Topic: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow (Read 9,782 times)
oldpunkette Guest
Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Thread Started on Jul 7, 2007, 3:15pm »
I had second thoughts this morning. Having boasted on here that I would attend the Muslim-organised 'not in our name' anti-terrorism rally in Glasgow and bring back photos, I found myself this morning a little under the weather having been up to stupid o'clock drinking beer and chatting up the young, handsome, educated and politically moderate JSG posse in the chatroom last night . . . but I'm a woman of my word, so I dragged my sorry ass into town.
Also, I REALLY REALLY wanted this demo to be HUGE, and to be truly unified, to show some of the more anti-Mussie posters on JSG that the Muslim community were willing to stand up and say 'not in our name', with the support of other Scots. I REALLY REALLY wanted to come on here smug, and tell you how wonderful Scots are, even the Muslim ones, and how we all stood together.
My bloke Gothboy had been in at his work this morning and had retired to the pub with some colleagues, so I popped in to say Hi on my way to the demo. Gothboy was 4-pints politically volatile and expressed an uncharacteristic desire to come along to the demo. He said:
"No, we need to stand together and let the world know there are no excuses for terrorism and we're all proud to be Scottish and stand together."
So the two of us popped along to George Square and here are our photos.
I would make the following observations:
1 - The turnout was really low. Less even than the last anti-war in Iraq demo. 2 - The crowd appeared to be racially very mixed, but judge for yourselves.
The problem was that many of the demonstraters appeared to have misheard the call for unity against terrorism as a call to find the excuses for terrorism. In his politically volatile state I had to physically drag Gothboy away from a Friends of Palestine type stall as he was telling them in no uncertain terms that there was no place for them at a unity rally.
He is still raging, sitting here ranting in full red mist some hours later at what he sees as a 'hi-jack' of the cause.
So here are the photos. Judge for yourselves if Gothboy is right to be raging.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #2 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:24pm »
Quote:
I hoped you'd keep your promise
Just saw it on the news. The BBC say about 1500 people. Would that be about right? It looked heavily white to me.
There were not 1,500 people there. There were 400 or 500.
I had been expecting a turnout of thousands, as had most commentators by the way, so the turn-out was shockingly low given the big 'up' the demo has been being given by the Scottish media all week.
Joined: Mar 2006 Gender: Female Posts: 6,125 Location: Warwickshire UK
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #3 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:28pm »
Quote:
I hoped you'd keep your promise
Just saw it on the news. The BBC say about 1500 people. Would that be about right? It looked heavily white to me.
It does look heavily white. Here and there an Asian face, but mainly white and not really any placards about Islamic extremists. I hope no one is going to tell me that the moderate Muslims came out to denounce the extremists in their midst because I can't see them.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #5 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:29pm »
Quote:
Quote:
I hoped you'd keep your promise
Just saw it on the news. The BBC say about 1500 people. Would that be about right? It looked heavily white to me.
There were not 1,500 people there. There were 400 or 500.
I had been expecting a turnout of thousands, as had most commentators by the way, so the turn-out was shockingly low given the big 'up' the demo has been being given by the Scottish media all week.
I guessed as much, listening to the BBC News on the radio at intervals during this afternoon - NOT ONE WORD ABOUT THIS.
So much for the host of Muslims who, according to the MCB, were willing to ally themselves with the wider public.
I knew I had them figured right.
What's the ballpark figure of the Glasgow Muslim population, OP
Edit: Thanks for taking the trouble. Your pics are very conclusive.
Further edit: BBC have just announced on the radio that 1500 attended this demo.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #6 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:31pm »
Excellent report, punkette.
From your description and photos it seems clear that a whole load of fervent campaigners missed the point as usual. I say as usual because I see it all the time, people who will not realise that their leech like behaviour just puts out the spark.
Gothboy is right to be raging. But it's possible for a dedicated group to pull this back. I guarantee that there were a high number of 'moderate muslims' who feared that this is how the march would go and stayed home because they imagined trouble. Some even imagined violence.
