Is Anti-Racism Working?
Anti-Fascist Action hosted an afternoon of film and discussion at the Lux cinema in East London. Following the films, which included the first public screening of the controversial Routes of Racism, a panel of speakers debated the question "Is anti-racism working?" As part of the annual weekend of events, AFA staged an Anti-Fascist Film Festival in conjunction with the Lux Cinema. The series of events culminated in a film show and debate with speakers invited to question current anti-racist policies. The three films provided a powerful backdrop to the debate highlighting the devastating consequences of fascism, sectarian bigotry, and racism.
It was the last film, Routes of Racism, which provided the most direct spring-board for the debate. Set in Greenwich in South East London, Roger Hewitt's film, based on his study of the same name, explored the effects of anti-racist policies on people living in a borough, which has seen three racist murders in recent years. Young white working class people, and local youth workers, questioned the traditional, liberal approach to anti-racism. Many interviewed for the film, argued that anti-racism promoted double standards. It was argued that this clumsy application of anti-racist practice created a perception among some, that Black and Asian people are favoured over Whites. The film highlighted how, in this context, young people increasingly expressed their anger and frustration through racism and racist attacks. The second half of this thought provoking film gave a voice to the victims of race attacks who talked movingly about their experience, fear and anger at being terrorised by local race attackers.
The debate was wide-ranging and dynamic. The speakers, Dr Roger Hewitt, Gary Younge from the Guardian, Weyman Bennett from the ANL, and AFA's Gary O'Shea, debated a range of themes. There was substantial agreement with the film's content and the broad debate increasingly centered onto issues of class and race. It was noted that in many working class areas, people of all different cultures and backgrounds do successfully live alongside each other. However, genuine problems do exist and it was argued that these should be faced honestly. It was good to hear a debate on race give proper consideration to the issue of class. While there was a range of perspectives on this issue, it was agreed in broad terms that race and class are interwoven and as such any response must face up to both issues.
AFA had invited a broad range of speakers to respond to the fundamental question posed by the film: "Is anti-racism working?" importantly, AFA showed its willingness to open up a debate, long suppressed. Sadly, AFA's willingness to engage in such a public debate was not matched by all. Two confirmed speakers, Kumar Murshid (National Assembly Against Racism) and Lee Jasper (1990 Trust), ducked the debate at the last minute. Whether this reflects a lack of bottle or incompetence (as apparently Jasper in particular is known for failing to attend his speaking engagements), it is clear that their non-attendance prevented all voices in the debate from being heard. Gary O'Shea highlighted the impact of liberal immigration policies, which expected deprived communities to accept refugees with no additional financial help. He argued that the arrival of new refugees should be matched by new resources and funding, "in order to grease integration". The alternative was to set the "poor" against each other.
Precisely because he faithfully followed the ANL line that "the war is won" Bennett seemed most at sea in the subsequent two-hour debate. He played down the growth of the Far Right and race attacks, arguing that we have now achieved an anti-racist majority. The key strategy for the ANL as outlined by Bennett was to "prevent the Nazis becoming respectable". In response the AFA speaker stressed that anti-fascism's real task was the need to deny the Far Right the opportunity of presenting themselves as they have done so successfully in Europe as the "radical alternative". As ever, the ANL demonstrated their capacity to bury their heads in the sand, almost literally in the case of Bennett who on one occasion actually turned down the opportunity to comment. The AFA statement that multi-culturalism, though a fact was not a strategy, at least not a progressive one Younge felt might be "dangerous".
Overall the debate was interesting, and positively received, both by the speakers and the full house at the Lux Cinema. A member of the Socialist Party, was even heard to say "he enjoyed it!" Again it shows that AFA is taking a key role in constructively challenging current anti-racist practice. AFA continues to champion a debate in an area where many have feared to tread, placing class at the center of the race debate. AFA rightly presents the genuine extent of racism and race attacks, and the potential of the Far Right to capitalise on this situation. This debate was another important and positive step forward for AFA in this area.
