Political Comment - London Terrorist Attack: The limits of Tolerance
Disclaimer: This post is not about toy soldiers. The only association I could think of would be a line of toy soldiers in a firing squad, a firing squad being he traditional resort for punishing treason.
Decades ago Western countries opened their liberal immigration doors to numerous Trojan Horses and it is time to cut off the wheels.
The fact is that a liberal democracy faces a contradiction when it tries to accommodate equally all cultures in a multicultural policy. This is because aspects of other cultures will be the direct opposite of what is expected in a modern Western state. Rejection of cruelty to animals and subjugation of women and support for freedom of expression are obvious examples.
Migrants and their children, often refugees, are given shelter in a host country and one would expect gratitude and loyalty. Whilst this will be the case with many it has not been so with the Jihadists and the bloody murderers who killed a British soldier in a London street. By supporting and carrying out such attacks the perpetrators are committing both murder and treason. The savage obsession with mutilating the body also indicates the seventh century mentality of the murderers and their extreme Islamist inspiration.
The British government needs to be asked what it is doing to ensure the security of servicemen and women in their own country and what is being done to cut off the finances for mosques, especially from Saudi Arabia, which has been funding the radical Muslim and the conversion of gullible or disturbed young men.
I viewed Tommy Robinson's speech on the matter, expecting, after reading or hearing media references, an unreasoned rant from an extremis, but the English Defence League leader showed himself to be articulate, informed and measured. He did not lump all Muslims together and showed an awareness of the various Islamic sects. He totally rejected violence against Muslims. However, he made clear the problems stemming from Islam in his country and the failings of the government.
On the other hand, as Wikipedia points out, the difference between 'suits and boots' exists in the EDL and we saw this in the stupidity of rioting against British policemen.
Decades ago Western countries opened their liberal immigration doors to numerous Trojan Horses and it is time to cut off the wheels.
The fact is that a liberal democracy faces a contradiction when it tries to accommodate equally all cultures in a multicultural policy. This is because aspects of other cultures will be the direct opposite of what is expected in a modern Western state. Rejection of cruelty to animals and subjugation of women and support for freedom of expression are obvious examples.
Migrants and their children, often refugees, are given shelter in a host country and one would expect gratitude and loyalty. Whilst this will be the case with many it has not been so with the Jihadists and the bloody murderers who killed a British soldier in a London street. By supporting and carrying out such attacks the perpetrators are committing both murder and treason. The savage obsession with mutilating the body also indicates the seventh century mentality of the murderers and their extreme Islamist inspiration.
The British government needs to be asked what it is doing to ensure the security of servicemen and women in their own country and what is being done to cut off the finances for mosques, especially from Saudi Arabia, which has been funding the radical Muslim and the conversion of gullible or disturbed young men.
I viewed Tommy Robinson's speech on the matter, expecting, after reading or hearing media references, an unreasoned rant from an extremis, but the English Defence League leader showed himself to be articulate, informed and measured. He did not lump all Muslims together and showed an awareness of the various Islamic sects. He totally rejected violence against Muslims. However, he made clear the problems stemming from Islam in his country and the failings of the government.
On the other hand, as Wikipedia points out, the difference between 'suits and boots' exists in the EDL and we saw this in the stupidity of rioting against British policemen.
James,
ReplyDeleteWhilst I agree that Wednesday's murder of a serving British soldier was horrendous, most of the rest of your post I must disagree with.
Tommy Robinson is so proud of his identity that he goes by that name, rather than his real name - Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. He also uses at least one other pseudonym. This man, whom you appear to admire and respect has convictions for assaulting a British police officer (who was trying to stop him beating up his partner. He also has convictions for football hooliganism, breaching probation conditions, assaulting a fellow EDL member, using a false passport and probably other offences as well.
So, is there really a "difference between 'suits and boots'....in the EDL"? As for their disgusting demonstration on Wednesday, it was Tommy/Stephen who made the call within minutes of the murder for "boots on the ground".
