I've been reviewing the situation (da da da da daa) on the seemingly-endless war between the EDL (English Defense League), the Muslim community, and the Anti-Fascism forces of the country. And I'm not pleased about how it's going. As some of you may know, I have supported the UAF (Unite Against Fascism) on a counter-demonstration they held in Cardiff to push off the EDL/WDL. It was fun, and I learned what a peaceful demonstration looks like. I've also been onto the English Defense League website and tried to look at it through their eyes. And I have, with this, drawn some conclusion. Let me share these conclusions with you.
1) Peaceful demos will not exist when both of these groups are near each other: I have seen first hand that the UAF groups can hold a peaceful demo. And I'm sure that, if they put their minds to it, the EDL could too (although I am yet to hear of one). But sparks fly when these two groups have their "Demo Battles"; two opposing groups both holding demonstrations/marches against each other in the same town/city. Even if it started peaceful, anger would soon build up. Face it, one side is chanting something the other side doesn't want to hear. It's gonna happen. And once it does, BOTH SIDES can boil over and forget the peaceful aspect. Then it's just a street-war that our police have to control, at the cost of the taxpayer.
2) The EDL doesn't know what it's like: As previously mentioned, I have read through the EDL mission statement and other information. They outrightly say that they are not non-Muslim, they are simply against Muslim extremists. And they are all for peaceful protest, and yet they can't keep their chants clean or bottles in their hands. The English Defense League is, when read on paper, a reasonable idea. Who likes Muslim extremism? No one does. Who likes any type of extremism? But they NEVER limit themselves to just attacking the extremist ideas. They harass anyone they think may be Muslim, as if they think that anyone that quite likes the idea of Islam will be trying to take over the government, or building bombs in their basement. Unless they can cool it, and limit their hooliganism, they will always be perceived as the bad guys.
3) The streets are not the place: Not only does it scare the public when groups of angry people shout slogans of race hate on the roads like it's their new Third Reich or something, but it also solves nothing. What are the EDL demonstrations trying to prove? Sometimes I do wonder...
Actually, now I mention the Third Reich, it does sound awfully familiar, does it not? Ya know, "One People" and all that. I mean, much like the Muslim extremists, we must not judge the many by the acts of the few. But what if there are Neo-Nazis in the EDL, hiding beneath the banner of "we're not a racist group"? Scary thought, but one that should be looked into.
I dunno, I guess I'm just scared. Scared that the actions of Muslim extremists has shattered the chances of having a society where multiculturalism is embraced, and where there is no discrimination or mistrust against our brothers and sisters of a different race or religion. The hate, mistrust, discrimination and fear that these groups spread are all that is stopping that, in my eyes.
No comments:
Post a Comment