It is my contention that we should all learn something from Bernard Cornwell’s main character of the Last Kingdom series of books, which were later televised – Uhtred, son of Uhtred, of Bebbanburg (Banburgh in Northumberland).
Uhtred is a Dark Ages, Anglo-Saxon warrior, aiding Alfred the Great and his descendants, often unwillingly, in combatting the threat of Viking dominion.
As our nation faces the existential threat of Islamic domination, the fictional Uhtred seems a better role model than the actual Alfred the Great – the Vikings may have also been rapacious and blood-thirsty, but at least they weren’t proselytising, and we shared North European cultural roots.
My key reason for favouring him is that Uhtred becomes a pagan follower of the Norse Gods – Odin, Thor, etc. The problem is that with our Christianity of today, exemplified by the weak, flaccid Church of England, the virtues of compassion and forgiveness have been taken to extremes and turned against us. Excessive forgiveness and compassion lead to crime soaring and immigrants and refugees given preferential treatment over native Britons – a modern day Dane Geld. Many of us may be cultural, if not practising or believing Christians. It may be wise for us to become more culturally Norse. Uhtred constantly views Christianity as weak and pathetic, and I think we could do worse than look at the alternative virtues that his character held:
Wrathfulness. We should be angry. We should be burning with rage at the betrayal of our ruling class who have wilfully or stupidly led us to this crisis. Let that righteous anger guide our actions.
Vengefulness. We should not turn the other cheek to their betrayal. We should not forgive or forget. The Quislings who brought us to this precipice deserve punishment.
Bravery. As David Starkey says, courage is the key virtue, fundamental to all the rest. We need to be able to stand up for our beliefs and to challenge the false shibboleths of the age – whether that regards ‘women’ with penises or the lie that diversity is our strength. The greatest bravery the Vikings show is in their attitude towards Ragnarok – a fight they know is doomed to failure, yet one they battle against manfully to the bitter end anyway. As many of us view the future of England as a lost cause, struggling against it regardless is the right thing to do.
As the great Mark Steyn always says: ‘Demography is destiny.’ Uhtred would add: ‘Destiny is all’. Demography is indeed all that matters.
Channel your inner Uhtred.
