Are Extreme Politics a Growing Concern

Surely direct action and violence has been a feature of political dissent for centuries. Luddites, Tolpuddle martyrs, sufragettes, racial equality in the USA etc etc, the list is very very long. Individuals now have access to the tools to cause mayhem where perhaps it was the role of the 'mob' before (Guy Fawkes though?). The lesson of history is that extremists almost bey definition have no faith with the democratic system and can and will resport to violent ends.

I think the recent events will be skewed for political gains by those who fear the right wing in the USA. Extrapolating the actions of somebody apprently seriously deluded to criticise a body of political thought that acts within the democratic system sounds wrong to me, much as I might not agree with their views.


Bruce

Anarchists and the Socialist Workers Party have always been there bubbling under the surface, looking for a convenient opportunity to create mayhem, either to smash society, or to begin the revolution comrade.

It is a shame that, in the UK situation, it has besmirched the otherwise laudable politicisation of what has been a largely politically-apathetic body of students over the last 10-15 years.

The Poll Tax riots were the same. Non-violent protest is a hardwon and great British tradition. It is was a particular group that turned it violent. The problem is that they perceived themselves as breaking both the Poll Tax and Thatcher, so consider it a legitimate ongoing political tactic.

I think Thatcherism, and its aping of US arch-Republican values, neo-capitalism, and the dismantling of our traditional notion of society in favour of its doctrinaire emphasis on the individual has got a lot to answer for in our contemporary situation.

Britain may be a 'nation of shopkeepers', but hitherto it has at least been of 'local shopkeepers', part of of a community.

Yes, personal responsibility is of the utmost importance. But society means keeping a proper eye out on one another. I suggest that that is part of what it means to be civilised. 'The devil take the hindmost' is not a civilised philosophy. (And no, I am not advocating free handouts to scroungers and layabouts.)

Cognitive dissonance means that this has become absorbed into much of the British mindset, especially in the key battle ground of the sector where people have too much income for benefits, but not enought to do anymore than scrape by.

My true blue father used to try to persuade me that socialism (i.e. to him anything to the left of Genghis Khan) is 'the politics of envy'. Not so, that's the politics of neo-capitalism.

The byproducts are narrow-mindedness, resentment, blaming the ills on the 'other'. That is the breeding ground for extremism.

What worries me more is the increasing violent intolerance promoted by religious groups.

Especially Islam.

Preach peace and humility but consider all who diagree with you as heretics and rape murder etc etc them.

Jack Straw has got into difficulty by stating the obvious.

Islam is a small percentage of the population. yet the increase in violent sexual assaults against european non muslim women is now problematic, also Sikh and Hindu women too.

This is not a racial isuue but a religious issue. If you are taught and believe that a woman who is not a muslim is thus a whore harlot and purely MEAT then it seems to allow these people to exploit and abuse these women with impunity. With the religious conviction that you have not done wrong purely because these women are not Muslim.

I find this mindset abhorrent.

But due to political/religious sensibilities no one , not even moral Muslims, will criticise these Muslim Bigots for fear of being branded Prejudiced.

In reality it is the perpetrators of the appaling behaviour who have the prejudice.

david

quote:

Originally posted by backfromoz:
What worries me more is the increasing violent intolerance promoted by religious groups.

Especially Islam.

Preach peace and humility but consider all who diagree with you as heretics and rape murder etc etc them.


david

This is an extremism issue, not a religious one. Islam actually teaches religious tolerance and respect, enshrined in the Koran in ways that few other religious texts actually do. It is radical interpretations that are the issue, not the core values of that Faith, any more than the behaviours of the religious Right characterise the whole of christianity.

I thought Jack Straw's intervention was bold and sensible, and has the basis of his long service and respect in his community.

Bruce.