Farooq Siddique: We all have a duty to challenge extremists
It was predictable, it was expected, and it was, frankly inevitable; the BNP won two seats, their first ever, in the European Parliament.
It is a platform from which they can do some serious damage to race relations in our country.
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Muslim in Bristol column
For me, it is heartbreaking.
In the North West, where the BNP won one seat, the number of votes for the party were actually less than in 2004, a little scrap of comfort, but then the other BNP winner in Yorkshire and the Humber won 10 per cent of the votes cast.
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In Bristol too, the BNP managed to cobble together more than half of the votes that Labour managed.
So are all these voters, who thought it a good idea to vote for the BNP, racist? I mean everyone knows what the BNP are, right? The electorate is disenfranchised or disengaged perhaps, but not stupid. They knew what they are doing when they put a cross next to the BNP. They must be racist, right?
I'm not so sure.
In the current context of voter disenfranchisement, a recession and the knock-on concerns around immigration, (you know the mantra; "those people are taking our jobs" etc), the success of the right-wing parties was almost assured, especially considering the low voter turnout. It was a success repeated across Europe.
Whenever extremists, of whatever persuasion, are given airtime, the publicity, the door to door leaflet campaigns, you find that you may not necessarily agree with the detail but you tend to agree with the overall concern espoused.
Add to that cocktail a mistaken belief that no one else is addressing those concerns, and, shazaam!, you have a mix of flavours that independently might have tasted good, but when mixed together, leave rather a nasty taste.
We can sit here all day and pass judgement on who voted and why, but there is a now a new reality. The centre right is already on the rise; the far right, are not far behind. The question is what do we do about it. And the emphasis must be on the "we".
When the BNP gained their first seat in Tower Hamlets for example, people experienced first hand what the BNP was really about. They lost that seat at the next available opportunity.
We must all tackle the extremists in our own midst that thrive on the extremists of the other side, eventually serving only to tear our society apart.
A few months ago, remember the handful of Muslim extremists in Luton that hurled abuse at returning British soldiers from Afghanistan? The BNP thrived on the actions of those idiots.
Last Friday, when that same band of Muslim extremists set up their stall again, they were confronted, in the street, by the majority of the Muslim community, after Friday prayers. The community had had enough. Scuffles broke out as the extremists were physically chased away.
The local imam later said: "We had asked the police to move these people away from here, they did nothing. We took the matter into our own hands and chased them away ourselves. We are tackling the extremists in our midst. Now I appeal to you to challenge the extremists in yours".
It is a challenge that we must all take up.
Comments
by Jonathan, Montreal, QC
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 12:29PM
“Mike, i think you'll find that forcing people to leave the UK, even if they are there legally, is exactly what the BNP plan to do. It is a stated policy. You should be aware of these things if you are prepared to vote for them.
It is obvious that politicians have done some bad things in the past. This is the same as people from any walk of life. The difference is that the bad things that they have done have not been official party policy and people didn't vote for these things to be done. The bad things that the BNP members say ARE official policy and people are voting for these things.
You have a list? Could you tell us the source of this list? Is it relevant? Is is real?
You state that you will not mention names, but then mention Jeremy Thorpe in the same sentence. Now, i don't remember Jeremy Thorpe, as he was before my time, but i gather that he was acquitted for the charges he was accused of wasn't he?
Even if Jeremy Thorpe was really guilty, as i'm sure you'll say he was, this was not official liberal policy to kill people.”
by Mike, Bristol
Monday, June 15 2009, 9:51PM
“The BNP will not force anyone to leave who is here legally.
Some of them have as you quite rightly said, said some awful things, however all parties are guilty of this inluding Lib dems, Conservative and Labour. I have a list here of some of the things past and present Mps form parties have done including drug smuggling, child abuse, violence, even though they were all convicted I will not mention names, however we all remeber Jeramy Thorpe the Liberal leader for a start don't we.”
by JoJo, Bristol
Monday, June 15 2009, 4:05PM
“The BNP are playing on the feeble minds of the lost and lonely . . .is this you Lost Native? and which northern towns are like Ghettos? it's way too cold up there! :)
I am all for free speech, democracy and a protest vote, but what about some of the other parties like Greens, Lib Dems, Christian Party or even the Raving Loony? People who vote BNP know exactly what they are voting for, so saying they are not racist is a lie! I”
by Christina, Bristol
Monday, June 15 2009, 6:43AM
“People died to keep this country free of fascists moron! If you don't think this country is great you can leave for a better life elsewhere but I have a feeling you wont because a) you are on benefits b) you are a regular regular in the pub. c) you cant be bothered to improve your sportswear and football top clad self and d) probable criminal convictions. Of course that could all be wrong and you are a normal decent hardworking small minded, low intelligence bigot!
Hola! by the way Bigsby! :-)”
by rabid dog, forever Bristol
Sunday, June 14 2009, 10:01PM
“censor the truth,warts and all, so much for a free press.People died in vain to keep this country free.We are handing over power and slowly destroying the not so now great britain.”
by a g rawlings, truro
Sunday, June 14 2009, 8:05PM
“Well Christina, no problemo”
by Bigsby, Bristol
Sunday, June 14 2009, 7:40PM
“Hasta la vista! Baby!”
by Christina, Bristol
Sunday, June 14 2009, 7:38PM
“Well Bigsby I am off now for a bit of bullfighting training. Getting back to my roots!! :-)”
by Christina, Bristol
Sunday, June 14 2009, 7:29PM
“Like I said Mr Rawlings this is a very new article. Thought you may be up todate. Science always improves information as time goes on. It wasnt so long ago it was adam and eve!
DNA does not lie. I found it interesting that my ancestors are migrants from Iberia. You seem to find it offensive? Why is that or have I got that wrong?”
by Bigsby, Bristol
Sunday, June 14 2009, 7:25PM
“Its not what is thought anymore El Tony. Those days of hyposisis and incorrect juncture are over. WE HAVE DNA. No guesswork. Each individual, if they want to get a test, can see exactly what the score is. We can see where our ancestors lived down to small villages in Europe or Africa or anywhere else. If you are a anthropologist that must be exciting!? something wonderful to embrace? fascinating. Of course if you are a white supremamcist and neo-nazi you will not embrace the truth? So what are you Rawlings!? anthropologist or white supremacist?”