I would point out that I didn't suggest it was just the Nazis or, indeed, the only symbol of a dictatorial/totalitarian state.

I would say, to clarify, that I was thinking of the civilian population and not the military.

The idea of 'pride' about where I come from always rather confuses me. I didn't do anything to be proud of. But that's not to say that I'm 'ashamed' of it either – indeed, far from it. I'm English – that's a fact – and there are things about this country and its heritage that I love and others that I don't.

My parents did the 'pride' thing. And I never could 'get it' then. It took me many years to 'find' my Englishness. And really rather like it – but 'pride'? A confusing idea when you think about it, I think.

I don't think you need to visit training camps or be a member of a larger organisation to be considered a terrorist, not in my view. I appreciate the potential ramifications but I can't see this as anything other than an act of terror.

My gut feeling is - and I don't want to be presumptuous and pretend I know how you specifically think - is that if these two men killed a soldier with a small bomb, as opposed to in the manner that they did, that there wouldn't even be a debate about their act of terrorism, it would be an open and closed case.

Even if acting on their lonesome it's still an act of terror from my point of view.

Dunno if you are still there,at South Shields,but slightly off topic and possibly not known but there is rlThis Historyrl and the visit of a world respected muslim to the same place to open a mosque rlStoryrl

If you didn't listen to Radio 4's PM programme today, it really is worth a lsiten on iPlayer. Especially the bit where Eddie Mair trots off to Woolwich and interviews some of the locals, one young lad in particular:

"Our grandfathers fouht for our freedom in the war, if they were alive today they'd be spinning in their graves"

The govt,police, security services etc are infact calling this a terrorist attack.Are you in any of those listed organisations?
if not how can you STATE it wasnt a terrorist attack!!!!
BTW it wasnt an assault either, it was a disgusting barbaric pre meditated murder.

why in your own little world is white on black racist but not black on white !!!

But I don't sound like either. Nor do the vast majority of Londoners I know.

Typical northerners. Painting everyone with the same brush [size(I'm being ironic, before people get the hump)[/size

Hello you. Long time no.

Do you know what, I would indeed struggle to compile a chronological list of attacks that I'm referring to as they have popped up on social media as well as mainstream journalism over the last few years. Lots are from people on facebook back home pointing out events, locally or nationally. Most of the local stuff doesn't even make the local rag. So, actually. No. I can't show you "a rise" in attacks. Also I didn't use use the sensationalist term "Massive surge". Nor did I actually say "attacks like this". So in one small para, you've misquoted or made stuff up to aid your argument. You journos can't help yourself can you?

I know that you don't dispute that there are attacks. Who would? They happen. Possibly far more often than people realise.

Things in the UK have to be addressed and people need to start talking.

Apologies if I came across patronising mintball, I was actually being polite. And apologies for typing in something quickly without thinking. You can't help yourself to feel superior can you? To belittle others. This does present you, who is obviously bright, as arrogant on occasion. There's really no need to be like that minty.

I personally, don't see this as a terrorist attack. It's appears to a hate crime, born from religion.

Might be a BBC policy, when Look North interview on the streets of Hull, they always seem to pick someone who has the thickest 'ull accent and cannot string a sentence together through their missing teeth. I am sure we are not all like that here.

Because time and again, numerous Muslim clerics take time to point out that their religion does not tell them to go out and kill everyone who does not follow their religion in the same way that the IRA followed no such teachings in the Christian bible and in the same way that most Catholic Priests condemned those terrorist attacks.

Of course there is always a minority who do take extreme views and there are some clergy who also take those views and encourage them (even covertly), and I include Catholic/IRA links and for that matter Protestant/militant Loyalist links, none of which mean that the flavour of religion mentioned will actively support terrorism.

Of course Muslims would like the whole world to follow their religion, so would Catholics, so would any religion, its part of the dogma of a religion to believe that theirs is the only way forward and most of them have an ongoing mission to convert as many as they can, this still doesn't equate to terrorism though.

Making an automatic link from "Islam" to "Terrorist" is probably the biggest danger we face and our own media don't help the situation very much either.

You don't like a metaphorical mirror being held up to you mintball. How come? Don't like what you see?

You still don't see bullying on here no doubt either.

Out of interest, do religious extremists hit the spot for you with your own dealings and feelings to religion?

Who do you think you are ... Richard the feckin Lionheart?

I, for one, do not wish to be one of your cookie-cutter identikit Brits who all have the same state-and-church-issued set of "clearly defined" values (by which you presumably mean your values rather than those of anyone else).
In the UK, we have diversity of opinion, religion, skin pigmentation, taste, outlook, politics, ideology, etc etc.
It sounds like you want to roll it all back to some time gone by when everyone loved the monarch, went to church on Sunday and were definitely not brown, gay or (heaven forfend) not like you.

Well, I have to break it to you ... that time never existed and will never exist.
Not only that but it's not solely your country, it's mine too.
Even worse, I reckon you are in the minority ... so it looks like you'll have to deport yourself for being out of step with British values ... where do you have in mind?