The National Trust - is it losing ours?

including yours
I take it from that that you do not live in the UK, Katie59

For what its worth my husband has never worn African tribal clothing, I don't think he has ever worn anything you would associate with the Caribbean, he is a very conservative dresser so he'd probably be looking on in interest with his smart trousers, shirt and blazer, he certainly wouldn't be upset because they weren't dressed like him

I wonder if your DH, in his smart trousers, shirt and blazer, might find NT volunteers virtually signalling by having to dress up in African tribal clothing rather patronising?

The best thing they can do for Black Awareness is to make him welcome and not discriminate.

Just to point out that I have been to China twice. Once just immediately after the massacre in Tiananmen Square and once a couple of years ago, pre Covid. I think it is extremely stupid not to visit a country because their politics are unacceptable, personally, because there are always other points of view and if we all close ourselves in our little boxes where we are comfortable no one would ever see any other way of life or different views. I don’t like the politics or class system in the uk butI would still visit. Same applies to Cambodia and many Asian regimes.

toscalily

Doodledog "Assuming that pink glitter and face paint signifies gayness is akin to saying that frilly aprons and wooden spoons (or, for that matter high heels and cocktail dresses) signify femininity." I do so agree with that. On the same theme! have just received an email from Waitrose who are supporting "Pride" by sending me a recipe for a lurid coloured rainbow cake which from the photo must have so much colouring in it would make your hair light up.

All quite agreeable, but the cake sentence made me chuckle.

Callistemon

^For what its worth my husband has never worn African tribal clothing, I don't think he has ever worn anything you would associate with the Caribbean, he is a very conservative dresser so he'd probably be looking on in interest with his smart trousers, shirt and blazer, he certainly wouldn't be upset because they weren't dressed like him^

I wonder if your DH, in his smart trousers, shirt and blazer, might find NT volunteers virtually signalling by having to dress up in African tribal clothing rather patronising?

The best thing they can do for Black Awareness is to make him welcome and not discriminate.

Compared to ignoring him, insulting him and being very dismissive? No I think he'd be interested and perfectly happy.

The point is they didn't welcome him so I think making their staff and volunteers more aware of the need to respect and welcome everyone is brilliant, don't care if people think it is "woke".

nanna8

Just to point out that I have been to China twice. Once just immediately after the massacre in Tiananmen Square and once a couple of years ago, pre Covid. I think it is extremely stupid not to visit a country because their politics are unacceptable, personally, because there are always other points of view and if we all close ourselves in our little boxes where we are comfortable no one would ever see any other way of life or different views. I don’t like the politics or class system in the uk butI would still visit. Same applies to Cambodia and many Asian regimes.

We are all different, I would never give money to a corrupt country or a country that will detain, torture and kill it's own citizens and obviously if you visit you do. There are lots of countries to visit, I've been to quite a few.

Seems a bit harsh to compare the very real problems in the UK and with the govt to the regime in China.

Shame to resort to using stupid for anyone with a different point of view, much better to be open minded and consider other viewpoints.

Maybe you could explain the other point of view of the detention of protestors in Hong Kong or the treatment of the Uighurs.

Ye gods- blaming the National Trust for that too?

Why not start a thread instead of hijacking this one?

MawBe

Ye gods- blaming the National Trust for that too?

Why not start a thread instead of hijacking this one?

So I'm not allowed to reply to someone saying people are stupid for not wanting to support a violent regime. Maybe you aren't following but I wasn't blaming the NT for that, I had the cheek to say I wouldn't go to China, I wasn't the one who brought it up if you have a look, and then got the I think it is extremely stupid not to visit a country because their politics are unacceptable well views differ, I don't agree with supporting such regimes but I'm not rude enough to call people's choices stupid.

The point is they didn't welcome him so I think making their staff and volunteers more aware of the need to respect and welcome everyone is brilliant, don't care if people think it is "woke".

That is exactly what I said worriedwell

They don't have to wear African tribal clothing to be welcoming. They could even wear a smart jacket, trousers and shirt like your DH.
A smile would help too.

Maybe you could explain the other point of view of the detention of protestors in Hong Kong or the treatment of the Uighurs

I know threads meander but this is getting ridiculous.

Well worth another thread, though.

I did wonder about a "where would you never visit for political reasons" thread but I think it would just end in fisticuffs

Callistemon

^The point is they didn't welcome him so I think making their staff and volunteers more aware of the need to respect and welcome everyone is brilliant, don't care if people think it is "woke".^

That is exactly what I said worriedwell

They don't have to wear African tribal clothing to be welcoming. They could even wear a smart jacket, trousers and shirt like your DH.
A smile would help too.

The point is they are trying to raise awareness, I don't suppose the pride day is the only thing they are doing and anything they do is a good thing in my book.

Alegrias1

I did wonder about a "where would you never visit for political reasons" thread but I think it would just end in fisticuffs

St Petersburg is still on my bucket list.

Callistemon

^Maybe you could explain the other point of view of the detention of protestors in Hong Kong or the treatment of the Uighurs^

I know threads meander but this is getting ridiculous.

Well worth another thread, though.

As I said I wasn't the one who brought China into it and I wasn't the one who said it was stupid not to visit countries with dubious records. Too close to calling me stupid for sticking to my principles, which I accept are mine and other people have different ones, like worrying about glitter.

Not sure how another thread would go, obviously there are people who don't care and even if people care they will care about different things because some countries have a mixed record so you might value the good bits more than the bad bits worry you. I have other countries I wouldn't go to, turned down an invitation to a close family member's wedding as it was in a country I won't visit but I won't say what they are as it isn't relevant.

I know someone who is planning on going to the USA this year if they can, wouldn't go while Trump was President and I think good for them having a line and not crossing it regardless of if it is my line as well.

St Petersburg is still on my bucket list. Callistemon I know several people who have been and all say it is a beautiful city. Not sure what my favourite city is, maybe Venice. For some reason I've never made it to Edinburgh and I'd really like to go but DH is disabled and the journey would be too much for him so not likely to see it.

Alegrias1

I did wonder about a "where would you never visit for political reasons" thread but I think it would just end in fisticuffs

Brilliant idea for a thread.
Would I have to explain Middlesbrough ?

Whoever said it, I do so agree about the Lucy Worsley school of history. So much of the content is about her, dressing up like some 6 year old let loose with Disney princess outfits.
I eschew any programme presented by LW nowadays. Just too irritating. Which is hame, since I do like historical documentaries in general.

…a shame…

But does Middlesbrough have a NT property? And, specifically, one that has guides who dress up in naff period costumes/glitter and rainbows or promote "projects" that have sod all to do with the history of the property?

I’ve been to Middlesbrough and St. Petersburg. I’m a proper rebel

I've only been to Middlesbrough once. I'd broken my shoulder and went with husband on a business trip as I couldn't manage on my own at home (this was before he was disabled) I think I was high on painkillers and all I can remember is sitting in a car park so although I haven't been to St Petersburg I probably know it as well as I do Middlesbrough. Maybe it isn't very memorable but I wouldn't know.

Ormesby Hall and Roseberry Topping (the latter sounds like a dessert), Chewbacca are near Middlesbrough.

I'm not sure about the face paint and glitter though.

I did read that as Raspberry Topping.

Yum yum.

I'm not sure about the face paint and glitter though

No point going then Callistemon! although Roseberry Topping does indeed sound delicious

I've just realised it's not a property, it's a hill.

Where woad painted warriors fought off the foe.
Another dressing up idea for the National Trust?