I've noticed there's a fair bit of sneering going on as to what the political opposition look like. As much as I enjoy the occasional laugh at how ridiculous their notion of physical and racial supremacy is, it has to be remembered that it's their fucked up ideology that's objectionable and not their dress sense.
At the end of the day the majority of Fascist foot-soldiers actually come from the same class background as ourselves, and if we're not capable of winning over many of those exact same people to our view then that's a failing on our behalf and the left in general.
As much as the far-right love to paint those on the left as tree hugging anarcho freaks, we're playing into the same game by helping create these stereotypical polar opposites.
On a slightly different note. Going over some of the footage again from Brighton bouncing around on the internet, the Black Bloc tactics have at least partially achieved some success here (and let's face it, it does achieve a psychological as well as physical unity - which is definitely its strength). But I think that's mainly down to the police mishandling on the day. You can bet that should there be a return next year, the cops are going to adapt their tactics (as should the counter protesters).
