EDL members join Sikhs in protest.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....y-grooming-girls.html

Does this unseemly alliance prove that there is a problem?

[hc4361]

Yes, it proves the EDL will sink to any depths in their fight against Islam.

The Sikh community didn't invite the EDL.

[ummmm]

I don't understand the point you are trying to make?

[boxtops]

They'll jump on any bandwagon to prove their point.

[anotheoldgit]

/// They'll jump on any bandwagon to prove their point. ///

Perhaps there is a point to be proven?

[hc4361]

I thought the EDL claimed that some Muslim men groomed underage white girls for sex because they, as a class of people, consider white girls 'fair game'.
Now it appears that they believe they were wrong about this, and and is now saying some Muslims will groom any girl for sex, regardless of colour or faith.

Interestingly, the elders of the local Muslim and Sikh communities have met to discuss the issue and conclude the EDL is the threat.

Of course it is wrong to lump everyone in the same box. No doubt there are some Sikhs who side with the EDL re Muslims, probably young hot heads looking for a ruck. This does not make it the view of the majority.

The EDL will recruit anyone in their anti Islam 'war'.

[anotheoldgit]

hc4361

/// Yes, it proves the EDL will sink to any depths in their fight against Islam. ///

And do you consider it is 'sinking to any depths' to join with the Sikhs?

That is rather a 'racist' comment to make, don't you think?

I consider the Sikhs to be a proud and honourable people and worthy of any support, no matter from what organisation which may agree with their grievances.

And far from not being invited it seems that there is a special contact between the two for some time.

/// Two days after the protest, Sikhs and EDL members held a secret meeting in Luton to discuss a joint response to the problem. Both sides are said to have favoured acts of
vigilantism. ///

/// There has been unofficial contact between Sikhs and the EDL for some time, and the links were cemented at the protest. ///

[hc4361]

You have totally twisted my words and I don't thank you for it.

I said they will 'sink to any depths' in respect of that occasion because the EDL are trying to use the Sikh community for their own ends, not because they care about them. The EDL tried to hijack the demonstration to further their own cause against the Muslims, not to help or support the Sikhs.

I have huge respect for all the major faiths, the people of those faiths and firmly believe that we are all equal. There are bad people in every community and I will not be persuaded that a minority of evil people represent the whole.

I am white, English and male, the same as Ian Bradey. Thankfully beyond those basic facts we have nothing in common.

As I already said, there is very likely a number of Sikhs in contact with the EDL. They are not representative of the Sikh elders and are young hotheads looking for a ruck.

[Gromit]

No it proves some Sikhs are just as prejudiced as some white people.

[VHG]

>>>No it proves some Sikhs are just as prejudiced as some white people.

No it just proves that Sikhs are fed up with being "bundled together" under the generic term "Asian" describing certain people who groom young girls.

Certainly where I live, that has many "Asians", the Sikhs are well above that sort of thing and dont want to be associated with it.

[hc4361]

VHG - did you read the news report?

[Answerprancer]

"You have totally twisted my words and I don't thank you for it".
Too much Daily Mail reading perhaps.

AOG, once again you have posted a topic which is potentially inflammatory then when you get answers you don't like, you're all uppity.
You asked for opinions and you're getting them, don't get all arsey just because people disagree with you.

[anotheoldgit]

Answerprancer

/// Too much Daily Mail reading perhaps. ///

Can't you do any better than that, dragging up that old over used 'Daily Mail' bashing tactic, adds nothing to your argument.

"You have totally twisted my words and I don't thank you for it".

As regards this comment posted by hc4361, I was not twisting his words I was answering just what he himself had actually wrote.

/// AOG, once again you have posted a topic which is potentially inflammatory then when you get answers you don't like, you're all uppity. ///

I have posted a news topic, whether or not it is potentially inflammatory is entirely up to the feelings of those who read it, and I can't be held responsible for that.

Regarding your assumption that /// when you get answers you don't like, you're all uppity. ///

Where have I got uppity? unlike you I haven't used insulting words or insults because I have heard something that I disagree with.

/// You asked for opinions and you're getting them, don't get all arsey just because people disagree with you. ///

I don't mind opinions that is what this news section is all about, one posts a question and others answer with their opinions, but they are not expected to be accused with such inflammatory words such as 'Uppity' or 'arsey' which only lowers one's perceptions of the poster.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// No it proves some Sikhs are just as prejudiced as some white people. ///

Oh so in you continued defence of these particular groups of Muslims, you are not only blaming some white people (as is your regular vogue) but you are now also blaming some Sikhs.

I presume that when the Police finally clamp down on this increasing problem, you will also blame the Police.

[ChuckFickens]

"And do you consider it is 'sinking to any depths' to join with the Sikhs?

That is rather a 'racist' comment to make, don't you think? "

Since when did a religion become a race?

[sp1814]

AOG

Why do you consider this alliance 'unseemly'?

My understanding was that the EDL were formed as protest against the 'Islamification' of England. That being the case, if they did an alliance with Sikh leaders, wouldn't their race be irrelevant?

[anotheoldgit]

ChuckFickens

/// Since when did a religion become a race? ///

It seems it does not matter either way these days, the word 'Racist' gets banded about for all reasons, I just thought I would join in.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Why do you consider this alliance 'unseemly'? ///

It was a tongue in the cheek comment, seeing that the EDL are always classed as Racist 'bad guys' so one would not expect another ethnic minority group join an alliance with them?

But surely it is not against all possibility that others who are also effected by some Islamic problems, should not join in protest?

And haven't we all seen mixed groups of people from all races and creeds take to the streets to protest against a number of problems that they deem worthy of protest?

[FredPuli43]

Yes, aog, you have a point. 'Racism' does get used for religious discrimination. There is no single word for religious discrimination, whereas 'racism' can describe the other. Our discrimination law covers both, and it began as against racial discrimination,so people now tend to use 'racism' to cover both racial and religious disctrimination. And, in the case of 'Asians' nearly all Pakistani and Bangladeshi people are Muslim, hence being prejudiced generally against them could be either or both; 'racism' is convenient for both.

[sp1814]

Time for a little pre-lunch pedantry.

1. If you put 'unseemy' in quotes, I would have understood your irony.

2. In the context of that sentence, it should be 'affected' rather than 'effected' (I have to admit - when I include either word in a written sentence I have to say it out loud a couple of times before I know which one to use).

Back to your point - until Sikh leaders openly embrace the EDL and form a strong alliance, I don't think we view the actions of these men as significant.

Also - I wonder how many of the Sikh protesters actually knew they had EDL members in their midst?

[sp1814]

Actually - what this story suggests is that the EDL are opportunistic. They tried to pull the same stunt with a gay pride march lAst year (to get another minority onside.

They were not successful.