In Hamlet, William Shakespeare famously wrote, “To thine own self be true.” The problem is when others want to present a different “truth” long after you are gone. Shakespeare is under an unrelenting attack in the United Kingdom from trigger warnings to censoring his prose. Now, Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust has announced that it will “de-colonise” the Bard.
In the name of creating “a more inclusive museum experience,” the Trust is moving away from Western perspectives to avoid the dangers of “white supremacy.”
A prior research project between the trust and Dr Helen Hopkins at the University of Birmingham raised concerns over just praising the writer. Even recognizing Shakespeare’s genius “benefits the ideology of white European supremacy.”
The new push at the Trust follows The Globe Theatre’s previous move to “decolonise” Shakespeare’s famous plays. Again, while many of us denounce this type of revisionism, it appeals to this community of cultural overlords. It is personally advancing for these academics and experts to seek to change or cancel such works.
The same voices are being heard in the United States. As we previously discussed, in a column in the School Library Journal, Minnesota librarian and journalist Amanda MacGregor questioned why teachers were even still exposing their students to this harmful influence: “Shakespeare’s works are full of problematic, outdated ideas, with plenty of misogyny, racism, homophobia, classism, anti-Semitism and misogynoir.”
Lorena German, National Council of Teachers of English Anti-Racism Committee chair and a co-founder of the Disrupt Texts forum, insisted “everything about the fact that he was a man of his time is problematic about his plays. We cannot teach Shakespeare responsibly and not disrupt the ways people are characterized and developed.”
It is time for the dwindling population of sane Brits to step forward and fight for their culture and heritage. These advocates have used academia and the media to attack the foundations of British culture. It is not enough to foster diversity in other areas, they must change and reframe how historical figures and works are presented.
They recognize this as a culture war, but have met little resistance. It is time, as the Bard himself wrote, to “Cry havoc! and let slip the dogs of war.”
Of course, all of this assumes that the Shakespeare who wrote all of that even existed at all, as an individual.
Does anyone know the KJV Psalm 46 oddity? Count 46 words from the beginning
and 46 words from the end (omitting Selah) and see what you find.
A conspiracy theorist wacko if ever there was one folks.
You should do crossword puzzles.
you remind me of the nimrod elsewhere in this string who put out the irrelevant claim that “william shakespeare” was simply the pen name of an anonymous ghostwriter.
nothing in turley’s article turns on the assumption that that shakespeare existed as an individual. (FWIW, though, he did.) Your post on the Psalm 46 co-incidence is confused in another way. The psalm 46 matter has never been used by any thinking person to suggest that shakespeare didn’t exist, but rather it is used as evidence (loosely understood) for the proposition that william shakespeare had a hand in the composition of the KJV.
We need Petruchio. These cultural shrews are out of control.
Turley gaslights yet again. The end.
Gaslighting? That means tricking someone into not believing the reality around them. I don’t think you know the meaning of that word.
In context here the gaslighting would be telling us the Barb (couldn’t resist) was in fact a disabled minority genderfluid individual which is evidenced by “their” work. Despite our reading comprehension showing all that to be garbage.
So, do you care to explain? Simply disagreeing with JT does not mean that he is “gaslighting”. Click bait perhaps. Stirring up trouble. Tossing out red meat. All those phrases might support your assertion. But I doubt you have a large enough vocabulary to articulate what you believe to be wrong.
Frankly, I doubt you read the article.
couldn’t resist????
you really need to work on your impulse control
“The Barb?” That’s unfortunate. :^D
The Bard wrote some barbs but that didn’t make him the Barb (typo in final sentence).
DEIsm including racism, sexism, ageism, etc. Under the ancient, secular Pro-Choice ethical religion is a progressive problem with liberal roots. #NoJudgment #NoLabels #HateTrumpsLove #HateLovesAbortion
Is this the Tug-of-War between Social Structures and Social Barriers?
Britannia is not alone, every group of humans creates a Social Structure in some form.
The proclivities of the structure create barriers to both those within and outside the group.
‘To BE, or not to BE” a member of the Group, that is the Question.
