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'If we can't be friends let's not be enemies'
To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war, said Winston Churchill and he had plenty of experience to back him up.
So he'd probably have approved of Aylesbury Muslims' challenge to the
English Defence League that goes right to the heart of the matter.
The EDL, which has pencilled in a demo in town on May 2, has been wrong-footed by what the Muslims have to say. Because the challenge from them isn't to get out of town, or take their jacket off for a bit of fisticuffs to sort out the matter for good.
The invitation to simply talk over their differences in open, face-to-face debate and 'if we can't leave the hall as friends, then perhaps we can leave without being enemies'.
That is offering a rose with a fisted glove. If the EDL take up the offer, they risk the possibility of humiliation by losing a public debate.
But equally, they will lose face by not attending and being regarded as chickening out.
The Muslims advise the EDL to 'know your enemy' but then sugar the pill by pointing out that maybe they aren't the enemy after all, if only the EDL would make the effort to really find out about the very people they are opposed to.
This is what every right-minded person knows at heart - that the vast majority of Muslims are peace-loving people who just want to get on with their lives in the way they choose, not would-be terrorists hell-bent on world destruction.
The Aylesbury Muslims point out that a discussion would be preferable to a demonstration and this brings us to the very heart of the matter.
It is a long-held British tradition that demonstrations should be allowed, provided they are peaceful and that the police are informed, in the interests of free speech and democracy.
But we all know that demos sometimes breed counter demos – and that's when we really get in trouble, because they attract the wrong sort of person from both sides who just enjoys getting involved in confrontation and trouble. There's no perfect answer here but the opportunity for open debate is an intriguing one.
Even if it never happens, it's a right step along the long road of reconciliation which is centuries overdue.
What do you think? Let us know below.
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Weather for Aylesbury
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
