There was much to merit in David Cameron's Observer article looking forward to the announcements this week from his party's policy review on national security.
He decouples the issues of integration and terrorism (despite the fact its his policy commission on national security which will be making recommendations on community cohesion), and says he won't shy away from looking at the role of foreign policy on domestic affairs. He reminded us that it was not long ago that Britain questioned the loyalty of its Jewish and Irish citizens. I also liked this:
There is no easy short cut. Having tried to impose democracy in Iraq at the point of a gun, we must surely realise that we will never impose cohesion at home with the ping of a press release.
He condemns the "clunking" initiatives from the government recently such as asking Muslim parents to spy on their children.
A separate article in the Observer quotes him wanting to campaign for the rights of women, who he says are being held back not by Islam, but by culture. In this regard, I agree, but am not sure what he can do about it (Indigo Jo has some thoughts on this). I also do believe the problem is lessening as years go on.
Cameron caps this all off by saying he's going wage a "crusade for fairness". Just as with George Bush in 2001, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and say that he was silly rather deliberately provocative with his choice of words. I can't though understand the Western obsession with it. If you want to get something done, the crusades are hardly the model of best practice. Many, many people had their blood spilt, and ultimately they did not achieve what they set out to do. There was certainly nothing "fair" about it. The word should be consigned to the dustbin of history.
UPDATE: Cameron has compared Muslims who believe in shariah to the BNP.
This is funny too. There is a difference between The Crusades and a crusade. Only someone looking for ways to be offended would get upset about Cameron's use of the word.
However, I do agree that The Word should be consigned to the dustbin of history. It was a terrible programme, although, to be fair, they did have some good bands on now and then.
Posted by: johnmellor77 | 29 January 2007 at 01:15 PM
"the crusades are hardly the model of best practice", now you have me laughing Osama. Really you should email this to the Conservative Central Office; how can the blithering eejit come up with "crusades"? Does this mean that the Conservative Party is mentally still mired in the 11th Century? Wouldn't surprise me....
Posted by: aineliva | 01 February 2007 at 08:50 AM