More from @Otto_English

Otto English

@Otto_English

5 Jan

The whole argument about having to leave statues up so we can appreciate our history is neatly dismantled by the Colston saga. The opposite was after all the case. Most people hadn't heard of him until his statue was tossed in the harbour. That moment started the conversation.

I was only aware of who he was - albeit dimly - because I'd visited a friend in Bristol in 2019 and he'd told me about it.

The affair shows the lessons that can be learned from questioning what's about us. And chiefly - why should an effigy to a ghastly person become immutable simply because some bunch of merchants decided to put it up 100 years ago?

Read 6 tweets

Otto English

@Otto_English

4 Jan

So much to enjoy here. If you click on the Boris Johnson Shakespeare book it:

A: Tells you it's now coming out in 2050

and

B: Tells you it's written by "Anonymous"

waterstones.com/book/shakespea…

Only discovered this weekend that Enoch Powell was a fully paid up member of the "Shakespeare didn't write the plays" club and that his biographer Simon Heffer believes the same
telegraph.co.uk/culture/116857…

Enoch Powell also believed Christ was stoned to death not crucified
upi.com/Archives/1994/…

Read 4 tweets

Otto English

@Otto_English

4 Jan

Do not understand why history becomes an optional in year 10. Such a fundamental subject. Lies at the heart of so much of our lives and politics but kids can basically opt out.... meanwhile they are obliged to learn all manner of mathematics and science that most will never use

And that's not a dig at science or maths - but where is the logic in children learning algebra (for example) while basically giving up on a subject that lies at the very core of who we are.

I was I confess absolutely useless at science and this might be bias on my part. Science is absolutely fundamental too. But I don't think kids should be dropping history that early.

Read 5 tweets

Otto English

@Otto_English

2 Jan

Did not know that Nick Moar, the guy behind "politics for all" was also The Spectator’s social media editor. The guy's 19!

After initial interest in who was behind the account I sort of switched off after Byline revealed it was a teenager... but the fact this guy is running Spectator social upends the narrative of nerdy amateur outside the bubble... because he's not outside bubble if that's his job

Apparently I need to "up my twitter game" because everyone knew this. Incredible as it might sound I've had other more important things on recently... like trying to tackle the cheese mountain in my kitchen

Read 4 tweets