EDL....

[DandyFloss]

I am a regular who has name changed for this thread.

I would like to have a discussion about EDL. I want to know exactly why people find them so abhorrent and why it is such a taboo subject.

I dislike militant Islam, it is a dangerous movement and it really frightens me. A family friend was killed in 9/11 and it was a horrible horrible tragedy.

I have two mixed race children, my DH is mixed race, I would not say I'm racist or xenophobic.

As far as I can gather EDL oppose militant Islam, and this alone.

Why does this make them racist? Surely militant Islam, although a very small proportion of Islam, should be opposed?

[AdventureTed]

Crescentmoon - many non-muslims are aware that they are regarded as kufar by many muslims, no matter how lovely the non-muslims are.

[DandyFloss]

What's kufar?

[ohmymimi]

Big thanks, Little pea, my IT skills are a bit rudimentary.

[gordyslovesheep]

because you keep saying they are against extremism - which is incorrect

I am not sure you aren't being deliberately obtuse

[LittleTulip]

Whilst we're on the subject..

[DandyFloss]

gordyslovesheep - I am saying that they are saying they are against extremism, which is correct! That's exactly what they say!

[nennypops]

No we don't all know that they are against all of Islam in practice

You can only fail to know that if you never read or listen to the news, never keep your eyes and ears open to what is going on around you, and never bother to do any investigation. You have been told through four pages of this thread that they are against all Islam, and indeed against all people of a different skin colour, yet you still claim that you don't "know" those facts. If you won't accept it from people on here, just go and look at their website, Google the many aliases of Tommy Robinson, look at the vile Twitter feeds and Facebook pages of their most well-known supporters. But, whatever you do, stop denying the flaming obvious.

[Buttercup4]

OP, the problem is that the EDL do not publicly admit their views. I've watched a 25 minute interview with their leader 'Tommy Robinson' real name Stephen Yaxeley-Lennon and he didn't come across as racist in any way, he came across as well rehearsed and PR prepped. He used emotive language to coerce people into believing that he is only looking out for the greater good of England.

Unfortunately, some people will watch that interview and support the EDL because he didn't express any openly racist views.

Watch EDL matches on YouTube that haven't been posted by the EDL. Do not believe their propaganda that they are only against 'militant islamics' it is simply not true. It's just what they want you to believe to gain your support and enter into mainstream politics and provide their group with some credibility.

[Sallyingforth]

I wanted to ask on here, because MNetters have strong opinions about the EDL.
So you know already that MNetters have strong opinions about the EDL.
That means you have read previous discussions here about them.
And yet, you name-change to ask rather naive questions in order to start up yet another discussion. You know it can only repeat the very same opinions that you have already read and stir up yet more controversy. Sounds like a typical EDL ploy to me. I'm out.

[LittlePeaPod]

ohmymimi you are welcome.

[DandyFloss]

nennypops - Oh my god, are you serious?! Have you actually read the thread?! I have absolutely accepted what I have read on the thread, I feel much more informed. I have said I didn't know much about EDL, I asked and now I know more now. What do you think I am denying?!

[DandyFloss]

MrsDeVere - Seriously, I have never said I support the EDL, I wanted to understand more, and now I am suddenly letting my children down and failing to protect them, wtf?!

[AdventureTed]

Dandy - don't accept anything anyone has said on here, including me. Do your own research.

[DandyFloss]

Sallyingforth - And my opinions are what exactly?!

[LittlePeaPod]

TBH Op as stated before I am mixed race. I have to admit I am appalled to read that you are too lazy (as you put it) to do your research when you are the mother to mixed race children!

[LittleTulip]

Oh dear flafla I really can't even get past your first sentence. Stand up to 'Muslims'?

[LittlePeaPod]

Xpost Princess

[Thants]

When a couple of Muslim men burnt poppies in London a few years ago it led to a 'protest' in Portsmouth by the edl against Portsmouth's mosque. The Muslims of Portsmouth had NOTHING to do with what went on in London but the edl somehow thought they could gain retribution from attacking them.
The edl graffitied the mosque and then protested outside the mosque. They were throwing rocks and small homemade bombs at elderly people and children coming out the mosque, they were performing the nazi salute and screaming racist abuse. My partner was part of the counter protest by UAF who were trying to protect the mosque and many people were badly injured by the edl members. It was awful.
They are racist and promote violence. Look up edl red watch its a site where they list all their enemies, it's terrifying! They need to be stopped, I want an equal Britain not one where ordinary people are scared of walking the streets for fear of being assaulted by racists.

[DandyFloss]

LittlePeaPod - My children are not Muslim, from what I understood, EDL are against Islam extremism. I have no experience of the EDL, have never seen a march or met a supporter.

[nennypops]

Flaflafla: why on earth does anyone need to "stand up to Muslims" any more than they need to stand up to Protestants, Roman Catholics, Buddhists, Jews, Hindi, Sikhs, Seventh Day Adventists, Scientologists, Atheists or anyone else? What we need to stand up to is criminals, whatever their religion, and you simply cannot claim that all members of any one religion are more guilty of serious crime than members of any other.