To begin with we have to examine England’s history, and its colonial past is not something we can be proud of. As well as slavery and robbing the jewels of other countries and mistreatment of their indigenous population, the impact of colonialism and imperialism on England’s own citizens was in no uncertain terms discriminatory. Did the men called up to serve, or in many cases press-ganged to serve benefit from this? Did the women and families they left behind benefit? The undisputed answer is “No”, they didn’t. Blood was spilled, lives lost and hardship felt. So, the ordinary folk of this country gained no benefit at all. Therefore, we must look upon these chapters in the history of England as a learning curve, and rather than look upon them as something in which to be proud of we should perhaps remember the lives lost and the hardship it caused to many at home and overseas.
In terms of songs associated with a colonial era, the majority of people in England, from all ethnic backgrounds are more than happy for them to continue. This has been shown in polls conducted by YouGov to hope not Hate. As an organisation, Cultural England do not believe such songs should be hijacked by extremists from either wing. We should learn from them and give them new meanings. Since the songs were written we have fought a war against the evils of Nazism and fascism. We have created the NHS, and our key workers have stood in the frontline of possibly the most serious pandemic to ever hit this country. Whilst we acknowledge the concerns of those that view these songs solely with a colonial and imperialist past, we feel we have to learn from our history, give these songs new meaning, and isolate them from any association with a history of exploitation and imperialism. They should be songs of hope for a new England we wish to build, one of inclusiveness, respect and rejecting the past. Colonialism and imperialism failed ordinary people. We cannot allow our social culture and heritage to be hijacked, and build. We believe banning songs is fanning the flames of extremism. Learning of our past, building inclusiveness and making these songs stand for the values we want to build and the way forward is what we should look to do, and bring the majority of the population from all ethnic backgrounds with us.