I NOTE that two of your columnists, Neil Mackay ("White supremacy is a white disease and it's spreading", The Herald, March 19) and Stephen Naysmith, ("Challenge ‘them and us’ or see terrorist narratives flourish", The Herald, March 16) have, in the wake of the abhorrent Christchurch atrocity, chosen to debate the growing issue of white supremacist movements.
Both journalists correctly highlight that it is not only the perpetrators of a "them and us" narrative who must shoulder responsibility for such unforgivable acts, but also those who fail to challenge them. White supremacist movements have become mainstreamed and normalised in recent times, not only as a response to the perceived threat of radical groups such as Islamic State but also due to the erosion of accepted political and economic norms in Western democracies.
Brenton Tarrant, the alleged mass murderer in Christchurch and individuals like Anders Breivik, who visited the same on innocent young people in Norway, are labelled as "lone wolves", so-called deranged individuals who act outside societal influence. However, these men and their actions are the result of a worldwide political and cultural shift in which ideologies like white supremacy have been normalised and popularly accepted.
In the UK, Boris Johnson pilloried Muslim women in the right-wing press, referring to veiled women as "letter boxes" and "bank robbers". Significantly, a Conservative Party panel later cleared him of accusations of hate speech and deemed his remarks to be examples of satire. Tangible evidence, any impartial observer would conclude, that the Conservative Party continues to have substantial issues with Islamophobia. Clearly, intolerance and deep-rooted prejudice are not restricted to parties like Ukip or individuals like the publicity hungry Tommy Robinson and are no longer festering on the margins of British and world political life.
President Trump has a long history of anti-Muslim rhetoric and his (and indeed, Mr Johnson's, as well as Jacob Rees-Mogg's) relationship with the violently anti-Muslim, former editor of Breitbart News, Steve Bannon, is well documented. Tellingly, the President has categorically denied that the events in Christchurch may have emanated from a rise in the white supremacy movement across the globe.
Mr Mackay is accurate to state that we must examine the reasons for a rise in support for groups like the white supremacists and direct anti-radicalisation programmes more broadly in schools and in the community. Democracies must be proactive and pay more than lip service to tackling far-right ideologies.
Doctrines of hate must be challenged by those in authority, by politicians of all hues and by those responsible for publicising opinions and messages through the mass media. Bigotry and discrimination are born from fear and those in authority in all walks of life must lead by example and challenge any recognisable threat to a tolerant, inclusive and multi-cultural society.
Turning a blind eye to the popularisation of white supremacy is no longer an option.
Owen Kelly,
8 Dunvegan Drive,
Stirling.
I REFER to both Neil Mackay's article and Margaret Taylor's article ("Online threats are scary, but they will not silence women", The Herald, March 19).
Mr Mackay wrote about white supremacy and Ms Taylor wrote about male violence; they are both different sides of the same coin.
There will be those who say you must protect free speech. But freedom of speech comes with responsibilities. Individuals are responsible for respecting others' rights to speak, write, live where they want to live, be what they want to be, and not to cause harm or injury to anyone, to show compassion and understanding. If this is not possible, the full strength of the law should be employed.
Margaret Forbes,
Corlic Way,
Kilmacolm.
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