Charles Moore on the woke “assault” on Britain, abolishing history & fighting back | Off Script
The Telegraph・2 minutes read
Wokism suppresses opposing views, leading to speech restrictions and political alienation, while China's oppressive practices pose challenges for Western relations and global emissions. Achieving global cooperation on climate change is crucial, but policies should consider regional impacts and allow for critical discussion to avoid economic hardship.
Insights
- Wokism aims to restrict opposing views, aiding conservatives politically by alienating left-leaning voters. It is compared to a religion, offering simplistic answers while excluding dissenting voices, leading to a deliberate assault on traditions and values.
- China's oppressive practices, like those in Xinjiang, are often overlooked by Western woke movements, posing challenges in balancing economic ties with human rights concerns. Mutual trust is crucial in dealing with China, especially in fair trade and participation in international institutions.
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Wokism aims to restrict opposing views.
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Summary
00:00
"Wokism, China, and Climate Change Discussion"
- Stephen Edgington from the Daily Telegraph interviews Charles Moore, former editor of The Spectator, The Daily Telegraph, and The Sunday Telegraph.
- Discussion focuses on wokism, China, and climate change.
- Ed West's article highlights the suppression of views in the West's cultural revolution.
- Wokism aims to stop opposing views from being expressed, leading to an establishment that restricts speech.
- Historical cycles of rebellion and conservatism are noted, with current divergence between democracy and ruling orthodoxy.
- Wokism aids conservatives politically by alienating voters from the left.
- Wokism's peak may have been during Theresa May's time, with opposition growing since then.
- Charles Moore sees himself as a voice for cultural conservatism against the prevailing woke ideology.
- Encouragement to challenge assumptions and consider alternative perspectives.
- Advice given to those frustrated by wokism includes taking a long-term view and recognizing underground movements against it.
15:06
Ignorance, manipulation, extremism: Understanding modern societal issues.
- People lacked understanding of certain issues, like the situation of George Floyd and black people, due to ignorance rather than stupidity.
- Differences between American and British situations are exploited by those with different agendas, necessitating exposure of such manipulation.
- The complexity of transgender issues involves respecting individuals' feelings while facing denunciations, especially challenging for women.
- The absence of religious beliefs in many leads to the adoption of pseudo-religions, causing moral confusion and extremism, particularly among the youth.
- Extremism in environmental activism, like Extinction Rebellion, doesn't equate to genuine care for the environment, emphasizing the need to differentiate between radical actions and true concern.
- Wokism is likened to a religion, offering simplistic answers and excluding dissenting voices, becoming a way of speaking that grants access while excluding others.
- Wokism's denial of a culture war is refuted by actions like decolonizing the curriculum, targeting white male Westerners, Jews, and settler colonialism, indicating a deliberate assault on traditions and values.
- The promotion of neglected historical figures, like women and minorities, is crucial, but erasing or over-moralizing history is deemed inappropriate.
- The guilt imposed on individuals for their ancestors' alleged crimes, akin to the Cultural Revolution or North Korean practices, stems from a belief in the intrinsic badness of whiteness and hereditary blame.
- The increasing anti-Semitic sentiment within leftist movements, often masked as anti-Zionism, perpetuates harmful stereotypes and prejudices against Jews.
30:38
Navigating Ideological Challenges in Global Relations
- Jeremy Corbyn was not personally anti-Semitic but allowed himself to be influenced by an anti-Semitic ideology.
- Denial of the existence of wokeness and culture wars is frustrating and seen as dismissive of real issues.
- Conspiracy theories, like media control, are prevalent on both the left and right.
- The left must be cautious not to pander to racist views while navigating sensitive topics like immigration.
- Cultural wars can lead to radicalism on both sides, exemplified by Trump's divisive tactics.
- China's oppressive practices, like slavery and oppression in Xinjiang, are often overlooked by Western woke movements.
- Museums and international corporations are adopting similar arguments to avoid accusations of colonialism.
- The UK faces a dilemma in balancing economic ties with China against human rights abuses and conflicting values.
- Mutual trust is crucial in dealing with China, emphasizing fair trade and participation in international institutions.
- China's acquisitive nature and control over international institutions pose challenges to establishing trust and fair partnerships.
46:14
Challenges of Trading and Climate with China
- Muslim countries have stopped raising concerns about the treatment of Uyghurs due to pressure from China, even Turkey has backed down.
- China views all deals as political and attaches political implications to everything, making negotiations challenging.
- Boris Johnson initially hesitated to stop the Huawei deal, showing a lack of full understanding of the complexities of dealing with China.
- Trading with China should be fair and possible, especially in non-sensitive areas like buying tea from China.
- China aims to become the greatest economic and military power and is a significant contributor to global emissions.
- British efforts to decarbonize will have minimal impact without global cooperation, especially from major emitters like China, India, and Russia.
- Climate activists push for net zero emissions, but the practical implications, especially on heating costs, could disproportionately affect certain regions like the colder North.
- Lack of discourse and debate on climate change policies, such as the rush to declare a climate emergency, limits critical discussion and examination of the issue.
- Economic growth restrictions, like those seen during lockdowns, can lead to misery, particularly for those least able to cope with the consequences.
- Boris Johnson's focus on climate issues, like achieving net zero emissions, may face challenges in the future, with potential shifts in policy depending on public reactions and political considerations.
01:01:18
"Charles Joins Climate Change Conversation"
- Discussion about people considering climate change
- Appreciation to Charles for participating
