It’s interesting how far away conflict can have impacts elsewhere. This picture shows three people engaged in selling poppies to raise money for veterans at Charing Cross Station in central London. As you can see they are lost in a sea of pro-Palestinian protestors. Their faces say it all. The response both of much of the Left, and many, many British Muslims to October 7th and Israel’s campaign against Hamas has made many folk realise just what a bloody mess we’re in here.
Tomorrow is Armistice Day, the anniversary of the guns falling silent at 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Until the Second World War the 11th was the day when Remembrance ceremonies were held in the UK. During the war this was moved to the second Sunday in November so that the activities did not interfere with war production etc. This was continued after the war, with smaller events on the 11th itself and the main events on the Sunday. In recent years both days have grown, with the centenary of the First World War and the fact that many have much more recent loved ones to remember who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. The whole national consciousness of Remembrance is much greater than it was a decade ago.
For the last few weeks, Saturdays in central London, and other cities, have seen pretty big demonstrations in support of “Palestine” and calling for a ceasefire. I.E. demos doing Hamas’s bidding, unsurprising as half of the folk organising these demos are former Hamas leaders now living in the UK. These demos seem to be made of equal amounts of Muslims and white middle class lefties. It has been suggested that it might be a good idea for them to take the weekend off, given that this year the 1th, Armistice Day is Saturday, with Remembrance Sunday right after. This suggestion has fallen on deaf ears.
There is a fundamental clash here. While Remembrance is apolitical, something that unites people of different races, faiths, ages, and political affiliations across the country, it is inescapably British and obviously focusses on the military. The lefties, and the Hamas types HATE this. In the last week or so we have seen poppy sellers intimidated and even attacked. “Free Palestine” was sprayed onto the war memorial in Rochdale, a heavily Muslim town. The Cenotaph in Whitehall has been disrespected and defiled during previous demos. To have a gathering of 100,000+ of these folk in central London while various different ceremonies are going on is simply inappropriate. It’s a truly bad idea.
Usually demonstrations are held to gain support. The insistence on going ahead is causing a great downturn in sympathy for their cause, which suggests that these demos are not conventional demos. They are demonstrations FOR something, but a demonstration OF something. That thing is power, physical power to flood the streets with thousands and thousands of people, and psychological power over our pathetic Establishment.
The fact that the organisers have refused all requests to reconsider has caused growing anger, not just with right wing nutters like me, but real, ordinary people. There was a groundswell, many people saying they were going to simply turn up on Saturday to observe the two minutes silence and protect the Cenotaph. Then, of course, the MSM got wind that there might be, (are you sitting down?) “Far Right” people turning up. Well, duh. The fairly obvious fact that the likes of the English Defence League will turn up for something like this has now become the big thing. The fact that former Hamas leaders are once again, going to take over the streets of London is nothing compared to the idea that a few knuckle dragging hooligans might turn up to oppose them. Funny how massive demonstrations being riddled with support for Hamas, organised pretty much by Hamas is ok, but a few racists being among thousands turning up to oppose that is the real problem?
It is quite likely that there’ll be trouble in London tomorrow. The Police here have shown a distinct tendency to go in hard and fast on crowds gathering to protect Britain’s memorials, just as they have soft pedalled with those who would desecrate and destroy them. The numbers in involved could be huge. Certainly the Hamas mob have put over 100,000 on streets recently, they’re claiming they’ll have half a million tomorrow. London is a heavily lefty and Muslim city, and busses will be ferrying Muslims down from places like Rochdale, Bradford and Dewsbury, it’s quite possible. Those gathering to oppose them could be anything from a few dozen to tens of thousands, maybe more, but I doubt they’ll even approach half the number of the Hamas mob. Unlike the other mob, there is no central organisation or well funded structure. Either way, it could turn very ugly.
On Sunday I’ll be taking an active part in the Act of Remembrance at Hampton Court. For the last couple of years on the 11th, I’ve gone to the Western Front Association ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall. Part of me wants to go along for that tomorrow and be part of whatever happens, part of me thinks I’d be better off getting ready for Sunday. I’m still very much in two minds. I’ll decide in the morning, but I have a funny feeling I’ll regret my decision, whatever it is.