AI: (Overview ~ Is this the Tug-of-War between Social Structures and Social Barriers? Britain is not alone, every group of humans creates a Social Structure in some form. The proclivities of the structure create barriers to both those within and outside the group. ‘To BE, or not to BE” a member of the Group, that is the Question.
Based on the provided text, the answer is yes. The query describes a fundamental sociological tug-of-war, acknowledging that social structures inherently create both internal and external barriers, often resulting in complex decisions regarding group membership.
Key elements to support this include:
Structure vs. Barrier: Social structures (family, law, economy) are established frameworks that define roles and norms, yet these same structures create hierarchies that disadvantage some and create barriers to entry or upward mobility for others.
The “To BE” Question: The decision to join or stay within a group (“To BE, or not to BE”) is often a high-stakes choice, influenced by the benefits of inclusion versus the costs imposed by the structure’s barriers.
Global Context (Britain/General): Every human group creates these structures, and historical/political examples, such as post-colonial, social, and legal structures in Britain (or the “Global Britain” discourse), highlight the tension of navigating these established systems.
Social Conflict: Social structures often create a “back-biting” environment where elite or dominant groups, through their control over structures, create barriers to exclude others.
The query effectively frames the conflict between belonging to a protective structure (like a nation, institution, or “special relationship”) and the barriers that this structure imposes upon others or those within it.
I wonder if these folks could quit trying to ignore history and use it as a teaching tool? I could see using his writings as teaching how far we have developed.
In their minds history has to be obliterated or rewritten. Right out of Orwell.
“I wonder if these folks could quit trying to ignore history”
They are not ignoring it, that would be bad enough. They are trying to rewrite it to fit their massively erroneous concepts.
The overlords have given us a perfect example of a “fools errand!” They must have too much time on their hands to chase after such falderal!
This blog reminds me of Miller’s, The Crucible.
je ne sais quoi,
AI ( empty vessels )
“Empty vessels” commonly refers to the proverb “empty vessels make the most noise,” meaning people who talk the most or boast often have the least knowledge or substance. In a spiritual context, it signifies a person’s humility, openness, or need for spiritual fulfillment and grace to be filled by God.
Common Interpretations:
Proverbial Meaning: Someone who is loud or boastful but lacks intelligence, substance, or capability.
Christian Metaphor: Represents individuals who are humble, surrendered, or lacking in spiritual gifts, making them capable of being filled by the Holy Spirit (as seen in the story of the widow’s oil in 2 Kings 4).
Taoist Perspective: Highlights that usefulness is found in the “emptiness” or hollowed space of an object (like a pot or room), not just its material form.
Key Concepts:
Need for Humility: The concept implies that one cannot be filled with knowledge or spiritual blessing if they are already “full” of themselves.
Theological Use: “Empty” is not just a deficiency, but a prerequisite for receiving divine, transformative, or spiritual content.
Cultural Significance: This image spans various traditions as a lesson in humility, potential, and wisdom.
So, you’re saying, you’re an empty vessel? Just based on word count?
No, you.
SF
You’re right, Well, that’s what he wrote.
White supremacy. Let’s co-opt the doctrine of original sin by erasing all of your history. Just like ISIS blowing up all things Buddhist an Babylonian. Our explosive is doubt. With doubt, you don’t have to surrender. We’ll do it for you by removing all your building blocks of experience. Including your pronouns. That way we don’t have to prove our ideas are better. We just have to make you believe yours aren’t. Today our pitch is to erase the Bard. Tomorrow we go to work on the Yanks. They have even peskier building blocks. If we tell them Uncle Sam is an SOB, they tell us “Yeah, but he’s our SOB”.
The surest sign that common sense is dead, that victory is beyond our grasp, and that the world is not worth saving is demonstrated right here in the comments. We waste our precious energy and time fighting among ourselves and deferring the field to those who would lead us to ruination. So, pack your bags and hit the road. Your next exit is oblivion.
Save the world? Is that really what you think goes on in the world of blogging?
No one forced these people to be here, they chose it. Then they get criticized and then go ballistic.
Give an idiot a social media account, and you get an idiot with a social media account.
No one ever said that social media is social.
The sad part it’s geriatrics who populate the blog, who insult and threaten non-stop. Its a disease of old age.
