Proposed march through Wooton Bassett

[FrozenNorth]

Here

Initially saw this on the BBC but this link gives a bit more detail. I support everyone's right to free speech but ... dear goodness, this seems to be exceptionally bad taste. My DH is an army doctor and, during his time in a free Afgan clinic for civilians run by the army, saved many Afgan lives. He's going out there again in January. I can imagine I'd be incredibly distressed if he'd lost his life in the conflict and somebody wrote to me explaining what he'd 'really' died for. Ugh. Maybe it's just my personal bias, but I can't help feel that the proposed march is sited to cause maximum potential for violent conflict and to cause maximum hurt to those who are bereaved.

No, it's wrong.

Personally, I am against the war, but Wootton Bassett has become a place for returning service men and women to come home and be honored for their sacrifice. It's a bit like a safe zone, and wouldn't be right to turn the place into a political statement.

The rest of the UK is available for that.

I would go

To support our troops/towns people. this is where UK law is crap

Presumably it won't be allowed to go ahead on public safety grounds, given it's so contentious?

very bad taste imo

I agree, very bad taste.

What Ilovemydog said

But then- are we expecting too much froman extremist group? If it were moderate Muslims I would be surprised if they considered it, but article says extremist and extremism is by nature lacking in empathy.

Hope it can be stopped without either banning them (giving them points in their heads) or causing comflict.

the whole thing is political, including people turning out for british soldiers. But they shouldnt start a war of the coffins, and especially one defined by a muslim group, when so many people of all religions are against the war.

In principle, I think it is a good idea to have a funeral for Afghans. The route should end at 10 Downing St though.

Those who are worried about bad taste, would you worry about bad taste if the funeral was for Afghan civilian victims, or are you worried that it's for the Afghan resistance? Or do you just not want to see the whole issue of Afghan dead in the headlines?

Peachy, I think they are just going for publicity for the whole issue tbh.

Or why not a funeral for all victims, in London?

nighbynnight the only isue I have re taste is that it is in Wootton Bassett, a palce aspeoplesaid that ahs become apalceof remembrance for our troops.

If it were anywhere else (within reason- anywhere without similar connotations), I would positively support it (with a caveat of non aggressive protest/ funeral)

I dont see it like that myself, people are people wherever you are, and a briton doesnt have more or less value than an afghan, whether you are in wooton basset or timbuktu.

but I still wouldnt do this proposed march, because it looks more political than humanitarian.
I dont like politicising the dead, whether they are brits or afghans, and this seems to be just doing that.

You have twisted my words to make something horrible and completely unlike me in any way whatsoever, I do not appreciate it.

Maybe I should ahve said the parade at Wootton Bassett- but isn't that what WB is best known for these days? I mean, I live fairly close by, and know nothing els eabout the palce whatsoever.

All lives are equal, that doesn't mean its OK to upset mourners for publicity, the soldiers have mothers, fathers too, just like the Afghan people, and deserve a chance to celebrate /remember them in peace also. The people who attend the parades go for many reasons- quite a lot areoldsoldiers paying tribute not just to the dead but to those lost in past conflicts, often friends and family. A fair few don't supporet ythe war either- I'd go if I was able, but I don't support the war.

And to be frank, I think the Afghan (pakistani and other people) who dies have a right to be remembered as human beings, not as pawns in a game.

X posts on some bits

what are they marching for? i can't open the link

'Extremist group Islam4UK are organising a march in the coming weeks, which they claim will be in honour of muslims killed in the Afghanistan conflict.

'

They say they won'tclash with any exisiting mourning aprades which is a big plus, but truth be told I think their plan to use coffins would cause massive upset.

I agree that N010 or Houses of Parliament would be a better place

what a shit name Islam4Uk, sounds like Gold4U

doubt it will go ahead because of public disorder etc and even if it did would more than likely be 20 loons being shouted down by 500 other people

Taken from the article :

"" Islam4UK, a platform for the global front Al-Muhajiroun, claim 500 people will attend their event and plan to parade symbolic coffins down the same street.

The group?s leader Anjem Choudary, 42, said the event would be peaceful and not timed to coincide with any mourning processions.

He said: "The British public is blissfully unaware of what?s being done in their name. More than 10,000 innocent men women and children are being slaughtered.

?You may see one or two coffins being returned to the UK every other day, but when you think about the people of Afghanistan its a huge number (being killed) in comparison.

?I intend to write a letter to the parents of British soldiers telling them the reality of what they died for.?

Choudary, a former lawyer and self-styled sharia judge, also claims that some families of the dead soldiers had offered him their support for the event.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who represents Wootton Basset, was doubtful the march would actually go ahead.

Gray said: ?I?ve seen in the past assorted groups threaten to march, but they don?t actually do it. I wouldn?t think they?d get permission from the police. ""

but the point about WB is that the people arent relatives, surely, just townspeople who come out?

So the group is saying that they should come out for afghan victims too, or show that they dont value them. I dont think this is particularly constructive - but of course I do think that people should give equal respect to afghan dead.

sorry, I did not mean to upset you peachy, your words did appear to imply what I assumed. But I have "known" you on mn for many years as a very reasonable person.

What does Islam4Uk mean?

If its Islam for the (in support of) the UK, great

if its Islam for all residenst of the UK- er no

I hope its the first, massive supporter of multi cultuuralism, but who knows?I imagine a lot of BNP types would choose toaccept the lessfriendly option IYKWIM.

Can anyone tell me, i'd be interested to know. It'snot a group i'veencountered but its been a few years since I studied Islam in any depth now.

what a shit name Islam4Uk, sounds like Gold4U

fair enough nighbynight, I really don't think of itmlike that though.

I think the timeof WB being a townspoeple thing has long gone; many peoplego on buses now,and IME (which is limited obv) they tend to be old soldiers and similar. I suppose it'slike at a funeral sometimes you can end up mourning for all the people you'velost not just the one there- or is that just me?

I do understand that idea of people of WB can show respect to anybody who is dead, but WB doesn't just 'come out'for the coffins, they pass by on their way to the palce where theya re buried after being flown in. I think that'sdifferent to a staged thing, and tbh the best and most useful thing would be toprotest where they can maximise
publicity without being seen as sparking disruption (and BNP types will massively be stirriing that for a start), becuase the best way to respect all the dead in this is to find a way to withdraw peacefully.

From the link:

Islam4UK has announced the ?momentous march? on their website saying: ?The proposed march by members of Islam4UK is?not in memory of the occupying and merciless British military, but rather the real war dead who have been shunned by the Western media and general public as they were and continue to be horrifically murdered in the name of Democracy and Freedom ? the innocent Muslim men, women and children.?

?It is quite extraordinary, that with well over 100,000 Muslims killed in Afghanistan in the last 8 years that those military serviceman who have directly or indirectly contributed to their death are paraded as war heroes and moreover honoured for what is ultimately genocide."

These are clearly Not Very Nice People. Who don't deserve any support at all.

Quite different from someone organising a protest to remember all the victims of the war, or even to remember the civilian dead.