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Tuesday, 13 February 2024

It's time to disempower the charities



Suella Braverman: stop making people feel guilty for being white

White people must not be made to feel guilty for being white, Suella Braverman has said amid a row over claims that the countryside is racist.

In an article for The Telegraph, the former home secretary says that suggesting the countryside is not welcoming to ethnic minorities because it is a “predominantly white environment” is wrong, dangerous and disempowering.

Her comments come after a group of wildlife charities, including the National Trust, RSPCA and World Wildlife Fund, said that the British countryside was a “racist and colonial” space where people of colour were often framed as “out of place”.



It's a good Telegraph article, but the problem has been obvious for years. Far more could be done about charities playing their tedious political games, especially as Ms Braverman makes a key point about the divisive nature of this particular game. Removing charitable status would be a start, but it won't be done by any of the main parties, including the Conservatives.


She says: “To claim that the countryside is racist is one of the most ridiculous examples of Left-wing identity politics. It’s a symptom of a deeper problem within our society – the urge to constantly view everything through the lens of race or gender, plead victimhood and point the finger at an oppressor.

“Whether it’s the patriarchy, or colonial masters, this desperation to divide society is ripping through our institutions, creating a culture of fear and self-censorship. This is why it’s essential to challenge this ideology relentlessly, wherever we see it.”

7 comments:

Sam Vega said...

Her comments come after a group of wildlife charities, including the National Trust, RSPCA and World Wildlife Fund, said that the British countryside was a “racist and colonial” space where people of colour were often framed as “out of place”.

Yesterday evening I went to a talk and discussion at the cathedral - about music. One old boy - a retired university lecturer in political theory, no less - said that the Church's and wider society's failure to engage with Chinese and African musical traditions was "colonialist".

I'm obviously going to have to do some reading, because the word has evidently changed its meaning. Either that, or he's a complete tit who thinks that making the right noises is more important than factual accuracy.

DiscoveredJoys said...


I never give any money or old clothes etc. to any national charity that has a political stance (I'm looking at you OXFAM). I do donate to local charities that I consider worthwhile.

So yes, until there's a Parliament that reduces charities to political activists and removes the advantages of charitable status, I do my bit to defund them. If enough people do so the charities will either change or fail.

A K Haart said...

Sam - I suspect your complete tit explanation is the right one. It's odd that such a chap should copy fashionable memes without at least some awareness that this is all he is doing.

DJ - we also avoid giving to the big names which have a political stance, although I tend to assume that's almost all of them.

microdave said...

It's a bit telling that in the UK today only a non-white can openly say "It's OK to be white"...

A K Haart said...

Dave - it is telling and the usual suspects are all aware of how telling it is.

Tammly said...

But it's not ok to be Jewish anywhere it would seem.

A K Haart said...

Tammly - not even in Israel apparently. It had to come eventually.