Islam and Nazism - Fascist Islam
There are parallels between Islam and Nazism that we are taught to ignore because it does not conform with the tolerance level we have all been taught. Schools have been teaching students for 30 years to be tolerant of others of different religions, races and lifestyles. Some schools have taken the Holocaust out of their curriculum because it offends Muslims. Fascist Islam however is ignored, as are the likenesses between the two ideologies. The Nazi movement was based on the fact that some people were better than others. Led by Adolph Hitler, it operated under the theory that there was a master race of people that could conquer others. This was based on physical appearance. Although he did not fit the bill himself, Hitler wanted a master race of blue eyed blonds. There was no tolerance for anyone who did not fit into this ideal. Fascist Islam also preaches no tolerance for those who are not Muslims. This is one example of the relationship between Islam and Nazism.
Like the Nazis, the Jews are the target of Fascist Islam. Unlike Nazism, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and any other religion that is not Islam are also the target for radical Islamists who are taught, according to the Koran, to exterminate anyone not of their belief. Israel has long since been a thorn in the Middle East and terrorist attacks against the country are not uncommon. Islamic leaders have renounced Israel and do not speak up strongly against the attacks. The President of Iran, a radical Islamic country, has even stated that he wishes to blow the country off the map. Anti Jewish rhetoric and the desire to kill Jews is another parallel to Islam and Nazism. Like the Nazis, Fascist Islam followers prohibit freedom for groups other than their own. In some Islamic countries, other churches are not permitted to exist, as is the case with Saudi Arabia, the worst offender when it comes to Fascist Islam and who operate under the guise of being a friend to the United States. Whereas in western countries, Mosques are welcome, such is not the case in some Fascist Islam countries.
Islam and Nazism are very similar to one another, although it is not politically correct to make the comparison in the Western world, especially in the United States and the European Union as most people in these countries have been taught to be tolerant of different beliefs other than their own. Even after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when those in Fascist Islam countries were filmed celebrating in the streets, comparisons between Islam and Nazism were considered extremist views. The rhetoric regarding Jews, Christians and westerns that is similar to the rhetoric spawned by the Nazis is ignored and any comparisons to Islam and Nazism are swept under the carpet as Western countries continue to try to make peace with those who are practicing Fascist Islam.
Despite terror attacks that still persist today, the West continues to ignore Islamic extremism that urges the extermination of anyone who is not of this faith.
Arab Anti-Semiticism - Just A Brand Of Arab Fascism
Arab anti-Semiticism runs rife and is causing a whole new wave of anti-semiticism throughout the world. Jews are once again the target of fascism. Only this time, it is Arab fascism. Israel is seen as the big bad wolf by some in the western world, including the media, and the plight of the Palestinians has caused them to become the new favorite victim of those who use the situation for political purposes. While many decry fascism in theory, they turn a blind eye towards Arab fascism and take up collections for Palestinians. Never mind that Israel has been a target for bombings for the past 40 years. Never mind that prior to the recent Gaza Strip fighting Palestinians were launching attack missiles to Israel. Never mind the bus bombs, shopping center bombs and suicide attacks that are a regular occurrence in Israel. People are quick to condemn Israel for having the gall to protect themselves against the threat of Arab fascism.
Unlike any other type of hatred that encompasses an entire group of people, Arab anti-semiticism is accepted as a matter of course. The recent waves of Arab anti-Semiticism has promoted an entire new type of behavior towards Jews and Israel that has not been seen since the early 1930s. That was when six million of them were rounded up and killed by Nazi fascists. Although the west vowed to never let that happen again, it is happening again. A leader of a sovereign nation in the Middle East has promised to blow Israel off the map and is trying to amass nuclear power to do it. And the new President of the United States is willing to sit down and talk to this leader and recently went as far to extend an olive branch to him, which was spurned. Still, people do not get it. Arab fascism is a matter of course in the Middle East and is also spreading throughout the world.
The United States is also a target for Arab anti-semiticism. Forty percent of the Jewish population in the world lives in the United States. Forty percent lives in Israel. The other twenty percent are scattered throughout the world, mostly in Europe and Canada. Arab anti-semiticism, that seems to be growing stronger, would wipe out another six million people. Nothing is being done about Arab fascism. To the contrary, countries like the United States are willing to talk to leaders that have murderous intentions towards innocents. This is like Winston Churchill going over to talk to Hitler. People do not see the problem nor do they want to see it. In the west, it is common to teach your children to respect all people. This is especially true in the United States, a nation made up of immigrants. Yet Arab fascism does not work that way. Arab anti-semiticism runs so deep that although Arabs are allowed to worship as they please in Israel, the same is not afforded Israel or other religions in many Arab countries. There is no amount of talking that is going to change an ideology such as Arab fascism.