EDL watch

[Limerick Red]

Are these comments just on the Facebook page? Is this anti-EDL group stand-alone or is there overlap with the antifascist network?

ZERO overlap with the AFN, Nothing to do with them

 

[Citizen66]

Anti-fascism involves taking an anti-classist position also. I don't really understand anti-fascism that isn't coming from class-based politics. Is it fashionable? They don't understand the reasons why some of the white working class join the EDL etc. it isn't because they have a shit dentist.

 

[krink]

being a working class anti-fash with a broad cockney accent myself.

in my world view this is every cockney ever.

 

[krink]

or maybe this

 

[tony.c]

I'm bald, have a paunch and bad teeth. But I don't think I'm in some way superior to others like the racists do, so I don't see anything wrong in taking the piss out of them pointing out they are not the superior master race specimens they think they are.

 

[butchersapron]

You are a racist who has bad teeth so easily becomes you have bad teeth, you're a fascist (without even getting into the politics of collective provision of healthcare). Look at the responses norm got for how easily it slides. You can be all sorts of right wing slime as long as you're not racist it seems.

 

[krink]

don't forget, these facebook pages are also where any millitant anti-fascist is as bad as them.

 

[Limerick Red]

You are a racist who has bad teeth so easily becomes you have bad teeth, you're a fascist (without even getting into the politics of collective provision of healthcare). Look at the responses norm got for how easily it slides. You can be all sorts of right wing slime as long as you're not racist it seems.

Was once pointed out as known BNP at a UAF/RMT rally I was asked to help steward, this despite being less than 6 months in the country, when the person who pointed me (and a few other lads out) was confronted, we were told we were shaved headed, white, working class lads with tattoos we should expect to be mistaken for fash.

If I read the above, before I moved over here, I wouldnt have believed it, but it happened, Im sure plenty of people have similar stories.

 

[J Ed]

Anti-fascism involves taking an anti-classist position also. I don't really understand anti-fascism that isn't coming from class-based politics. Is it fashionable? They don't understand the reasons why some of the white working class join the EDL etc. it isn't because they have a shit dentist.

The EDL are bad cos they make me feel ashamed to be British, if the EDL had it their way you couldn't see Peruvian flute bands etc

 

[Pickman's model]

or maybe this

 

[albionism]

Indeed mate. I have often been mistaken for/presumed to be fash because of my shaved head
(i shave it 'cos i'm balding, but nether the less), my penchant for button down collar shirts and cockney accent.

 

[SpineyNorman]

Are these comments just on the Facebook page? Is this anti-EDL group stand-alone or is there overlap with the antifascist network?

It's the facebook group for the EDL news site. The site itself shows similar prejudices at times too just not quite as naked as what I saw yesterday.

 

[Limerick Red]

I would like to defend Mal here as well, I do take issue with some of the content on the Malatesta blog, but alot of it, especially the Facebook screengrabs etc, does go along way to smashing the "we're not racist, just concerned about militant Islam" veneer the EDL have tried to portray. I think this is very important work. Im not sure what else Mal is involved in, I do think the EDL news site, while having good content for Twitter/FB screengrabs, probably does more damage than good in its editorial attitudes.
Ive said this a few times before, but I think every antifascist group should think carefully about what they publish, and think to them selves, would this artical make someone on the fringes of the EDL, more or less likely to get involved?

 

[SpineyNorman]

I'm bald, have a paunch and bad teeth. But I don't think I'm in some way superior to others like the racists do, so I don't see anything wrong in taking the piss out of them pointing out they are not the superior master race specimens they think they are.

How do you think it looks to people who are tempted by the EDL but haven't decided yet - the kind of soft support we need to appeal to? When they see them being more concerned by bad teeth etc than a racist tattoo of a mosque being blown up? If they have bad teeth too - I know it pissed me off and made me think I have no common cause with these people - so I imagine the effect on people who aren't already committed antifascists is even worse.

And Malatesta won't distance himself from this scum. Very telling IMO

 

[J Ed]

Example of what Spiney is talking about from today:

Comedian gets stupid comment from an EDLer

Responds with bizarre comment affirming his sense of class superiority:

Well I very much doubt a suicide bomber would've payed to sit in first class dear boy. Would be a complete waste of the Al Qaeda petty cash. Also it's the quiet carriage so I doubt the old woman sat opposite would put up with it.

