Here are some things
which you keep telling us about the EDL (no, not that EDL).
What you say: Tommy
Robinson has changed his name.
What you think it
means: Tommy Robinson is a sneaky and devious character, who can't be
trusted.
What it actually means:
Tommy Robinson has adopted a pseudonym for his activities with the
EDL (no, not that EDL). People are allowed to do this; it is after
all his name that we're talking about. You don't mention Sting's
birth name every time you run an article about him. Or the Queen's.
What you say: Tommy
Robinson has been found guilty of crimes.
What you think it
means: Tommy Robinson is a Criminal, and the EDL (no, not that EDL)
are all thugs.
What it actually means:
Tommy Robinson has committed crimes. A small difference perhaps, but
constantly defining people who have committed crimes by them gives
very little incentive or opportunity for reform.
What you say: The EDL
(no, not that EDL) are bad at spelling.
What you think it
means: These people are stupid and uneducated. Laugh at them!
What it actually means:
Either the (presumably) English education system doesn't teach
everyone good spelling by the time they can or do leave it, or not
everyone thinks spelling is as important as people who write for a
living do. Either way, using this to sneer at (predominantly) white,
working-class men isn't going to help the fight to prevent the far
right from hijacking this demographic's sense of identity.
What you say: The EDL
(no, not that EDL) are like the Nazis.
What you think it
means: They are evil, like the Nazis.
What it actually means:
You haven't heard of Godwin's law, and don't know anything about the
Nazis. The Nazis were always a politically-orientated group, with
clear goals and targets and a charismatic leadership. The EDL (no,
not that EDL) are not.
Now can we please get on
with demolishing their ideology, instead of repeating the same
clumsy attempts at character assassination? It shouldn't take long.
Thanks.
