Published Date:
03 March 2010
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Those are the words of writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall in 1906 when she compiled the biography of the philosopher Voltaire and they are the words that form the basis of modern definitions of freedom of speech.
A far-right group that is deplored among mainstream society and feared by many communities has chosen Aylesbury as a platform for it to air its views.
The people of Aylesbury have been credited in the past for their ability to unite against extremism.
We must trust in their good sense to turn their backs on any abhorrent views once again.
In 2005 the community pulled together and a tremendous amount of work was done, by people of all colours and religions, to address the tensions that arose when it turned out that one of our own blew up a train on 7/7.
Back then we said his views were not representative of the vast majority of Aylesbury and now we must stand as one again against another minority in our locality that want to stir up hatred and tell them their views do not represent modern day Britain.
The group hides behind the thin veil of being against radical extremism, yet many of its members are too ashamed to show their faces, choosing instead to wear balaclavas or hooded tops to cover their faces.
The very existence of the group should be called into question.
Every right-minded person in society deplores extremism of any kind so for these people to try to address the issue through the violence with which they are associated is hypocritical, at best.
They are fanning the flames of extremist views but of a different kind and that is something we all should reject.
Local members of the Aylesbury Division of EDL should look around and
see that the area is moving on, it is progressing and making the town infamous because of its associations with far-right groups like this would knock us back several years.
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Last Updated:
04 March 2010 1:55 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Aylesbury
