Yes, I do remember you expressed the same views.
Look, I have no problem engaging with 'individuals' who have concerns about immigration etc... But I will never engage with any 'organisation' that includes far-right Nazi supporters and racists or conducts themselves in the way EDL do.
Any individuals from EDL who want to engage with us 'as individuals and not as EDL' they are welcome.
But the EDL organistation itself - forget it.
Once they truly purge the nazis and racists, get a grip and stop acting like thugs - then perhaps we can engage with EDL as an organisation.
But as I say, until then, forget it!
Fair enough.
Personally, I would be willing to engage with the leaders and members of the EDL. I would do so as an individual, NOT as someone representing any organisation. I would make it clear that my views are my personal views.
I would even be willing to help and advise the leaders of the EDL, and a part of my advice would include a plea for them to root out the bigots and racists who join their protests.
However, I would definitely NOT like to join in their protests as they currently are now. If I came across an EDL march then I would neither join the EDL side nor the UAF side. I would either walk away, or stand in the "neutral" corner and observe.
Some people will never change their views no matter how much you try to reason with them. These people are bigots. The EDL however are a mixed bunch and they're also relatively new. Many of their concerns ARE legitimate and if people just shout them down like the UAF do and call them all sorts of horrible things then this could inflame them.
If there’s one word I’d use to describe the EDL, that word would be “inevitable”. People ARE fearful of Islam, and on top of that how do you expect the average Joe Bloggs to react when they hear idiots like
Anjem Choudary say things like... “Muslims are multiplying at a rate of more than 8 times more than the kuffar. In a couple of generations this will be a Muslim country inshallah”... (followed by a “TAKBIR!”).
It’s all very complex, but anyway I thought Douglas was spot on.
Topic: Enemies not Allies