The Bank of England will use images of wildlife on its new banknotes, fearing division among the public

The statement reads: “The theme must not include images that could be offensive or exclusionary to any groups.”

A country’s history becomes offensive only when the events of the past are used as an instrument of accusation, and the description of historical realities is turned into a moral tribunal over people living today. That is to say, the distant past bears directly on the sense of dignity of those alive now, even though they had nothing whatever to do with it.

But in the case of Britain another problem comes to light. Images of people are forbidden in Islam. And this step may be aimed at something more than merely dispensing with divisive or offensive figures; and indeed, what could be more scandalous and disagreeable to the subjects of a monarchy than a portrait of the monarch, to say nothing of Winston Churchill and William Shakespeare? In all likelihood, the ban on depicting people on banknotes is meant to bring the national currency into conformity with Sharia.

If one recalls that the British prime minister has called Muslims the future of Britain, it all adds up.