A Right Buggers Muddle
I read with growing disbelief, yet little surprise of another example of muddled & inconsistent thinking that has become the hallmark of the National Trust. Apparently, the NT has signed an agreement with a company- Pink Weddings, to offer blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples, in some of its historic properties. This policy, according to NT’s Director General, Fiona Reyonds “fits well with our core values of being an inclusive organisation”.
Of course, this same ‘inclusive’ organisation has banned foxhunting from the land that it holds in trust, for the benefit of the Nation. (As a point of interest, it has even banned it from land it was bequeathed which had the specific covenants that foxhunting was to be allowed.) Given however the NT’s newfound ‘pinkness’, maybe it might now wish to reconsider this ban, because…………..
It might be worth pointing out to the inevitably ‘Ms’ Reyonds (formerly head of Downing Streets’ Womens Unit – or was that Wimmin?) that the traditional coat, worn when foxhunting is known as a “Pink Coat” – it can in fact be of any colour. (The word Pink had nothing to do with the colour but was the name of a well-known firm of tailors who specialised in hunting clothes). Therefore, in the spirit of pink inclusiveness, maybe foxhunting should be allowed to resume on NT land.
Why did the NT unilaterally impose this ban in the first place? – because some of its members found the practice of foxhunting distasteful. I strongly suspect any attempt to point out that using the nation’s historic monuments to promote buggery might be distasteful to some of us will get me nowhere – plus once more branded a bigot. Perhaps I should adopt a more modern & metro sexual view – after all historically speaking, in Britain’s stately homes, the ‘back stairs’ & the ‘tradesmen’s entrance’ were possibly the busiest!