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Steffun

27 September 2020, 23:23

  • GB

Very disappointed with the National Trust and family are leaving

Very disappointed with the Trust and the family will all be leaving the NT when membership runs out. Aside from knowing of some hard working staff who were unreasonably dismissed (leaving the Trust without their tremendous expertise and experience), I'm extremely disheartened by this latest 'virtue signalling' response regarding the slavery issue. Of course we oppose slavery but this is the imposition of action taken in response to an aggressive minority. If the NT had provided an informed, member-involved, reasoned and balanced response then people would not feel the same way and not be cancelling membership in large numbers. But instead the Trust has gone too far. In recent years the Trust has decided to hand pick only certain causes in its quest for ‘diversity’, leading people to question what is really meant by this - diversity or the promotion of only certain agendas? Let me add there are many stories untold by the NT such as the nation’s Christian heritage and various other issues of 'diversity' that are completely ignored. Without this heritage there would be no Trust and no freedom to decide what to fund. In terms of our response to slavery we’re right to include different perspectives in a balanced reasonable way - both bad (the horrendous nature of slavery which of course we stand against and find abhorrent). But also the good (Wilberforce, John Newton, the nation's fight against slavery once laws were passed). Let's not forget slavery existed long before the Europeans got involved. And what of modern day slavery which is far worse and far more prevalent - what are the Trust and their ilk doing to fight this? Far better to do what we can today than spend copious sums trying to ‘cancel’ the past. But reason seems to have departed in a world where accusation, identity politics and feelings have trumped reason, debate and truth. It seems the Trust have become victims of slavery themselves – slaves to a false narrative and myopic agenda. The Trust should remember that the Trust belongs to the people; the people do not belong to the Trust.

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Summer

27 September 2020, 21:39

  • GB

Apologise or loose your funding.

MPs and loyal members demand they apologise for their woke lunacy especially about Churchill, spoke to tourists today and they were appalled at the National Trusts behaviour, they come to this Country to see our historical sites and our Culture not to be given political views by wokes. Loose your funding or apologise.

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David Peel

26 September 2020, 21:42

  • GB

Made two visits since lockdown

Made two visits since lockdown. Overreaction to the virus so visitor experience greatly reduced. Refreshment facilities poor, although appreciate a great reliance on volunteers. Unhappy with this so call review of properties connected with slavery, how much did this cost us? Any review like this is subjective. Will review membership. I can make up my own mind, I don't need so called historians patronising me!