OT - Manchester again.

[ramAnag]

Re Lucy C, to make it easier, I don't defend her inflammatory rantings but I feel the punishment was not altogether proportionate. However that's past history now, so really no point debating her.

But how is her case any different to, say, radical Imams calling for followers to rise up and slay the infidel? I'm sure in the fullness of time Jihad al Shami will be shown to have been radicalised by one or more individuals and causes. What will happen to his mentors who could arguably be said to have successfully achieved what the likes of Lucy C failed to do. Those that influenced Jihad to act how he did are equally culpable for yesterday's actual murders - but will they face the weight of the law? We will see but I'm not putting money on it.

Jihad was just a pawn in a sinister game played by people far higher up the food chain - not excusing his actions but suggesting there are bigger wider issue in play here that will likely be placed under the carpet.

And so the process will continue and these attacks will not be isolated. Those who instigate them will remain in the shadows while the footsoldiers are sacrificed. There's always another volunteer to be persuaded and (based on performances so far) those "teachers" (no disrespect rA) will remain outside prosecution/deportation/whatever as a disruptive scar on our society, hell bent on ensuring that a harmonious diverse society will never happen. Muslim Farages if you will.

Yet Lucy C served her time, achieved nothing and noone will remember her name by this time next year (Andy's forgotten it already!).

The law punishes the stupid failures, they are easy targets, yet the real villains of this piece go undetected or unchallenged.

Hate to use the expression 2 tier justice (that epithet isn't Starmer's alone) it's more of a global challenge.

Okay, point by point.

Lucy Connolly. Glad we agree, up to a point, although I doubt she’s past history. Suspect she’ll continue to resurface as some sort of ridiculous Reform martyr.

Personally I agree there is little difference and I don’t disagree with your portrayal of ‘Muslim Farage’s’. All as bad as each other, as are some of the Jewish hierarchy hence my comments about fundamentalists and extremists. We should not forget however that Jihad al Shami is, justifiably, dead and the perpetrator of the Southport attack, equally justifiably, imprisoned for life. Hardly ‘2 tier justice’ then.

I’m not going to disagree with your comments about foot soldiers, volunteers, real villains etc either. That all too often seems to be the case, right from wartime scenarios through to organised crime.

Where I think we disagree is that, while I share your belief that all extremism works against the ‘harmonious, diverse society’ you speak of, you are allowing your anger and frustration to encourage you to side more with one (or two) particular groups (while demonising the other) and I am opposed to all forms of fundamentalist and extremist behaviour.

As regards Starmer…he doesn’t always get things right and there’s no point in pretending otherwise, but you immediately dragging him into this week’s Manchester response was, imo, uncalled for. He is just trying to stop the spread of ‘hate’. The exact opposite of Lucy Connolly and the radical Imams.