The Tree of Life

Many of the world’s religions and mythologies have a Tree of Life, but I want to just mention the Christian tree, given that Britain is and has been a Christian country for about 2,000 years (I like round figures – just look at my rear). In the interests of multiculturalism, diversity, equity, inclusion, wokeism and mob-appeasers, perhaps I should say something about the Tree in Judaism (of which I’m also very fond), Sikhism (I’ve known many good eggs over the years), Hinduism (ditto) and Islam. But I’m not going to, because I want to redress the balance after the ‘Indignant from Islington’ reactions to Brave Braverman’s recent speech.

Suella had the temerity to criticise the “misguided dogma of multiculturalism”. Cue outrage, the funniest bile being from Bakewell (a Labour, I mean laborious, Peer) who twitted, “If multiculturalism has failed how the hell did Suella Braverman get to be Home Secretary?” Oh, the delicious hypocrisy of Bakewell and others elevating themselves onto a higher moral plateau … and then judging Suella by the colour of her skin. That’s called racism, Deary, wake up and smell the curry. Suella got to be Home Secretary the same way that Charles got to be King – by being British, embracing British customs and values, obeying British laws, saying and doing what she thinks is right for Britain, having a sense of humour, welcoming other cultures.

Screech to a halt.

Have I just contradicted myself? Nope. What Suella was criticising was not multiculturalism as a concept, but how it has developed in Britain, particularly the double-standards that have led to division, conflict and instability. Laurence Fox (white British male) has been castigated for being a misogynist, yet such abhorrence is accepted when perpetrated by ‘others’ because ‘it’s part of their culture and we must be tolerant otherwise we are guilty of discrimination.’ Rap, house and some other genres of ‘black music’ contain the most vile pornographic, violent, misogynistic (again) lyrics and imagery that are an anathema to British values, yet it’s blasted over the airwaves for fear of otherwise discriminating against young blacks. Some ethnic communities choose to self-segregate and refuse to integrate, not cooperating with law enforcers, fanning the flames of alienation, but it’s their choice so we let them for fear of being called racist.

In other words, if multiculturalism means other cultures clashing with and undermining British law, values, culture and traditions, it has indeed failed. If multiculturalism means other cultures integrating seamlessly with and complementing British traditions, then humdinger! Look at Suella, Fishi Rishy, Sir Trevor Phillips, Floella Benjamin, Mo Farah, countless others.

Before I digress too much (pardon what?) I’ll get back to what I meant to write about in the first place, The Tree of Life. It was first referenced in the book of Genesis and is a life-giving tree, created to support the physical and spiritual life of mankind. The Sycamore Gap tree by Hadrian’s Wall, near Hexham, fits this bill, or at least it did before it was murdered. It captured the hearts and minds of the British public as well as visitors from foreign climes. (Am I allowed to say ‘foreign’ or does that breach some mithering multicultural code?) Of course, developers get away with murdering trees all the time to line their pockets, so why shed a tear for this particular tree?

To answer that question, it's not so much, where do I start, but where do I finish? The Sycamore Gap tree was a thing of beauty, not just in itself, but in the context of its immediate environs, its remoteness, its age and all that it must have witnessed. Most recently it was photographed against the jaw-dropping backdrop of the Northern Lights. It sheltered, uplifted and inspired. It was a local treasure, a world-renowned landmark, and part of England's identity.

Part of England’s identity has been destroyed by the felling of one tree, in the same week that we were reminded that multiculturalism was effectively an existential threat to the West’s way of life, not just England’s. You might think that the latter is the bigger story by far, yet Joe Public seems more riled by the former. Do you know why? I have a left-field theory: we know multiculturalism has failed; we know we’re staring down an existential barrel; but we didn’t expect a Hexham chainsaw massacre. Suella didn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know, and the Feather-spitters from Farringdon reacted true to type, attacking the messenger because they can’t find fault with the message.

In the meantime, we pin our hopes on the Sycamore Gap Tree of Life clinging to life, even if it’s as a coppiced runt of its former glory. Gee I hope that’s not a metaphor.