Many here think they’re intellectuals.
Some are here 10 hours a day! 10 hours! Think about that?
Most are incapable of expressing a thought in clear terms.
Most claim to be retired lawyers.
Most just lie through their teeth.
And the truly sad thing is, it shows us all how utterly stupid Americans are.
Good one anon. Totally describes this blog and the commenters.
Anonymous the Stupid-“It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’”.
Yes I read a lot of Shakespeare. My Favorites are Othello, Hamlet, and Macbeth .
Although I am American my genetic heritage is Irish, Scottish, English, French, my children got more Irish and some German from my wife, nieces added Portuguese and granddaughter has added Chinese. All checked by genetic testing and my father’s family history research. Which means we are simply typical.
Last thought on Shakespeare and humor-“You’ve not experienced Shakespeare until you’ve read it in the original Klingon”.
“Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war”.
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”-except for ATS who is undoubtedly on the other side at Agincourt.
Nobody asked if you read Shakespeare. Nobody reads your comments… except you.
And as usual, you’re making yourself the center of attention.
And, big f-ing deal, so you scrounged up a couple quotes. Any idiot can do that. You’re the proof.
GEB’s posts are among the most perused here. They demonstrate an intellectual depth clearly lacking in yours.
S. Meyer 11:14 AM – Well, thank you. Many other posts here are excellent, including yours.
Meyer, maybe you and GEB should get a room.
This public display of mutual admiration, and affection is rather unseemly.
I think you two should get a room so that your relationship can be brought to a mutual climax with happy endings, but in private, so we do not have the misfortune of witnessing it.
Such is the puerile nature of a fool who relates everything to sex; a clear indicator of intellectual impotence.
Who said anything about sex???
Not me.
You are the one who brought up sex. I did not mention the word sex, but apparently your mind is such that you relate everything to sex.
I guess that makes you the puerile fool who is intellectually impotent.
I guess you are embarrassed by your comment, “get a room”.
Anonymous 8:12AM. Temper, Temper!
GEB,
Good one!! Love the Klingon reference!
Klingon reference? Geezz.. the subject is Shakespeare and this guys talks Star Trek? Now that’s what I call an idiot.
GEB displays a sense of humor. You on the other hand, jellyfish, can only display hate and rage.
Your parents did call GEB for a reference for a psych evaluation and your “failure to launch,” as a almost 30 year old Gen Z, they would really like for you to get a job, get your own place and get a life. Your dad expressed he would like to see you meet a nice young women, but your mom fears you will just treat a nice young woman like you treat them. Looking at your comments, I am with your mom on that one.
So you feel the need to translate GEB for the public? Seriously? Honestly, you make no sense. Stick to simping.
Just pointing out that which you cannot comprehend, GEB’s sense of humor. Seems everyone else understood it, but you, not so much.
Everyone else you say? You really are daft. It was just you and “karen” meyer commented about the supposed “joke”.
The joke is really on you – lack of smarts.
UpstateFarmer:9:37 am
I admire your attempts to elucidate MR. ATS, but, alas, I think your attempts are doomed to failure. He is incorrigible if he exists at all.
Well said. Must be a not so intelligent AI we are dealing with. Seems to gave very concrete thinking and unable to switch between genres and has no concept of humor.
Oh oh, ole Geb is pissed off. But anon’s got it right about you two karens.
I guess the joke is on you Geb, you take yourself too seriously.
So now we’re posting resumes?
GEB noted his genetic heritage along with his families and then notes, “Which means we are simply typical.”
A resume would be a list of occupations, careers, employment.
@GEB
Actually, Anonymous has demonstrated sound and fury DO indeed signify something (that would be idiocy).
I think we can safely stick a fork in Britain. At this point I would not be at all surprised if the Brits, per net zero, start eating each other.
James,
I do not think you are too far off in that assessment. Although it appears to be more of the elites vs the commoners.
Have you seen this? Is Civil War Coming to Europe?
https://europeanconservative.com/articles/commentary/is-civil-war-coming-to-europe/
@Upstate
Yes, and it’s concerning.
Shakespeare’s final act records the voluntary self-destruction of British society.
