I was horrified to see that the English Defence League has decided to establish a presence in Thanet, not least with an intention to disrupt Friday prayers at the Mosque.
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> Let's be very frank and clear with the EDL - You are not welcome in Thanet and Thanet wants nothing to do with your organisation. I am sure that this sentiment is shared by all political parties and community organisations across the Isle.
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> While I am not someone who wants to curb freedom of speech and am very reluctant to ban organisations or stifle debate that does not mean that one should not confront prejudice and racism head on when one sees it.
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> The pathetic approach of the ring leader of the organisation calling himself Pat Riot - as if they represent any patriotic movement - is a desperate attempt to associated themselves with what being proud in this country represents.
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> Being patriotic is about celebrating what is special about Britain - and Britain's successes. Britain is a country of many races and origins - blending tolerance and opportunity to bring the best out of each other. If there was any place that better represented the value of incomers it would be Thanet. It was here on our little Isle of Thanet that England was born - not emerging from an indigenous group of people already residing in this country - but by a band of foreigners called the Engels who came from abroad and set up their base in Thanet. Ironic that the EDL should think that Thanet would show them any welcome!
Nice try by Laura Sandys, but there are still many of us who remember the Britain before immigration got out of control as a nicer place to be.
ReplyDeleteI too abhor the tactics often used by the EDL, as I do also of the BNP, Socialist Workers party and some animal liberation groups. Nonetheless I respect their right to hold their opinions and to campaign as long as they do so within the law. Too often debate on immigration is stifled behind the accusations of racism.
Shame, Peter, I was looking forward to your usual contribution to such debates about your own liquorice allsorts racial make up. Rest in peace, mon ami, for I am sure the EDL are not after you.
DeletePS I said 'mon ami' to show I am a tiny bit multicultural.
Obviously go around with your eyes closed, Peter, for Cliftonville West is reminiscent of the casbah in Souse.
DeleteI thought it was a Scouse Cavern but, whatever, they had 'loovly her' those lads.
DeleteI think you will find the Engels, or more specifically the Germanic northern European tribes that came to these shores, did so as invaders and drove the indigenous of into the hills to the west where they have been singing ever since. What these newcomers did not do was blend into some multi-cultural hotchpotch passed off as a nation. That piece of history may well explain why the remnants of the indigenous, the Welsh, Scots, Irish and Cornish would cheer our foreign opponents when beating us English at tiddlywinks and why many want independence.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens though when the new waves of invaders outnumber the English and want to run things their way. Where do the English go then. The Falklands is a bit small for all of us, and too bloody cold.
I wonder why Roger Gale and Bob Bayford havesaid nothing about this?
ReplyDeleteWny would they, 10:00? Notice you did not mention Clive Hart and, so far, he has said nothing either.
DeleteThat should have been directed at Anon at 14:10.
DeleteHart is on hoilday, Iris has spoken about it
DeleteWhy, is TDC in its summer recess and since when was Iris his deputy?
DeleteI trust Peter is joking when he wishes Margate was more like Peckham. It is not like Delboy's manor anymore, but the street crime capital of the UK. Just why would you wish that on your neighbours.
ReplyDeleteWith North Thanet BNP LITE Margate doesnt need the EDL
DeletePeter, I don't think the anonymous contributor at 17:25 mentioned black people so you are yourself guilty of assuming that is what he/she meant. Statistical the facts support the argument though with disproportionate levels of street crime in those heavily immigrant populated SE London districts.
DeleteSadly, as someone mentioned earlier, we can never have this debate without the cries of racism creeping in as in much the same way that the equal marriage one resulted in anyone who spoke out against it being labelled homophobic. We may have laws about how we treat each other but surely people are still entitled to differing views on such subjects.
Personnally, I do not think any small place like Thanet should be subjected to an excess of non English speaking immigrants because of the burden it places on our local services, particularly schools, and that is regardless of colour. Indeed, because of Empire, many black people have English as a first language whereas most of our white East European immigrants do not.
Oh, and I do not support the EDL.
Anon 22:10
DeleteSome would argue that Thanet does not need Labour yet, not only do we have them, but due to a corruption of democracy they are actually in a position to do far more damage to the place than the BNP and EDL could even dream of. Ignore such minnows and they amount to nothing. It is this very condemnation, even from some who should know better, that provides the very publicity on which they thrive.