The only answer is to hold repeated demonstrations and publicly ask groups not to bring their other pet projects with them, privately explaining to them that once the cause has gained the full support from the moderates they will be in a better position to flog their wares.
It sadly does look like a flop. I hope they will continue with it.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #7 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:34pm »
Two separate Palestinian organisations had stalls.
And, as you have seen, there were plenty of banners saying the way to stop terrorism was to end the war in Iraq, or whatever.
What finally pushed Gothboy over the edge is the handmade banner I have posted which talks of terrorism by the English, US and Israeli Governments . . I thought he was going to deck the guy holding it.
To the best of my knowledgeg the English Government does not exist, and neither the US or Israeli government have driven blazing jeeps into my airport recently.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #8 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:35pm »
Well that tells us all we need to know. The number of them that actually eschew terrorism is pathetically, abysmally small compared to the ones that give excuses or support it.
Did the one bleating about Iraq explain why there was muslims terrorism in Bosnia or against inuits then?
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #9 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:36pm »
Quote:
Excellent report, punkette.
From your description and photos it seems clear that a whole load of fervent campaigners missed the point as usual. I say as usual because I see it all the time, people who will not realise that their leech like behaviour just puts out the spark.
Gothboy is right to be raging. But it's possible for a dedicated group to pull this back. I guarantee that there were a high number of 'moderate muslims' who feared that this is how the march would go and stayed home because they imagined trouble. Some even imagined violence.
The only answer is to hold repeated demonstrations and publicly ask groups not to bring their other pet projects with them, privately explaining to them that once the cause has gained the full support from the moderates they will be in a better position to flog their wares.
It sadly does look like a flop. I hope they will continue with it.
Quote:
I guarantee that there were a high number of 'moderate muslims' who feared that this is how the march would go and stayed home because they imagined trouble. Some even imagined violence.
Pullleeeaasssee!
Someone else just hit the nail on the head - they thought there would be a backlash - then decided there wouldn't be - so couldn't be @rsed to cover their @rses.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #11 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:42pm »
BTW, the 'Muslims' (moderate or otherwise) are not at home hiding behind closed curtains for fear of a backlash today. They are out and about as normal of a Saturday . . they just couldn't be bothered protesting about terrorism.
I feel a bit like the call was made, and they did not heed the call.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #12 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:44pm »
Quote:
And btw, Jilona fair play to you girl. I think I accused you of cynicism earlier in the week when I first expressed what i hoped for from this demo.
You were right and I was wrong. (and I REALLY wanted to be right on this one!)
(Gothboy has now fallen asleep on the couch, which is a relief really as he was just ranting and raging about it.)
Don't ever be fooled by the hype OP - it means bugger all.
There will be a concentrated effort by this government to conjure the illusion of unity, gag free speech and cover their @rses for a situation that they have to take ultimate responsibility for.
However, after the next successful attempt, it's likely that they will be forced to act in the interests of the wider population. The trouble is that innocent people will pay an awful price first.
Meanwhile, the Police, the NHS and Christ knows, perhaps the Security Services are being infiltrated by scum.
Re: Anti-Terrorism Demo in Glasgow « Reply #14 on Jul 7, 2007, 3:53pm »
Quote:
Two separate Palestinian organisations had stalls.
And, as you have seen, there were plenty of banners saying the way to stop terrorism was to end the war in Iraq, or whatever.
What finally pushed Gothboy over the edge is the handmade banner I have posted which talks of terrorism by the English, US and Israeli Governments . . I thought he was going to deck the guy holding it.
To the best of my knowledgeg the English Government does not exist, and neither the US or Israeli government have driven blazing jeeps into my airport recently.
I think the point was that we should be against terrorism no matter who commits it, whether it be governments, organisations or individuals. Which, to be fair, is a valid point.
As to whether the governments in question have done anything wrong...debatable issue. Which, incidently, I don't have time to debate because I have to be at a restaurant in an hour and a half and I haven't even done my hair yet ^^
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