WI doesn’t stand for Wimmin’s Institute
MY APPLICATION to join the Women’s Institute was declined some time ago, on the grounds that I’m the wrong sex. But I live in hope.
Sadly, there are those who don’t share my admiration for this fine British institution. So I suppose it was inevitable that the diversity nazis would eventually get round to the WI.
In honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday, organisers of this year’s annual WI conference in Brighton decided to stage a Last Night Of The Proms celebration.
Around 4,500 members in red, white and blue outfits waved Union flags and sang traditional songs, including Land Of Hope And Glory and Rule, Britannia!
With depressing predictability, a handful of younger women decided these tunes were ‘inappropriate’ — that catch-all, weasel word employed by the terminally priggish and easily offended to censor anything they don’t like.
Cambridge-educated doctor Jag Picknett — who describes herself as a ‘confident, second generation immigrant’ — complained on social media (where else?) that the finale had turned into a Ukip rally.
‘Jerusalem, fine, national anthem, fine. Wave flags and sing along to Rule Britannia and Land Of Hope And Glory with a member on stage dressed as Britannia leading it . . . not fine.’
Some other dopey bird whined: ‘Racism, jingoism, elitism, colonialism. I’m a new member and shocked by some of the attitudes.’ What’s the matter with these people? Who gave them the right to decide what the WI is allowed to sing? It makes you wonder why they joined in the first place.
To accuse the Women’s Institute of racism is absurd. It has always been open to all women, regardless of race, religion or political beliefs.
But the diversity nazis won’t rest until the WI has been turned into a ‘safe space’ for the Guardian-reading sisterhood. Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to happen. The ladies of the WI are thankfully made of sterner stuff.
But if they do fancy moving with the times and becoming more ‘inclusive’, I can always pop my application back in the post.