An announcement by Max Musson:
As the third anniversary of Jonathan Bowden’s tragic death approaches, and what would have been his 53rd birthday, Western Spring in co-operation with Mike Woodbridge, the executor of Jonathan’s estate, would like to announce the second occasion of an award in Jonathan’s memory, of a prize for oratory. The award of this prize has become an annual event.
Members of the nationalist community and our wider audience are hereby invited to submit to this website, the name of any nationalist speaker that you feel deserves to be added to our list of nominees for this award. For the nomination to be acceptable to our panel of judges the speech must have been made during the twelve months ending on 1st March 2015, and be accessible on the internet either as a video or sound recording. Therefore please also provide a link to the speech in question. The speakers nominated can be a member of any political group or party or none.
The prize awarded for the best piece of nationalist oratory will be the laurel wreath statue that stood on Jonathan Bowden’s desk at his home, which will be inscribed with the winner’s name and which the winner will be allowed to retain until 1st March 2016, together with a cash prize of £250 provided by Western Spring, which of course will be for the winner to keep.
The prize will be presented to the winner at the first London Forum meeting to take place following the closing date for the competition.
The acceptance of nominations is at the discretion of the Western Spring panel of judges, as is the decision regarding the choice of winner although our readers should feel free to add their comments to articles we will publish during the month ahead to publicise the nominees.
The winner last year was Alex Kurtagic who is a popular writer, author and speaker on White nationalist issues. He is the author of a novel entitled ‘Mister’, he is also a reproducer of classical books and is a frequent contributor to the ‘Occidental Observer’, ‘Alternative Right’, ‘Counter Currents’, ‘American Renaissance’, ‘VDARE’ and ‘Taki Magazine’, and the speech for which he was nominated was made at the London Forum meeting in April 2013 to mark the first anniversary of Jonathan Bowden’s death.
Alex spoke about Jonathan’s life and the contribution he had made to the nationalist cause. In his speech, Alex had used emphasis and modulation to add impact to what he said, he had used humour, irony and a number of other oratorical devices, such as impersonation to good effect. Most impressively Alex had spoken using vivid description, detailed characterisation and theatrical gestures to emphasis what he had to say.
We are aware that last year some individuals were disappointed not to be considered for this prize based upon speeches they had made in private, recordings of which were not made public. Therefore in order to avoid similar disappointment this year, speakers are urged to post video recordings where they are accessible. Nominees may use a nom do guerre if they wish.
Please submit your nominations to me [email protected] and aspiring orators should be aware they have just six weeks in which to qualify for the prize this year. We look forward to your entries.
By Max Musson © 2015
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Stuart Cooper
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“We are aware that last year some individuals were disappointed not to be considered for this prize based upon speeches they had made….”
Plural?
Why the intellectual dishonesty, we all know only one was ‘disappointed’ and indulged in a childish sulk. No need to name him, he is notorious for doing this, getting his way by similar displays of effeminacy. Other speakers are above making such public exhibitions of themselves.
Max Musson
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Actually, two individuals were reportedly ‘rather upset’, both of whom are good speakers, but neither of whom had speeches recorded and posted on the Internet and/or were nominated by others. Interestingly, neither of these individuals has been nominated this year either.
Stuart Cooper
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I am at a loss to understand why Jonathan Bowden has been turned into a deified figure.
Peter Rushton, Tess Culnane and Richard Edmonds in particular have churned out speech after speech, year after year, each one fresh and new; not for self-glorification or reward but out of zeal and a sense of injustice for the parlous position Britain finds herself in.
Perhaps those who covet this award the most deserve it the least?
Max Musson
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Jonathan Bowden has not been ‘deified’ as you suggest, but his outstanding ability as an orator has been recognised by the establishment of an annual award in his name.
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The vast majority of nationalist speakers go about their work usually without any thought as to whether or not their speeches will put them in line for the award. The award however is a nice way of recognising individuals who have made the effort to polish their speaking performance and thereby make their message all the more effective.
Stuart Cooper
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As part of your wider audience I would like to nominate Glenda Jackson for a speech given on 30th June 2014:-
Video: Glenda Jackson MP demolishes Iain Duncan Smith …
https://leftfootforward.org/2014/07/video-glenda-jackson-mp-demolishes-iain-duncan-smith/
I am sure Jonathan Bowden would have approved given his own thespian background.
Anticipating a response “but she’s not a nationalist”, I would ask, what is a nationalist? What constitutes a nationalist speech? If this speech doesn’t qualify then what does – Christianity in the Third Reich? Whoops, it appears to be a pre-requisite requirement of nationalism that you are also an atheist. Of the hardcore variety at that, not dissimilar to Stephen Fry.
This is an altruistic speech. As an illustrious forebear Anthony Ashley Cooper (you may have heard of him) once said to his opponent in the House of Commons:-
“You know how opposed I have been to your views; but I don’t think I have ever been put into such a frame of mind in the whole course of my life as I have been by your speech”.
Another question as an aside. If Jonathan Bowden has not been deified then why did you deem the winning speech to be one which gave a eulogy of him and why is his book advertised on every page of your website?
Max Musson
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Hi Stuart,
It is flattering that you wish to become so actively involved in the workings of this website, however with reference to your queries, you appear to have answered them, substantially at least, in the wording your question.
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Firstly, that is a very good speech by Glenda Jackson and one that many nationalists would agree with in terms of its content and the points made. However just because nationalists would tend to agree with a speech, it does not make that speech a nationalist speech. Someone could make a speech declaring that the Earth revolves around the Sun and not the other way around, and while most nationalists would agree with that speech, it would not be a nationalist speech. A nationalist speech is one expounding the principles of nationalism or asserting or promoting the righteousness of the nationalist cause in some way and Glenda Jackson’s speech, righteous, eloquent and entertaining though it is, does neither of these things.
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If you don’t know what nationalism is then I would suggest that you read more of our website and you should soon get the picture and you will realise why Glenda Jackson is not regarded as a nationalist.
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The prize was awarded last year to Alex Kurtagic for a speech in the form of a eulogy to Jonathan Bowden because it was judged to be the best from a technical and performance art point of view. As I stated in the article announcing last years winner: “In his speech, Alex had used emphasis and modulation to add impact to what he said, he had used humour, irony and a number of other oratorical devices, such as impersonation to good effect. Most impressively Alex had spoken using vivid description, detailed characterisation and theatrical gestures to emphasis what he had to say.”
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We advertise Jonathon’s book because he was one of the earliest supporters of Western Spring and because he was widely regarded as an inspirational character. Honouring the dead and remembering them is not the same as deification.
Stuart Cooper
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Greetings Max. Thank you for listening to the link.
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It is disappointing you think speeches on Nihilism, Cubism and other JB hobby horses have a bearing on contemporary political issues yet this speech does not.
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Glenda Jackson may not be a nationalist but her speech has more relevance to nationalism than some made by those who go by the name!
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[NB. Several paragraphs of rambling non sequitur argument and two irrelevant links were edited out of this post.]
Max Musson
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Stuart, we have not stated anywhere that Nihilism or Cubism have greater relevance than other political issues and so your criticism is misplaced. Furthermore, while Glenda Jackson did deal with an issue with which nationalists would tend to sympathise, she approached the problem from a Marxist perspective rather than a nationalist perspective.
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A Socialist stating a valid argument from a Marxist perspective does not constitute a nationalist speech and therefore despite the fact that Glenda Jackson is a good orator, she does not merit consideration for the Jonathan Bowden Oratory Award.