Oliver Jull's speech: The Decline of Western Civilisation
Western civilisation is crumbling before our very eyes, yet so few dare to acknowledge it.
This daunting reality is not a sudden occurrence but a mixture of complex issues that have
been festering for decades. The symptoms of this decline are evident in many aspects of
today’s society, including the erosion of traditional values, the decline of religion, and the
impacts of multiculturalism and mass immigration. To truly grasp the gravity of our situation,
we must turn to the insights of Oswald Spengler, a German philosopher and historian who
foresaw this trajectory over a century ago.
In Spengler's seminal work, “The Decline of The West,” he writes about how every great
civilisation goes through a life cycle of growth, peak, and inevitable decline. According to
Spengler, civilisations begin as a “race,” evolve into a “culture,” and ultimately end as a
“civilisation.” He saw the final civilisation phase as marking the decline of a society, the end
of an era. He symbolised the stages of Western culture with the seasons of the year: it had
its spring growth in mediaeval times, its summer of flourishing with the Renaissance, its
autumn time in the 18th century when it began to exhaust its inner possibilities, and now, we
are in the winter of decline.
One of the most blatant symptoms of this decline is the erosion of traditional values.
Traditional values, such as the roles of men as providers and protectors and women as
nurturers and caregivers, have historically formed the bedrock of Western society. These roles,
rooted in biological differences and social needs, provided a clear structure and support system
within families and communities. However, the modern emphasis on individualism, gender
equality, and feminism has led to the deconstruction of these roles, resulting in confusion and
instability. Men increasingly disengage from their traditional roles, leading to children being
raised in predominantly feminine environments which lack balance. Research from the U.S.
Department of Health has shown that children without a masculine role model to guide them are
significantly more likely to face poverty, be involved in substance abuse, drop out of school, and
suffer from mental health issues. The pressure on women to balance career and family life has
also resulted in significant stress and burnout, with 66% of working mothers reporting chronic
stress according to a 2021 study by the American Psychological Association.
Religion once served as the glue that held society together, providing a common set of beliefs,
values, and traditions that unified communities and facilitated agreements. However, the rise of
secularism has led to a significant decline in religious adherence. Churches that were once
central to community life now stand empty. In the United Kingdom, 52% of people identified with
no religion in 2018, a staggering shift for a historically devout nation. The absence of religion
has serious effects on society, leading to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and a general
sense of aimlessness. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, individuals who do
not identify with any religion are significantly more likely to report feelings of loneliness and
social isolation. Oswald Spengler warned of this very occurrence stating “When faith wanes, so
does the strength of the culture; the decay of the spiritual core marks the beginning of the end
for a civilisation.”
Mass immigration and multiculturalism have disrupted the very fabric of Western societies.
While diversity is often touted as enriching, the unchecked influx of immigrants has brought
numerous challenges. In many Western nations, mass immigration has disrupted cultural
continuity, increased violent crime, and undermined shared values. For example, according to
German news source Deutsche Welle nearly 50% of all crimes in Germany are being committed
by non german passport holders. The mixing of religions and traditions from various cultures
has led to cultural clashes and a dilution of long-standing customs. Instead of fostering
integration, we see the emergence of parallel societies with conflicting values and loyalties.
This fragmentation disrupts the development of Western culture and weakens the sense of unity
and national identity essential for a stable and prosperous society. In the UK, a 2016 report by
the government’s Community Cohesion review found that in areas with high immigration, only
24% of residents felt a sense of community, compared to 64% in areas with low immigration.
This situation is reminiscent of the Western Roman Empire, which struggled to maintain its
cultural identity amidst a vast influx of diverse peoples and customs. Historian Ammanius
Marcellinus documented how the mass immigration of various tribes led to internal strife and
weakened the Roman states ability to maintain order and unity. Spengler warned that the loss of
a clear cultural identity and the rise of internal divisions are signs of a civilisation in decline.
As we stand at this critical point, it is essential to see the numerous issues combining to weaken
Western civilisation. The erosion of traditional values, the decline of religion, and the
impacts of mass immigration and multiculturalism are all connected. These problems are tearing
at the fabric of our society, leaving us divided and distracted. We're so busy fighting among
ourselves that we don't see the bigger picture or challenge those who benefit from our divisions.
Winston Churchill once said, "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are
likely to see." By looking at our history and the patterns of past civilisations, we can find a way to
face these issues directly. Oswald Spengler’s insights remind us that the decline we face is not
unprecedented, and recognising these patterns is the first step toward reversing them. It's time
to bring back the values that made us strong and united so we can rebuild and protect our
society and culture for future generations.
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Ingoa Rupahu commented 2024-11-01 16:21:08 +1300This isn’t a particularly well-researched speech. Regardless of whether you agree with Oliver or not, he should have spent longer preparing his case. DW did report that 41.3% of suspects in crimes in Germany in 2023 did not have German passports – but that doesn’t mean ergo mean they’re all migrants (either documented or undocumented), and doesn’t mean they were criminals (a suspect isn’t a criminal), and fails to provide any context about what crimes they were being accused of. Were these murders? Rapes? Traffic violations? He says “in many Western nations,” but then only tells us one statistic from Germany (a statistic taken entirely out of context), as if crime rates have single causes.
