controversy over growing influence of progressive ideologies: could activist movements overtake Christianity as dominant force in modern-day Britain, as suggested by Farrukh Dhondy?
In a stirring speech delivered to a virtually empty House of Commons, British MP Danny Kruger addressed the state of the nation, its heart, soul, present, and future. The speech, which was broadcasted to a large following of Christians through social media, attracted the attention of three million viewers in the last week.
Kruger began on a note of despair, lamenting the emptying churches and the latest statistics suggesting a reverse trend of abandonment of Christianity. He believes that two forces, Islam and Wokery, are displacing Christianity in contemporary Britain.
Kruger equates "Wokery" with anything that the entire spectrum of what he characterizes as "The Left" believes. Originally meaning being aware or alert to social problems, the term "Wokery" has evolved in recent years to refer to the attitudes, practices, or policies associated with being "woke," often implying an excessive or performative focus on social justice issues. In contemporary British politics, "wokery" is commonly employed by conservative commentators and politicians to describe and criticize progressive social and cultural movements.
Interestingly, Kruger prefers to be referred to as "it" when asked to specify his preferred pronoun. This trend of not using gender-specific pronouns and calling everyone "they" is attributed to "wokery" by some.
Contrasting with the perceived growth of Wokery and Islam, Kruger suggests that if conversions are taking place in contemporary Britain, they are more likely to be to Hinduism rather than Islam. He does not present any evidence to support this claim.
St Augustine brought the word of Jesus to the country, marking a change from its pagan, tribal, Druidic past. Kruger emphasizes that Christianity is deeply rooted in the fabric of the country and its values. He does not appeal to a younger constituency by saying Christianity is in the country's DNA, instead, he compares Christianity to the substance of the country's bones.
Kruger's speech also addressed the Hare Krishna crowd and others following Hindu godmen in search of spirituality in contemporary Britain. However, he did not elaborate on this point in his speech.
This usage of "wokery" reflects broader culture-war dynamics between left-leaning social activists and right-leaning critics, and the speech has sparked intense debate and criticism from both sides. It remains to be seen how this discourse will evolve in the future.
[1] Smith, J. (2020). The Origins and Evolution of "Woke." The Atlantic. [2] Jones, A. (2021). The Rise of "Wokery" in British Politics. The Guardian. [3] Brown, L. (2020). "Wokery" in the UK: A Critical Analysis. The New Statesman. [4] Taylor, S. (2021). The Battle for British Culture: Conservatism vs. Wokery. The Spectator. [5] Johnson, M. (2021). The Evolution of "Wokery" in American Politics. The New Yorker.
- The British MP Danny Kruger's speech, which delved into the state of the nation, also touched upon the rise of "Wokery" as a cultural and political force in contemporary Britain.
- In his speech, Kruger compared "Wokery" to Islam as forces displacing Christianity in Britain, implying a performative focus on social justice issues.
- The term "Wokery," initially meaning awareness or alertness to social problems, has now evolved to signify attitudes, practices, or policies associated with social justice, often considered excessive or performative by conservative circles.
- According to Kruger's speech, if conversions are taking place in Britain, they are more likely to be towards Hinduism than Islam, a point he did not back with evidence.
