Open societies are prone to destructive as well as constructive influence, indeed they thrive on the influence of dissenting opinions. Unfortunately, Britain’s open society has transitioned away from a healthy toleration of dissent from its Muslim community, toward ignoring them and assuming they are still expressing healthy dissent. Their best hope is to acknowledge the very real threat their neighbors pose and confront them at their ideological source. At its core, the threat of violence is spread and amplified by emotional rhetoric. The rhetoric’s target is the intelligent Muslim youth who are encouraged not to reconcile their life with the lives of their less fortunate Muslim brothers who suffer intolerable wrongs. The wrongs, according to the rhetoric, are deliberate acts by aggressive forces that must be fought. Glory can only come from struggle against an oppressive foe, hence the reason why “Peace Corp”-like organizations are not currently swamped with Muslim volunteers. I believe that Blair’s goals could be achieved through aggressive social outreach programs organized by trained NGOs who perform heavy recruiting for Britain’s intelligent Muslim youth into “Peace Corp”-like organizations. That said, if the Brits stop ignoring the threat next door, it’s not too difficult for them to demonstrate how each British citizen can be a part of the solution.
AUGUST 2002 British Royal Marines saved a Peace Corps Volunteer who was kidnapped in a local rebellion in Malaysia by a Moslem leader. The terrorists announced that they were going to hang their prisoners if their demands were not met. A contingent of British Marines landed at Limbang and freed the hostages only hours before the first execution was scheduled. Five Marines were killed in this action.
Programs that included the kind of lesson the event above articulates would be a productive way to prevent Britons from facilitating the threat they face from homegrown terror.
Precisely. In my view and as you said: transitioning away from a healthy toleration of dissent.. ignoring and making assumptions are, in fact, weaknesses that have been and will be exploited & manipulated further if allowed to continue.
Good points. Thanks.