Is this a joke, or something?

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.

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?

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.

“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.

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?

@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.

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.

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

growstuff

"One Britain, One Nation" is an All-Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns. Its Public Enquiry Point is Kash Singh.

So much for this not being political!

It's supposed to be cross-party - who else is in that group?
I've been trying to find out

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.

Lin52

Wales and Scotland , part of the British Isles, wether they like it or not, perhaps should be more inclusive in their outlook, what is wrong with a song about these Islands, would you lambast those Nationalists in those countries singing and promoting there, no I suppose not. The sentiments are actually more true than ever in this world of rising nationalism in those two areas of the British Isles.

The British Isles is a geographical region in the North Atlantic, not a political union.

I think APPGs are a good idea in principle, cross party groups exist for all kinds of reasons.
Can this one be particularly rightwing? If so, it would be a misnomer ie not cross-party.

At least Deutschland uber Alles is a belter of a tune

I think it spells out what is wrong with state education. Totally prescriptive, do this, do that, by this particular date. It just turns children and teachers into mindless, controlled machines.
Well done to the children of St. John's Bradford, but one size doesn't fit all and I will be interested to hear whether my GC are doing this at their school in the English countryside.

I agree with you Alegrias. The Buddhist thing is indeed a distraction.

MerylStreep

nanna8

That has to be the worst song I have ever heard. Don’t know who wrote it, don’t care. It is vile.

What a vile comment from you, who, if I’m right, professes to be a Christian.

ad hominem. Not pretty, MerylStreep

"One Britain, One Nation" is an All-Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns. Its Public Enquiry Point is Kash Singh.

So much for this not being political!

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

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.

nanna8

That has to be the worst song I have ever heard. Don’t know who wrote it, don’t care. It is vile.

What a vile comment from you, who, if I’m right, professes to be a Christian.

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.

GrannyGravy13

It’s a song written by school children in a multicultural city (Bradford) , perhaps seen through their eyes it’s what they wish for…

All people as equal whatever their race, religion or gender working towards a better more inclusive UK.

Sorry but I do think that bias against the PM and his Government clouds their judgement, are we overthinking this song?

I hope you have noticed, GG13, that I have tried to be fair in my posts on this. My initial horror and disbelief have been tempered by subsequent posts by others on the origins of the story. I can understand that a leading Bradford citizen would be keen to promote the idea of a common purpose among a highly diverse population.

But, as I said earlier, it does feel as though it feeds into a government agenda and has been pushed to the fore by a very right wing Parliamentary group.

They want every child to be responsible, active and engaged in developing a sense of civic pride by championing our shared values of British Citizenship so that every child is learning what it is to be fair, decent, respectful, tolerant and compassionate.

I'm sorry, but our current government, and particularly its leader, is hardly the embodiment of these values is it?

Granny23

Oh the Irony!!!

the Department for Education wrote: “We're encouraging schools across the UK to celebrate One Britain One Nation Day on 25 June, when children can learn about our shared values of tolerance, kindness, pride and respect.

Most schools in Scotland will close for the summer holidays on June 24.

Priceless, Granny23! ?

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.
Nothing wrong with that.

Ein reich, ein volk, ein fuhrer immediately came to mind. I too feel sorry for those Bradford children, who undoubtedly meant well, but in the current political climate it seems singularly ill-judged.

It was written by children nanna8, we can cut them some slack. I think the quality of the song is the least of our worries!

That has to be the worst song I have ever heard. Don’t know who wrote it, don’t care. It is vile.