I haven't heard his speech, and he may well have been articulate. Then again, so were Mosley, Mussolini, Franco and Hitler. Hell, even Nick Griffin can be articulate.
And the irony of someone with the surname O'Connell suggesting that the Government should condemn and act against an entire community on the basis of the actions of a tiny minority of extremists from that community doesn't escape me.
Most of England's (and the UK's more widely) greatness is the result of immigration, from the Dutch, Flemish and Huguenot weavers who formed the foundations of our textile industry in the 16th and 17th centuries; the Irish in the 18th and 19th centuries who built our canals and railways; the West Indians and those from other parts of the former Empire who came here and revitalised our economy in the 50s and 60s filling jobs that native Brits considered beneath them.
Thanks for you comment Tamsin. We won't agree on various things as our individual experiences, influences and philosophy are different but we may have more common ground than you think. Right now we are enjoying a freedom of expression that people in many times and places haven't and don't. Once we would have focussed on fascist countries, then communist but now many Muslim countries are like that and would like to extend this 'experience' to ourselves.
DeleteI think we all remember the international hysteria and violent rioting, resulting in many deaths, over a few cartoons about 'the prophet' and later a video, which although in poor taste, based its anti-Koran comments on quotes from the Koran itself. Recently there were very large massed protests in Bangladesh calling for the be-heading of atheists.
The fact is that religion can motivate people to not only exclude others but to encourage, vigorously, their imminent and violent deaths. Christianity has, at least, been moderated by the experience of the Enlightenment and science, something that the Muslim religion has hindered since the Renaissance.
It is true that, at present, only a minority, in England, are prepared to cut up victims with hatchets. However, the motivation did not come out of thin air. Religious leaders of a fanatical bent are active in mosques in Western countries and funding is flowing in from Saudi Arabia. Many Muslims pressure the government to 'respect their religious and cultural sensitivities'. What this means is influencing foreign policy, swimming pools to exclude men for extended hours so Muslim women can swim without being seen by men, less humane ways of slaughtering animals to conform to religious beliefs and muzzling anyone who questions their religion.
As for Tommy Robinson/Stephen Yaxley-Lennon I mentioned Wickipedia so people would look at a neutral source about him. This is where the boots and suits comment came from. Tommy, himself I did not see in a suit and he could well have some size ten Doc Martins underneath. In his speech he was quite frank about calling the EDL onto the streets and about going to America on a false passport as the only way he could enter to give his speeches. I was unaware of the domestic violence and if it is true it is a mark against him personally but does not necessarily detract from his speech which can be viewed in Youtube. Even if the man had no personal integrity at all, and I don't think that's the case, his speech made many worthwhile points that can be considered in the abstract. Incidentally. he rejected racism in his speech. It was his speech I admired. I'll reserve judgement on how much I admire the man.
As for attacking a whole community, immigration is a mixed bag. Obviously many people will make worthwhile contributions and others may be a burden or, as we have seen, a security risk. The wishes and needs of the host country need to be considered, which should involve vigorous screening to determine loyalty to the new country, cultural viability and curtailing of immigration where necessary. Anyone who is an obvious potential terrorist risk should be deported.
I have read extensively about Islam and the Koran, have visited a Muslim country and I have met some pleasant Muslims. Most victims of Bin Laden were Muslims, including a significant number who were in the Twin Towers. Most Muslims rejected these fanatics but a significant number didn't.
By the way, You weren't stereotyping me because of my Irish name were you?
Thank you for posting my comment and for your cogent and considered response.
DeleteI think that whilst there are some points that we can agree on, there are others that we never will. As you so rightly point out, we live in (relatively) free countries and are free to agree to disagree. Long may it remain so.
I was going to post a full reply here, but it exceeded the character limit, so I have sent it as an email.
Being of Irish descent myself (on my mother's side), any stereotyping would have applied equally to me.
I replied to you in detail by e-mail, Tamsin, and pointed out that although we have different starting points and value some different things a lot of details we don't disagree on.
DeleteWhat we both share, of course is our love of toy soldiers, even though, Prince Philip - like I may arouse certain people's wrath with my big mouth.