Is this a joke, or something?

Alegrias1

PippaZ

Why do we have to hijack other countries cultural festivals and then get it so very, very wrong?

The photograph on the front of the One Britain, One Nation page is chilling. But as I said before, it will have it's supporters.

Other countries festivals? What?

Japan's OBON day is in July.

"Our" (their?) OBON day in is June. The whole Buddhist thing is a red herring

Whatever

Oh, not very cross-party and not a very large group, three Tories and one Labour ex-MP, John Grogan who used to be Chair of the APP Beer Group.

@Lin52 - Your expressed belief that Scotland and Wales are part of the British Isles WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT , is hardly a resounding endorsement of the one Britain One Nation message ?
As Granny23 points out most schools in Scotland break up on the 24th - One Britain One Nation ? I think not.

This sounds like North Korea to me. The children didn’t make this up, they’ve been fed these ideas from somewhere. This government hasn’t encouraged tolerance, fairness or respect it’s all just embarrassing smoke and mirrors. Why force children to sing it? Why don’t Tory MPs get up and sing it if they believe in it so much?

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” I am sure the man behind this has the very best of intentions and the sentiments of being fair, decent, respectful, tolerant and compassionate are admirable, regardless of what you personally think of the government. There are other issues, however, when Scotland has already broken up for the summer holidays, and Great Britain is made up of several nations each of whom have their own patriotic songs.

According to the website link, OBON day in 2018 was also on the last Friday in June so Scottish schoolchildren have always missed this opportunity to develop their sense of civic pride and shared values of British Citizenship.

Zennomore

@Lin52 - Your expressed belief that Scotland and Wales are part of the British Isles WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT , is hardly a resounding endorsement of the one Britain One Nation message ?
As Granny23 points out most schools in Scotland break up on the 24th - One Britain One Nation ? I think not.

It would be very difficult to detach ourselves from the main island of the British Isles and how far would we have to row to be considered not part of the geographical group?

MaizieD

'The future belongs to us'?

Just to be clear, it was MaizieD’s post above, which immediately made me think of that chilling Cabaret clip.

Otherwise as far as I can see it’s well intentioned. I really don’t see incipient swastikas all over the place or any evil Far Right agenda.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

I do feel sorry for the well meaning and probably excited children of St John's Primary School whose sentiments probably are that we should be inclusive of all and kind to each other.

I absolutely agree with you, Callistemon.

It's not the sentiments that are at fault, but their eerie similarity to the 1930s fascist agenda is disturbing when pushed by a government source.

These alleged far right sentiments could equally be applied to the far left North Korea, China or even Thailand have children singing The Countries anthem/song everyday!

Is it so wrong for children to thank all those who have worked tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic by clapping?

Is it wrong to educate children about community’s and helping each other?

If the participating schools can work the theme into the school day once a year could it improve community/social cohesion, or even emphasise schools ethos of helping each other?

After all we have days dedicated to Harvest Festival, Football Tournaments (when they are occurring) various Religious Festivals.

You're not listening to me, are you, GG13?

I'm not saying that it's wrong. I'm saying that it has disturbing undertones, particularly when endorsed by a government with a questionable agenda, led by someone who is the antithesis of the values being celebrated.

Saying that it is the sort of thing also endorsed by autocratic far left regimes doesn't help your argument...

MaizieD

I have read your posts.

I have not said that this is neither wrong or right, but that a community day (which is basically what I see this as) could have a worthwhile place one day a year in the school curriculum.

I am not arguing with you or anyone, just posting my opinion.

Callistemon

Zennomore

@Lin52 - Your expressed belief that Scotland and Wales are part of the British Isles WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT , is hardly a resounding endorsement of the one Britain One Nation message ?
As Granny23 points out most schools in Scotland break up on the 24th - One Britain One Nation ? I think not.

It would be very difficult to detach ourselves from the main island of the British Isles and how far would we have to row to be considered not part of the geographical group?

This isn't about being part of a geographical group it's about subsuming separate countries into one nation - ruled by England - in a way they may or may not agree with.

What values sentiments should we be endorsing for our children if responsibility being fair, decent, respectful, tolerant and compassionate, carry such sinister undertones ?
Sounds like Orwellian double talk to me - good is bad war is peace etc.

I have not said that this is neither wrong or right, but that a community day (which is basically what I see this as) could have a worthwhile place one day a year in the school curriculum.

It would probably have worked better if they'd chosen a date that was actually in every country's school year then.

I just watched that Cabaret clip again, thanks MawBe for posting it. I'd forgotten how scary it is. I guess many of us are the old bloke in glasses who won't stand up.

It is nationalist populist nonsense.

fair, decent, respectful, tolerant and compassionate

These things are fine.

Associating them with a symbol of one political union is worrying. Also the use of the term One Nation One Britain; There are at least 3 nations in Britain, apologies to any GNers from NI who I think are not part of Britain? Its a minefield and trying to reduce it to patriotism for a political entity that is so difficult to define is the problem, IMO.

And true to form it isn’t even true.

One Britain, One Nation?!

I think not, I thought we were a union of 4 Nations.

cross post WWM2!

Stormystar

What values sentiments should we be endorsing for our children if responsibility being fair, decent, respectful, tolerant and compassionate, carry such sinister undertones ?
Sounds like Orwellian double talk to me - good is bad war is peace etc.

The sentiments don't carry any sinister undertones.

The one Nation, great Nation sentiments do. Particularly when apparently endorsed by a government desperate to ignore the divisions caused by Brexit and led by a man who is the complete antithesis of the 'British values' extolled by the OBON group.

Whitewavemark2

And true to form it isn’t even true.

One Britain, One Nation?!

I think not, I thought we were a union of 4 Nations.

But Johnson is trying hard to convince people that the UK is 'one nation'. Innocently or not, this campaign is playing into his hands.

Under Covid-19 restrictions, I thought singing was forbidden currently. Certainly we aren’t permitted to sing in church, as far as I know.

Great Britain/Britain is the official collective name of England, Scotland and Wales. This does not include Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.

FNOUK? Only sung by those school children who have not yet broken up for end of term??

Feeling pedantic today. ?

Whitewavemark2

And true to form it isn’t even true.

One Britain, One Nation?!

I think not, I thought we were a union of 4 Nations.

Exactly Whitewave but now the largest of those nations is throwing it's weight about and telling our children how they must think about the UK. How can anyone not see what is wrong with that!

I'm with Kalu on this!

Why not also include Northern Ireland if you want to be inclusive?

NotSpaghetti

I'm with Kalu on this!

*Why not also include Northern Ireland if you want to be inclusive?*

The whole thing is a complete omnishambles

Well intentioned, no doubt, by the OBON chap, but not thought through at all by the government.

Kalu

Great Britain/Britain is the official collective name of England, Scotland and Wales. This does not include Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK.

FNOUK? Only sung by those school children who have not yet broken up for end of term??

Feeling pedantic today. ?

There is no accepted definition of what Britain is and as any vague idea is about a land mass and does not include Northern Ireland. Are we intending to tell it's citizens it doesn't belong to the UK?

Don't know what FNOUK means.