You've hit the nail on the head. It's something I think more and more about (although from afar, as I live in Hungary) Today, I got talking to another ex-pat, from Leicester, and he was telling me about how he'd visited his home city last week and how drastically it had changed...and not for the better. Like me, he has no problem with immigration and diversity in itself. Leicester has always been multi-cultural. But at this level, and this speed, without uniting values and willingness to integrate, it's a recipe for disaster. Having experienced living in a high-trust, safe, cohesive society, like Hungary (as the U.K used to be) I could never return to England. I am truly heartbroken to see what it has become/is becoming, but feel hopeful to see there are more left-leaning thinkers such as yourself, Paul, who are brave enough to talk about the elephant in the room. For so long, the fear of being called 'racist' or 'far right' meant that people self censored, but I feel that's starting to change now as people realise what's at stake.
Thanks, Nicky.
Excellent Paul, thank you…
"'tolerance', 'inclusion' and ‘diversity’" are a trio taken from a quartet, the other being compromise, in that all are bi-directional terms. They all require that bi-directionalism to work. If any, all, are taken as omni-directional then the situation will not work and because the norm of your culture is any, all, of them it would be injudicious to assume the same of other cultures. If they are other cultures then maybe, probably, that's why they are a different culture. Culture is the 'commonality' which binds a society together.
I'm going to be harsh, so forgive me for this in advance.
Unfortunately, the UK is slowly losing its identity. As an immigrant myself that has been living in London for over a decade, I never felt like I was in the UK, even though I feel Brexit has helped the situation a bit. The entire nation is sinking into a sea of minorities and really wrong and damaging "diversity, inclusion and acceptance" policies. It's always good to help others, and mixed societies are simply amazing, however no country should leave aside culture and traditions, just to make room for ungrateful guests and weird societal shenanigans.