tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402706505434413322.post5220747017843561349..comments2023-08-06T07:34:53.183-07:00Comments on Bath Activist Network: Islam4UK and the Silence of the LeftBath Activist Networkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15414670693000087221noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402706505434413322.post-77187780845783834772010-01-16T02:45:08.525-08:002010-01-16T02:45:08.525-08:00I am surprised that you have seen fit to publish t...I am surprised that you have seen fit to publish this open letter on your website. To compare the actions of Islam4UK- a tiny and unrepresentative group with suggested links with the security services- with the BNP is ridiculous. While of course deeply reactionary and unpleasant, they don't intimidate their opponents or disrupt their activities- unlike the BNP. So, while the BNP can't be ignored (their ideas have some resonance in sections of the working class, and their vote is growing), this tiny group can safely be ignored -as socialists have mostly done, to focus on bigger, more immediate threats. <br /><br />Perhaps the author(s) think it is now a good thing that Islam4UK has been banned!<br /><br />A couple of other points:<br /><br />1) the definition of fascism "in terms of Islam4UKs strong authoritarian slant, advocacy for a strong police state and excessive punishment for minor crimes and acts of dissent" could also apply to the Tories (and possibly the labour party too)- and undoubtedly to many countries around the world (such as Singapore and Egypt). Unpleasant as these regimes are, they are not facist.<br /><br />2) the construction workers strikes<br /><br />a) I can't accept that initially the strikers "(framed)their actions from a clearly non-racist and anti capitalist perspective. Just google "Lindsay Oil Terminal Strikes" and look at the newspaper articles at the beginning of the strike.<br /><br />b) socialists did then intervene successfully to change the focus of the dispute from a potentially racist approach (get rid of all foreigners) to a far more positive approach (all workers, to get the agreed rate for the job- foreign contractors not to be allowed to undercut rates for their workers). I'm no supporter of the Socialist Party but they played a key role in this with some of the strike committee being members of the SP.<br /><br />c) of course there wasn't a "definitive and class-conscious response from a unified and radical left". To expect this is cloud cuckoo land- there isn't a unified and radical left" and just wishing it, can't make it happen. <br /><br />3) The war in Afghanistan, and the events at Wootton Bassett. <br /><br />a) could the authors give one example where the "out of touch left unquestionably champions political correctness and excuses Islamic lunacy", please?<br /><br />b) its surprising that the authors focus solely on British casualties of the war in Afghanistan. Thousands of civilian Afghans have died- none of these had any choice as to being in a war zone, unlike British Soldiers. Of course all life lost is a tragedy, but lets not ignore the innocent victims of this conflict. Ironically of course, it is the fact that the UK media does ignore this, that Islam4UK were highlighting- while I expect the mainstream press to focus solely on UK (and US) deaths, I don't expect this from the Bath Activist Network website)- perhaps we can now look forward to another post arguing that what the army needs is better weapons/helicopters/tanks, etc! Rather, of course what socialists and anarchists should be doing is arguing that the war on Afghanistan must be ended- with all UK and US troops being withdrawn immediately.Red Angushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14259593793085438001noreply@blogger.com