Gramsci Watch

On the surface, these stories appear minimally related, if at all. And yet there is a common thread between them. They originate from, and solidify, a spirit of conformism, consensus, and political correctness which is spreading through our culture like a forest wildfire, stifling free thought, and strangling the very thing which made this country great — intellectual freedom and tolerance.

A mother had to make a 160-mile journey to collect her daughter after she was banned from a primary school trip for eating some chocolate.

Conservative sources have told TrendingCentral.com that at first look, the cards seem harmless, and even in good faith, but turning to the back reveals how the Labour Party is attempting to use religion as a divide and conquer tactic at the polls.

Monbiot: 

Could you help me construct a word for people who hate the natural world? Equivalent of misanthrope. Anyone with Greek

Hannan: Do you truly believe that people who disagree with the green agenda – some of them at any rate – ‘hate the natural world’?

Left-wing propaganda on A-level Politics syllabuses strongly influences 18-year-olds' opinions. Not one of the five suggestions given as a potential answer to the question “Why has the Coalition government tried to reform the benefits system?” mentions improving lives by freeing people from the welfare trap; four are variations on “cutting costs”.

"The reason that Alison's been sacked is that we're so terrified in this country of causing offence to anybody, particularly the Muslim religion."

Alison Waldock, a dinner lady for 11 years, was sacked after mistakenly serving gammon to a muslim pupil.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage spoke out about the case and the political correctness pervading British society, saying "we're so terrified of giving offense to anybody". 

Inayat Bunglawala, founder of campaign group Muslims4UK, said the issue was "minor".

The Scottish National Party, the largest political party in Scotland, stands accused of effectively attempting to replace parents with 'state guardians' - government employees who will act to ensure that children are ‘raised correctly’ from birth through to the age of 18 years old.

Gramsci Watch received this in an email this morning. Not, strictly speaking, an example of Gramsci in action, but entertaining nonetheless. Enjoy.

  The Entabulator

This is how you need to look and sound when you're talking way over your head.

  Many years ago, Rockwell International decided to get into the heavy duty automatic transmission business. They were preparing to tape their first introductory video and, as a warm-up, one of the stage crew began a monologue that has become legend within the training industry. 

  Now keep in mind, this was a rehearsal for camera, lighting, and stage crew, and he had no script! Nothing he says is true...except perhaps the punch line.

  It's just meaningless drivel made up as he goes along.

The BBC Trust has said that a programme called the Future of Welfare, which was presented by John Humphrys and broadcast in November 2011, breached its rules on impartiality and inaccuracy.

11am ‘F**k off!’ he shouts. John is typical of many of our kids: stunted, undernourished and utterly feral. ‘Come here, please,’ I reply, consciously controlling the tone of my voice....

"‘Can we refrain from calling students naughty, please? I prefer to say that they’re making the wrong choices.’"

Kathy here (a woman) wants to curb freedom of speech, Alex (a man) doesn't agree.

In Kathy's world, Alex, as a white affluent man, has no legitimate opinion on this. His thoughts count for nothing because, in her narrative, he seeks only to retain his privileged place in society. Any attempts to stop her in her quest to curtail freedom of speech are therefore labelled misogynistic. She very nearly uses the term 'check your privilege'.