Yeah I did mate. Not good, but not related to my point. Idiots on both sides clearly. BUT One of the sad things about the EDL and all that lot is that they’ve claimed things like the Union Jack or the cross of st. George as their own. When the fellas who fought under those flags and died for us would turn in their grave at that fact.
Have a good trip btw, wish I was going on this one too.
Personally, I don't do patriotism / nationalism and all that stuff. I'm only from here by pure accident of birth, so I don't get buy into all that. Despite that, I totally agree with you on that point. These knuckle-draggers standing under the Union Flag and the Flag of St. George makes me vomit. Men, women and children from these shores went through unimaginable horrors in the war against Nazis, yet these neo-Nazi scumbags have the nerve to hijack those flags and use them to promaote their vile ideologies.
The whole sorry mess that they are was highlighted to me even further one day when I was on a march opposing this shower of shite in Liverpool. It may have been the 'white man' one. Anyway, on the same day there was some kind of thing on for old soldiers. I didn't know beforehand and don't know what the actual event was called. Anyway, there were lots of old soldiers in town, all looking smart and dignified. Then up at Lime Street we had this shambolic bunch of misguided morons standing under their cross of St. George and Union Flags bringing utter disgrace to those old soldiers, their country and their flag. It's quite sickening.
I highly doubt it, but I hope these morons start to get the message that they will never be welcome here. I know why they come, of course. I know for a fact that they see Liverpool as a socialist, liberal thinking bastion, and if they can come here and march, spout their hatred and do as they please they feel they can do it anywhere. The call Liverpool the Red Citadel. Our city is their prized scalp. As usual, though, they've been sent packing. The last time they tried it they even brought a load of fascist football thugs over from Poland to bolster their numbers in an attempt to get their way. They failed then, too.
As a human being, I'm very much aligned to Kesey's philosophy. But there is just something about these disgusting groups and their uncivilised, inhuman ideologies that make me willing to stand up and do/say something. There is a sea-change towards further and further right-wing politics in the world at the moment that is dangerous for all of us. Sometimes, a stand has to be made to stop the slide into fascism and social darwinism.
People may say that these loons are just a pathetic rabble, and to an extent, they generally are, but they are being used and manipulated by some very sharp and dangerous individuals. In their number you have lots of disenfranchised young, and easily led people looking for a cause to believe in. You also have some of the more nationalist old school football hooligans from around the country who have jibbed the football rucks because the police are too on top of it these days. Political rallies are an easier route to a punch-up for them. You also have your common or garden racist and xenophobe. Thing is though, you have some very dangerous people pulling the strings of these types. Many of their crowd are just useful idiots for these string-pullers.
The awareness of some of those lower down the ranks in these groups is staggeringly low, as is the intellect. I remember seeing one of them reply to shouts of ''fascist scum, off our streets'' by counter protesters by saying '' how can I be a Nazi, I'm fucking English?'' Err, National Socialism is an ideology, not a nationality you fool.
For some reason, many of them see holding fascist views as defending their country, when, in fact, it undermines the very fabric of the country they profess to love.