Before you read on, you might want to watch this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2010/may/28/english-defence-league-uncovered
The Nationalist Socialist Party started in very much the same way back in Germany in the 1920's, you may know them better as the Nazi party.
They were a group of violent, bigoted, racist bullies just like the EDL are.
They were involved in street violence with opposing fractions from the centre and the left wing, just like the EDL are.
They blamed one particular branch of society for their country's ills, just like the EDL do.
The EDL exploit our precious freedom of speech to spread the same sort of hateful rhetoric that the Nazi's spread at their rallys back then.
If we let them grow unopposed then we could end up suffering the same fate as Germany did.
If we let ourselves be convinced that they are different and that they have the answers then we are dooming our great country to a fate worse than death.
If we let our remain unaware of the the threat that extremeist groups like the EDL pose then we are dooming the future to the same fate.
I am not a left-wing activist.
I believe that the right wing and the left wing of the political spectrum can be, and often are, as bad as each other.
I do not claim to have a more valid religious view than anyone else.
I am a centralist (if that is what you would call me) I believe a fair, all encompassing society is possible and is desireable, and that it is our right as human beings to live in such a society.
When I say that the EDL, and their like, should be opposed I do not mean with violence, because that panders to their whims. We should oppose them with the truth, with our distaste, with our destain and with the facts.
The facts that show that all human beings are equal and we all have the right to live where ever in the world we choose.
And, as a closing note, if you think that they're threat is not to you and yours then I'd advise you to read the following by Pastor Martin Niemöller :
"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Think about it, please.