He mentions traditional values being in decline, but doesn’t really tell us why he thinks that’s a problem – and does he mean all traditional values, or just some of them? It’s also an exceptionally simplistic and reductionist view: “what’s wrong with contemporary society is that ‘traditional values’ have faded” completely disregards the very many causes for social ills. For example, we have higher rates of inequality in New Zealand nowadays than 50 years ago. That’s not really down to an influx of migration (or even to an influx of migrants from the “wrong” part of the world), but is more caused by a social shift away from the social-democratic values of the 1950s and 1960s (the shared values of people from across the political spectrum, from Michael Joseph Savage to Keith Holyoake) and a move towards Rogernomics and neoliberal values in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nothing to do with an increase in migrants or people not going to church.
More to the point, relying on Oswald Spengler as the basis for your thesis isn’t smart. Indeed, it’s the tactic of the agent-provocateur rather than someone wanting to be taken seriously. Although Spengler did criticise the Nazis for “excessive racialist elements” (and indeed some of his books and essays would later be banned by the Nazi government), he was an open admirer of people like Hitler (although he did think Hitler was quite vulgar and crass), Mussolini, and Cecil Rhodes. He wrote in 1931 that he didn’t want “coloured races” to have access to Western technology, because they’d use it against the West (got to keep the Africans and Asians in their place, after all!). Regardless of whether he personally later criticised Nazi thinking, he was a significant influence on their ideology (at least in the early 1930s). He was prominently antisemitic (describing Jews as “a disintegrating element that acts destructively wherever it intervenes”), and thought fascism was the inevitable outcome of capitalist democracy.
If it’s critiques of modernity that you’re looking for, Oswald Spengler isn’t a particularly savvy place to start. -
Jena Robinson commented 2024-11-01 15:10:51 +1300Wow – good and interesting article: well written and clearly laid out. This would be a great starting place to discuss some of the issues, explore alternative opinions and suggest solutions. Well done Oliver – any school should be proud to have you as a student
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Margaret Quinn commented 2024-10-31 15:46:26 +1300Outstanding speech Oliver,
I would be very proud of your efforts if you were my son. Stay strong – you are entitled to your views which have been very articulately expressed. I am sad to hear the very narrow minded approach taken by NPBHS a school that once had a very good reputation . We are not sheep and do not all think and act alike. Students need to get used to hearing views and opinions they may not like or how will they ever cope out there in the world.
Your views are just as important and relevant as anyone else’s. Congratulations for your efforts and not being part of the Group Think of the school. Sounds like they are censoring all views except their own " Left wing views". They should be ashamed of themselves. -
Dave Stanton commented 2024-10-30 21:07:15 +1300Excellent Speech Oliver.
In secular societies we fail to teach or moral, spiritual values and even laws in our schools and explain the importance of them.
I believe in a society with Christian values at the fore – Everyone is Free (Even free to blaspheme, curse, free speech and even to pursue addictions and live sinful lifestyles) however the more a society becomes athiest secularised the more restrictions are imposed on what you can say, do or pursue until Only those in the ruling party are priviledged and free and everyone else is subject to them.
Which sadly is the place you find yourself in ……just be glad we aren’t quite like North Korea yet.
Sharing your great speech on Facebook, Oliver – May it change the world!
Dave – A FSU member Freedom fighter! -
Barry Hoben commented 2024-10-30 19:05:07 +1300Olive Jull: bravo! Your 2022 Year 9 Deputy Head Boy, & Dux, Jaz Hinton (R.I.P.) wouldv’e loved your spot-on speech, along with your pluck and honesty. Well researched and succintly presented, it’s a speech many of the ‘adults’ of today need to hear.
I’m very aware of the prevailing wokeist rainbow-flavour promoted at NPBHS and, as a returning old boy (‘72-75), I was certainly discouraged by it during the four years I coached junior basketball ’18-21 there. Mind you, having returned to N.P. in 2017 from 25 years living in S.E. Asia, i was blown-out by the wokeist flavour to the whole country! Then came the Cindy years. And here we are now. No surprise your speech was barred. That ’Principal’ his Deputy, and a few others are fully waxed, triple-boosted, mask-wearing, committed narrative spinners of the Cindy/Chloe persuasion. -
Les Overend commented 2024-10-30 16:34:58 +1300Very Thought-provoking speech.
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Bruce Ward commented 2024-10-30 14:07:08 +1300Oliver Jull’s speech. Clearly formatted and definitely a winner. Shame on the leaders of that school. A terrible sign of todays Wokeism. Congratulations Oliver. We need more like you in society. Cheers to truth even if others don’t care for it.
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Bill Handcock commented 2024-10-30 13:50:11 +1300Very well written, Oliver. I concur that our life values have gone. Growing up in a small area with about 12 kids at the school, we had a community where neighbours helped neighbours, everyone played tennis on a Sunday afternoon, and everyone looked out for everyone. However, we all lived our separate lives, and through that experience, I have kept those values and still offer help to others.
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Ken Moore commented 2024-10-30 13:10:01 +1300Well researched and very clear. A real winner.
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tim harrison followed this page 2024-10-30 12:13:01 +1300
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