Convenient people living in convenient, spoiled unappreciated times. Another bastion of white supremacy being revised and eliminated. Others bastions waiting to be taken down by the buffoonery and idle time of conditioned idealism might include all “white” inventions for energy whether they be shoes, bicycles, airplanes, steam, nuclear, let’s not forget all forms of green, and last, but not least, fossil fuels, which, BTW, will be in short supply one day in wise old Europe.
Let’s see how elimination of “white” energy, which happens to be the source of life, works out for these wise men.
You got dogs?
“You got dogs?”
At the standard allocation of 3 dogs each, for a cold night, ~25 billion dogs would be required. In that case there will be a tremendous shortage, as there appear to be fewer than 1 billion on the planet. “Long dogs” would therefore appear to be a sound investment strategy, as well as a certain German breed of canine…
Professor Turley’s pearl-clutching over Shakespeare is such performative outrage, come on. He frames a British museum’s choice to add historical context as a “unrelenting attack,” yet he’s remarkably silent when actual history is being pried off walls with crowbars here at home.
Calling “de-colonization” a cancellation is hypocritical, especially considering the current administration’s efforts to sanitize American monuments. If concerned about “cultural heritage,” Turley did not comment when the National Park Service was ordered to remove 34 panels from the President’s House in Philadelphia. Those panels provided the names and stories of the nine people George Washington enslaved.
Turley calls the UK scholars “cultural overlords” but disregards the government censorship happening in our own National Parks:
Officials removed the 1863 photo of a scarred enslaved man from Fort Pulaski because it was deemed too “unsavory” for the public.
Signage identifying slavery as the cause of the Civil War was flagged for removal to protect the “Lost Cause” myth.
A children’s book was banned for stating the historical fact that Robert E. Lee fought to preserve slavery.
Turley suggests that acknowledging the British Empire’s influence on Shakespeare is “white supremacy” paranoia. However, he ignores a systemic effort to erase the brutal reality of slavery from our own national narrative. He defends a comfortable delusion while ignoring state-sponsored revisionism.
X’s pearl clutching response is hilarious. A clown show every day, every hour.
You should write comedy George. Try mime.
You certainly can entertain.
Perhaps you should try reading the whole court opinion—you know, the one where the parents Turley is ‘defending’ were actually found unfit due to drug use.
Oops, wrong article my bad anonymous. A thousand apologies.
Bot retraining time…
Since when does opining becomes “defending”? You’re a clown george. Being a clown and reading the court opinion (opining?) are mutually exclusive. Well, not in your case.
Thanks for the laugh George.
As night follows day X comes on here to defend the indefensible, argue against what every thinking non-radical believes and continuously making a fool of himself. Trying to defend getting rid of Shakespeare, which if you read into this further is what the left is truly trying to do, will only lower the next generations ability to reason and appreciate the culture that has given the world the greatest life experience in human history.
Please look into what is happening with Shakespeare here in some of our universities and you will see it is the left acting like the Taliban as they continue their march against our civilization.
For X to rant on about slavery instead of just saying, “yes, they shouldn’t try to “decolonize” the greatest writer of the English language”, the contrarian oddball has to use the attack on western values with his little voice.
Ya know what puck head, he can funny write (BS), you can only write vindictive speech. He surpasses you by light years.
Anonymous, we know you are X’s juvenile alter-ego who attests to every left wing idiocy spewed on here while parasitically commenting after every common sense comment.
Why, thank you.
Just for the record, where’s you’re simps this morning? Give them the morning off?
Wait, you’re the arbiter of common sense here? Now that’s funny.
Why do you always come here to fight?
“Please look into what is happening with Shakespeare here in some of our universities and you will see it is the left acting like the Taliban as they continue their march against our civilization”
Actually there is no “left” or “right” especially in our political establishment. There is only one super elite corrupt Epstein class that controls our Government using the fundamental Hegelian dialectic to make you think there are “sides”. By the way, taliban, ISIS have been created by the same forces that started the US wars in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yugoslavia, and now Iran.
