Anglian Comment

I was planning to right a short piece about the protesters who hounded the Anglian regiment yesterday during their homecoming. However a quick look on youtube made me shudder. Was I now agreeing with far right organisations such as the BNP? Am I just adding fuel to the blatant misrepresentations propagated by neo-fascist, racist and thoroughly reprehensible hard liners?

Well I am still going to have a monologue and I hope the readers will judge that I am guilty of neither racism nor appeasement. I think we should bare in mind the context of the event first of all. There was no more than a dozen protesters. If you compare that to Glasgow's experience during the Orange Walks or the Friends of Ireland march we are talking about a very small number indeed. In fact no substantive violence broke out and no follow up vigilante activities have been reported. Which is a dam bit more civilised than inter-faith Glaswegian relationships.

I would label the men (yes all of hem were men) as anti-war protesters but I think that is being too impartial. These men are clearly Muslim and their protest is an Islamist agenda. This is not just about the war in Iraq but also the imposition of freedom and democracy over religious totalitarianism, the death of fellow Muslims and not the death of fellow human beings, and the publicising of an agenda which labels Islam as brave and courageous in the face of the decadent and morally corrupt (and lets not forget secular) west.

Where the BNP, other groups, and I depart is that I think the men have and should have the right to protest. Regardless of my opinion on the war, it is fundamental that the law protects the right to peaceful protest and to speak freely. However, if anything, this groups choosing of time, place and slogans show how utterly disgusting, base, and crude their opinion and teachings are. When the anti war movement began it was the biggest protest ever seen in the UK. Where were the anti-war protesters now? Definitely not on the side of the Islamist group. They recognise first and foremost the bravery of British soldiers and their sacrifice for the nation. There is no humanity, no decency, no moral code which sanctions turning up at a parade venomously chanting phrases such as 'Go to hell', 'Butchers' and 'Terrorists' when soldiers, having bled on the field- even died, return home. Where mothers greet their long departed sons and others mourn the loss of friends, siblings or even children, there should be time for reflection, sombreness and celebration; not drivel spouted by brainwashed youths and preachers one step away from terrorist activities. Let's not think lightly or wash away a phrase such as 'Go to hell!'. These people believe in the literal teaching of the Koran. For them hell is a real place. With torture and cruelty so unfathomed it takes the imagination of an supernatural diety to dream it up. They literally want to send soldiers who have spent what can only be approximated to hell on earth, to a real eternity of relentless torture. Who could ever or would ever want to inflict that punishment on any other human being? Their moral viciousness was exposed by their chants yesterday.

Secondly, I fundamentally believe in the freedom of speech but I do recognise that if someone is a direct threat to civil order or is indeed inciting civil order against his person then there may be the need for detainment (not arrestment) by authorities. However the right wing of the population jumped on the events of two arrests at the Anglian parade. The BNP advertised it as 'two white British men arrested for challenging Muslims'. Obviously it was not that simple. One man was detained for incitement to racial hatred because he chanted a base phrase 'no surrender to the Taliban' and 'scum'. I am sure the first phrase will be familiar to many old firm fans in Scotland. If the state must arrest someone for incitement to racial hatred then at least keep it consistent. To me the chants of the protesters were worse than that of the single man. I wonder; is this double standards or was it a tactic by the police to maintain order? Either ways it sends out a disturbing signal. An Islamic group can continue to protest in the most undignified and repulsive way, yet when another citizen (regardless of race, gender or social grouping) replies in kind then he or she may be silenced. That can not be condoned.

Lastly, related to the last point but maybe the most important thing I want to echo is a challenge to use of the phrase 'islamo-phobia'. The Muslim Council of Britain said in a statement it was appalled at reports of the abuse, stating the protesters provided "fodder for Islamophobes keen to drive a wedge between Britons". Now, yes thank you for condemning the protesters and let us hope, and I do agree, that these protesters do not represent the majority of Muslims. However this word which has found it's way into headlines, articles and conversation- islamophobia, or islamophobes- is a subtle but none the less wicked attempt at deflecting warranted criticism of an idea. How dare they make an attempt to label anyone who criticises and challenges their orthodoxy as a shameful and a Muslim hating person. Words such as homophobe are used to describe people who inherently hate someones private, individual choice which they are born with or choose. How dare they apply this to their religion. Are they seriously saying that anyone who doesn't agree with their theory which they openly propagate and recruit for, as I do, is an islamaphobe? Such wordplay cheapens the achievements of legitimate groups and seeks to silence critics and protect their own agenda. It is good to see that the British public will not stand for such treatment.


Comment? I dare you?

NB* Two viewpoints. Opposing views of the trouble that outbroke that day/

I like this one because it shows how a relatively small mob can seem intimidating and can enter and aggressive spiral on a calm day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ygCc9qlWM

This is from the far right point of view. They use scenes from numerous other protests to blow this one out of proportion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCO963eCD5U



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