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The book I'm using to teach myself Anglo-Saxon is the Cambridge Old English Reader, first published 2004, my edition 2021. The back cover says the book is "...sure to inspire...a fresh dedication to the work of understanding Anglo Saxon England."

I think english is a neutral word for the rad progs as, unlike Anglo-Saxon, it can be used cross racially; just like woman, unlike female, can be used cross biologically.

This is a globalisation of words that seems to mirror, in language, the breaking of physical boundaries; such as national borders through immigration. and cultural boundaries, such as that between minor and adult through the sexualisation of children.

Queerer and queerer, said Alice.

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Sep 7·edited Sep 7Liked by Frank Furedi

Jordan Peterson is implacably opposed to compelled speech which stance, so public did it become, resulted in him being ordered to attend re-education ("continuing education or remedial program regarding professionalism in public statements") by the College of Psychologists of Ontario, an order endorsed by the courts in Ontario.

Peterson is a high profile example, of course, but there are many people who have fallen foul of language policing, usually from a 'woke' employer, and this is likely to get worse under Labour who are bringing back the recording of "legal but harmful speech" by the police. We can suspect that the review of the education syllabus, the results of which are to be extended to academies and free schools like Michaela, will include indocrination on 'correct' language.

We are not yet at the level of Chinese re-education camps, merely disparate courses for recalcitrant employees, but when Labour does introduce them I'll see you all there!

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I was looking at my options for studying fotrestry at a university in Vietnam. The curriculum include Marxist studies.

I was looking at my options for studying forestry in Australia. The curriculum included a week long workshop in "caring for country", which is the Australian "indigenous ways of knowing" form of Marxism. And I bet that that workshop would require writing a reflective essay on what you learnt at the workshop, and woe betide you if you write what you really think about such idiocy.

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Wow! Things are always worse than I assume.

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They are serious

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An excellent essay, as always. Thank you.

The linguistic manipulations are designed to 'wrong foot' us: control of the language equates with control of the narrative. It's a power play, and we really do need to resist it - not least for our own sanity..

In a recent piece I've commented on a small group of words: misinformation vs. disinformation vs. malinformation, and the use the verb 'to demote' when what is really meant is 'to censor'.

I'm just about to order a copy of The War Against The Past.

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I encourage subscribers to also put in a purchase request at their local library, especially since librarians are generally uber woke. If they refuse to purchase it, or make up some excuse as to why they won't purchase it, then you can kick up a stink

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Congratulations! Will order the book as soon as I have a chance.

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I have 'The Anglo-Saxon World', Higham and Ryan, 2013. Great book and very readable. In any case in their Introduction they ask the question is the study of Anglo-Saxons relevant in this day and age? Their conclusion, based on the media coverage of the 2009 discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard and the long queue's when first displayed at the Birmingham Museum, the Public most spectacularly is interested.

As always a good read and good that your book is now out!

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I am happy with the term Anglo Saxon loosely covering the Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings and having been established over a thousand years. Given that geography shapes our lives we all shared similar geography which required different accommodations than say mountains or deserts. Our evolution be it language, architecture, farming, cuisine, culture, laws, religion was genuine and organic. Given modern travel it is inevitable that more ingredients will be added to the soup, but what is happening now is not organic evolution but a power play of imposition.

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I agree with you - it is the organic connection that is key to the way we represent our world.

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