A personal reflection on the Mumbai atrocity
What al-Qaeda seeks to do is to stage operations of such spectacular cruelty that public anger turns on Muslim minorities or backs harsh new repressions that unify the fearful and deliver them to the militants.
From a Times editorial following the Mumbai attacks.
I believe very strongly that we need to understand this point.
Many actions taken since 9/11 and other atrocities have only delivered yet more followers into the hands of al-Qaeda and it’s ilk.
I do not favour sitting back and doing nothing, but it is vital that the West and it’s allies demonstrates that their way is better. To date what has happened is that secular society has come under attack, religious extremists of all kinds hold greater sway and al-Qaeda has succeeded in eroding personal liberties in most democracies and generating race and religious hatred.
This has been aided in many instances by the passivity of many Muslims; coupled with a folk memory of centuries past in a number of European countries. In addition, there is what might be described as the unholy alliance between the aims of al-Qaeda and of neo-fascists such as the BNP in Britain. Both want the same thing, ethnically pure society based on hate.
It is important that we do not let the lunatics take over the asylum. This does not mean weak acceptance, but it does mean standing up to intolerance, bigotry and racism and exposing it.
I have no desire to live in a theocratic society of any kind, nor in one that is intolerant or racist.
We cannot let fanatics of any kind win this contest of ideas.
Let us realise that religious/political extremists of all kinds seek to compel us to live life the way they want us to live it. They are all inimical to freedom. They must all be resisted.
I agree with Dr Singh.
I said 20 years ago that Islam is that the greatest threat to western civilisation and every day I feel vindicated in that view.
I think we have gone too far. Enough is enough. Something has to be done now.