Some (totally unchallenged) responses from 'EDL News':

Joanne LoveHahaha!!! I love the response!!!
Francis 'Jesus' ThomasWell I sort of agree Paul, but it's the EDL he's talking to; Tesco is like Harrods to them.
Warren Lloyd I'm very ashamed to say that EDL do shop at Tesco, every other Tuesday afternoon is know to the staff as Giro Tuesday. In they come for ready meals, pork products and cheep cider.

 

[The39thStep]

Not convinced that 'the' racists do see themselves as someway superior. Aside from the handful of white racial nationalist most of this anti muslim stuff is based on a combination of 'they get treated differently/better to u and they are a threat to us security/cultural wise '. For a lot of people its the fear they they themselves are behing left behind in society and a feeling of hoplessnes in which they then blame the 'pakis/muzzis'. Anyone who followed how the BNP did well in Burnley several years ago will see how they contrasted the former glories of the town with its ailing present and how white people were victims of economic decline , globalisation and government policy.

Reminding them that they are wearing ill fitting suits, are not educated to degree level, have 'pasty' faces, bad dentistry, etc does nothing to get them to change their views whatsoever or to empower them to fight the real culprits about why they have been left behind.

 

[Pickman's model]

I'm bald, have a paunch and bad teeth

i used to think a meet of people off this thread would be a good idea. now i'm not so sure as i think most of us would look the same

 

[SpineyNorman]

I would like to defend Mal here as well, I do take issue with some of the content on the Malatesta blog, but alot of it, especially the Facebook screengrabs etc, does go along way to smashing the "we're not racist, just concerned about militant Islam" veneer the EDL have tried to portray. I think this is very important work. Im not sure what else Mal is involved in, I do think the EDL news site, while having good content for Twitter/FB screengrabs, probably does more damage than good in its editorial attitudes.
Ive said this a few times before, but I think every antifascist group should think carefully about what they publish, and think to them selves, would this artical make someone on the fringes of the EDL, more or less likely to get involved?

My problem with him is that he's not prepared to distance himself from these scumbags or condemn them in any way - his relationship with them is more important than what ought to be the most basic of principles. Nevermind that their class prejudices means they're not antifascists in any meaningful sense.

And his attempt to paint me as xenophobic when I made reference to Malatesta's work as an ice cream vendor. He should meet up with Laurie Penny, I think they'd get on.

 

[butchersapron]

*Applauds norms slow move towards anarchism*

 

[The39thStep]

*Applauds norms slow move towards anarchism*

I thought Malatesta was already an anarchist?

 

[SpineyNorman]

*Applauds norms slow move towards anarchism*

not quite - been enjoying reading a bit of autonomist stuff recently though.

 

[krink]

is there anyone who posts on this thread who isn't bald(ing), missing teeth, not-exactly-thin??

[apart from frogwoman, obv]

 

[DotCommunist]

is there anyone who posts on this thread who isn't bald(ing), missing teeth, not-exactly-thin??

[apart from frogwoman, obv]

I've got all gnashers I was born with (til next week ), I'm whip thin and still boast a full head of hair. I do favour trainers, shirts and hats though. Not england ones though

 

[SpineyNorman]

is there anyone who posts on this thread who isn't bald(ing), missing teeth, not-exactly-thin??

[apart from frogwoman, obv]

I fit that description except although I have no hair technically I'm not balding cos I shave it all off

 

[el-ahrairah]

is there anyone who posts on this thread who isn't bald(ing), missing teeth, not-exactly-thin??

[apart from frogwoman, obv]

i still have hair. slightly larger forehead than i used to have, mind...

 

[el-ahrairah]

I've got all gnashers I was born with (til next week ), I'm whip thin and still boast a full head of hair. I do favour trainers, shirts and hats though. Not england ones though

right, you're off this thread. come back when you've had those teeth out...

 

[JimW]

is there anyone who posts on this thread who isn't bald(ing), missing teeth, not-exactly-thin??

[apart from frogwoman, obv]

I'm got a full head of hair and all me own teeth but one's very twisted in classic "British smiles" style. Thin too.

 

[ddraig]

i've got dodgy teeth a beer belly and thinking of shaving head again

 

[Pickman's model]

a typical 'edl watch' poster recently

 

[SpineyNorman]

So is there anyone on this thread who UAF haven't mistaken for EDL?