ONE BRITAIN ONE NATION

A recent incarnation of so-called civic nationalism (a Frankfurt School construct) is One Britain One Nation (OBON). This organisation was founded by Kash Singh. OBON’s website states: ‘Kash Singh is the Chief Executive and Founder of One Britain One Nation (OBON). As Chair and founder of the British Indian Association, he was responsible for bringing together thousands of people from diverse backgrounds.’ Kash Singh is an immigrant from the Punjab.

OBON is supported by the Tories and have been given state funding.

Identity is important to OBON. Its website states:

‘One Britain One Nation brings us together, not to focus on our differences but to celebrate the values we share: tolerance, kindness, pride, respect, and a tremendous desire to help others. Today’s Britain boasts a wonderful array of cultures. It is our multicultural identity that makes Britain so unique. Our diverse cultures are inextricably linked by the sole fact that we are British. It is this fact that has prompted OBON to reinforce and revive what collectively unites us. OBON aims to give a new impetus for the creation of a harmonised society, to make Britain an international model of moral rectitude.’

Were multiculturalism so wonderful, there would be no place for OBON. The website continues (italics my own emphasis):

‘Our ideal is based on a set of values, a spirit, a way of living and a state of mind that is ultimately about shared values of tolerance, respect, fair play, a belief in freedom and democracy. It is about seeking to create a single culture that embraces and accommodates differences without over-emphasising and reinforcing them. It is one which is inclusive, meaningful and capable of restoring civil pride and creating unity of purpose with a strong shared sense of belonging for all our people. It is a national mission with a patriotic vision that unifies people with a common bond of working for the future of our country.’

OBON is not advocating assimilation of immigrants, but of manufacturing a ‘single culture’ to replace British culture. Given that most immigrants settle in England, it is English culture that is under attack. The aim of ‘restoring civil pride’ would not be necessary unless something had gone wrong. The English have no problem with their patriotism or civil pride. The comment about a ‘common bond’ to work for the future of the country is disingenuous. In part it is a territorial grab and in part flawed in that such a common bond is too weak to hold together a country.

OBON’s mission is set out as being to ‘promote the concept of responsible citizenship; to instil a sense of personal pride in all our citizens of being British and create a real sense of collective Identity regardless of one’s background’; to ‘facilitate, inspire and strengthen the spirit of inclusion and involvement and social responsibility in all our communities in an effort to promote peaceful, respectful coexistence in citizens who will play a more active part in the wellbeing of our Nation’; to provide ‘role models’ for ‘our youth’; and ‘To recognise, acknowledge and value our diverse communities and their cultural heritage while aiming to facilitate and harness their integration into mainstream Britain.’

The candyfloss language should not obscure the agenda to replace English national culture in England with a theoretical construct that promotes immigrant cultures. There is no reason why the English should support this and they should not.

Worse, in pursuit of its mission, OBON is targeting primary schoolchildren. The website states:

‘We need the support of your school to celebrate the day in the spirit it is intended and as outlined in the OBON DAY 2021 brochure but to do the following as a MUST please: At 10am on Friday 25th June 2021. Encourage every child in your school to clap for a minute to recognise, embrace and pay tribute to all those people who helped during the Covid 19 pandemic crisis. Sing the OBON DAY 2021 anthem written by school children at St John’s CE Primary School, Bradford titled “We are Britain and we have one dream to unite all people in one Great Team”.’

Yes, they even have a silly song. The Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said that she initially thought it was all a ‘spoof’. It was also described as a ‘barmy brainwashing event’.

It is appalling that primary schoolchildren are being dragged into politics and exploited in this way. It is equally appalling that the Tories are actively involved.

Extremists do target children. The communists did, the Nazis did, and ISIS are doing.