Hullbobby, Actually, ‘decolonizing’ Shakespeare isn’t about getting rid of him; it’s about reading him more deeply. Shakespeare himself was obsessed with power, outsiders, and authority—just look at The Tempest or Othello. If we truly value the ‘greatest writer of the English language,’ we shouldn’t be afraid to let his work stand up to modern questions. Restricting how we analyze him does more to ‘lower the ability to reason’ than expanding the conversation ever could.
That you’re missing the point about my slavery counter-example speaks volumes about your lack of understanding and ignorance.
“That you’re missing the point about my slavery counter-example speaks volumes about your lack of understanding and ignorance.”
Another tactic that georgie/x-ie learned from others on this blog. Not an original thought in his little head.
And you offer original thoughts? Riiiiight.
Perhaps you should offer arguments with substance instead of whiny complaints and putdowns.
wasn’t a complaint. It was a pointing-out and reminder. Do you understand the definition of words with more than one syllable?
Your sanctimonious manifestation on this blog only reveals your need to use others’ money and blogs to display your defective ego. georgie IS an X.
Huh, again, you have nothing to offer. What do you have besides whining and insults?
I have plenty to offer. I am a multi-degreed professional who can see right through your needs.
You, -not me or hullbobby, are the one who started this entire thread with your insult about “Professor Turley’s pearl-clutching over Shakespeare.” puny little punk.
It’s too late to save the Brits, Professor (not that I care; I’m mostly Irish).
I just read the apparently very popular Ken Follett novel about Stonehenge (I had to wait 5 months for a Kindle version from my library, which is why I think it’s popular).
Follett built his story around Stonehenge being built by a lesbian Anglican bishop (albeit helped by a metrosexual male victim of child abuse). The bad guy was basically Harvey Weinstein conflated with a Republican Kansan farmer.
If there was a political identity not covered I missed it with the exception of course that there was no way Follett could shoe horn in a Muslim being that Stonehenge was built 3000 years before Muhammad was born
Irish you say? Do you have an Irish passport? No you say. Then you’re not Irish.
Does your passport show you to be an idiot (as well as a coward)
Claiming to be Irish, when in fact you are not is the same as someone with gender dysphoria. Nature made you an American by being born in the USA, but you claim against all facts to be… Irish. A delusion right? As for lashing out when the facts are presented, that’s typical gender backlash. Get help fast.
You just got you butt handed to you Don in a most imaginative way.
Gotta love those anons huh?
“not that I care; I’m mostly Irish”
Despite local biases, the societies and cultures of Britain, Ireland, and Scotland are highly interconnected.
Mostly Irish, and 100% dumb as rocks. No such thing as mostly Irish. If you were born there, at best you could say that born in, but w/o an Irish passport, you are not Irish. Get it?
Interconnected? What does that have to do with being of an American of Irish decent. I would not go around touting that.
Who in Hell are you replying to? I made no statement about being Irish, yet you responded to my post? Is that indicative of your intelligence? But, since you brought it up, having an Irish passport and/or birth certificate is of little significance in Ireland, compared to whether the color of your loyalties is orange or green.
What do Chicago, New York, and England have in common? All three voted for their current leadership.
While King Charles III is busy installing more offshore wind turbines, he can settle at days end by watching his country being blown away. Decolonize the Bard? Why not decolonize the Monarchy? Or allow new blood? Will there ever be a King William? How about a fresh new King Feisal, ruler of the realm, defender of truth? Surely, there must be a new Ayatollah of Canterbury.
I’d bet that you never read a word of Shakespeare in your measly existence. Never.
“Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.” (Othello)
Act 4, scene 2 …
“Heaven doth truly know it”
Oh please!!!!
The next target for these mental midgets will be vanilla ice cream.
So true (Wise)
I’d bet that you never read a word of Shakespeare in your measly existence. Never.
“What, you egg?” (Macbeth)
Runny please. Got grits? (macbeth act 3, S2)
I’d bet that you never read a word of Shakespeare in your measly existence. Never.
“Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night?” —(Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 3)
Putting a strain on google this morning are we?
Now try it with a clowns costume on. And a red bubble noise. Voilà! I present you whig98.
Ingratitude, thou marble hearted fiend (guess which one)
Superman, 1st Edition?
So says the mental midget.