rlIndy reviewrl

Heard an extract on Radio 4. Sounded interesting, particularly for Bradfordians. Anyone read it?

Nope. But I may ask the library to get a copy.

I was struck with these lines in the reviewImmigrants have always struggled to make sense of the competing claims of different cultures until the emergence of a successful new middle-class resolves the conflict. British-born Islamists, such as the 7/7 bombers, have consciously tried to halt that process, but it is to thoughtful people like Malik that the future belongs. [/i

Does becoming "middle class" necessarily resolve the conflict of cultures? I would say that it's more accurate to say that education is the key to resolving conflict. Most prejudice after all is born out of ignorance.

I hope people like Malik are "the future". Unfortunately I fear they will be drowned out by the extremists on both sides. Is anyone else worried about what may happen if/when the EDL march takes place on Bank Holiday?

Whats it got to do with Bradford Bulls RL?

The subject line says "OT"

OT is other topic? sorry for my ignorance

Aye.

Fair enough.. As for the EDL demo which is planned, it should go ahead.

It will be a sad day in this country when you can't voice your opinion in an orderly, democratic fashion without being censored or even attacked. That said i think i'll be staying out of Bradford on the day!

Depends what you think being middle class is. A former colleague of mine joked that he was going to turn up on degree day at Sheffield Uni with a big banner saying 'welcome to the middle classes'.

I think if any march is likely to cause a lot of public disorder then it shouldn't be allowed to take place. I expect the powers that be to take a view based on that analysis.

That applies to any demo be it by EDL, Hizb ut Tahrir or anyone else.

Indeed, I thought it was a bit of a lazy generalisation by the reviewer.

Perhaps watching this will help! www.infidelmovie.com

Perhaps watching this will help! www.infidelmovie.com

IMO a legitimate and properly-stewarded (and insured) protest march should always be allowed to go ahead - provided it has relevance to the location, is designed to draw attention to a legitimate cause rather than primarily to wind up the locals, and is planned so disruption to everyone else is minimised. Its surely a key element of democratic freedom that is denied to those blessed with a fascist or communist "government"?

The exception is where the protest appears to lack any connection with the location, and/or appears designed not primarily as a legitimate protest but instead primarily to wind up or incite the locals or a shipped-in rentamob and attract the wrong kind of media attention, or is likely to break the law in some way.

Which category does the EDL proposed march fall into?

And who decides?

The issue here isn't free speech, the EDL are fully entitled to air their unpleasant views and reveal themselves to be a buch of thick ignorant bigots in the process. As someone who fully opposes their views I fully support their rights to hold them.

In this instance however the EDL coming to Bradford is more likely to lead to violence and even a repeat of what happened in 2001 if there are sufficiant reasons to believe that this will be the case then the march should be stopped imho and it no longer becomes an issue of free speech.

One of the leaders of the EDL said that Bradford was going to be one the places that the EDL would "hit" which suggests that the intentions of the EDL are far from peaceful.

Fine words, however you can now be arrested for doing just that.
As for the 'new middle-class' I am not sure who she means. Some of the most insidious racism I have witnessed in Bradford, & elsewhere, has come from relatively successful professionals. Whether they are 'middle-class' depends on your definition I suppose. Maybe the 'working-class' don't have the means to express their racism, or frustration, other than overtly. As Sam says, it's nowt to do with class. It's down to how children are educated, & that is primarily down to parenting; which is a very difficult topic. (Should racists, homophobes, drug addicts be allowed to have children?)
If you care about the future of Bradford you should be there on the day of the EDL march.

Some of the things the EDL speak out against (militant islam and the islamification of england) i agree with but the problem is the certain element of people (hooligans) they attract to their cause. Just as the UAF attract a certain element of thugs to theirs.