Should we be concerned?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/articl e-1160972/The-far-right-march-rise-fascism-Aus tria.html

Nick Griffin, leader of the British Nationalist Party (BNP),

We in Britain are impressed to see that you have been able to combine principled nationalism with electoral success. We are sure that this gives you a good springboard for the European elections and we hope very much that we will be able to join you in a successful nationalist block in Brussels next year.'

Daily Mail report:

And just as the Nazis gained power on the back of extreme nationalism and virulent anti-Semitism, the recent unprecedented gains in Austria were made on a platform of fear about immigration and the perceived threat of Islam. FPO leader Heinz Christian Strache, for example, described women in Islamic dress as 'female ninjas'.

Having read this do others agree that there is a real threat of Nazism once again raising it's ugly head?

And if it did come to defending our country once again from this threat, I wonder if those Muslims that now have no respect for our soldiers would then fight alongside them to protect our democracy?

[Whickerman]

Yes the threat from Fascism is always real.

No, those nutters from the other day - quoted in the Sunday Times again calling for Sharia Law in the UK - will not fight for democracy, it's antithesis to them. However, I've no doubt that the armed forces would include many Islamic soldiers, as it currently does.

As for Nick Griffin - guess he's the equivalent of Oswald Moseley?

[paraffin]

Wouldn't you expect Mr Griffin to make such crass and outrageous statements? It's all part of his propaganda crusade against realism and liberal thinking. He has to attempt to grab headlines by any desperate means in a futile bid to brainwash our own population.

It's not a surprise that this has happened in Austria, historically a hotbed of Naziism and of course birthplace of their most evil fanatic, a certain Herr Hitler.

I don't feel threatened that such extremists are flourishing there and in certain other societies where they've lain dormant for so long in their sewers. The British nation's far too canny to allow the likes of that to happen here.

No, of course the Muslims to whom you refer would never try to defend us in time of war, but neither would lots of non-Muslims either !!

[rojash]

Perhaps anotheoldgit can explain for me what is the difference between "virulent anti-Semitism" and the virulent anti-muslim post that appear in this section so frequently?

[anotheoldgit]

Not quite sure of what you are trying to get me to say rojash.

But the way I interpert is there was much anti Jewish feeling in Germany during the 30s, and it was on the back of this that the Nazis came to power. Now due to large scale immigration it is the Muslims that are the threat.

Regarding "virulent anti-Semitism" posts on this site, I cannot remember many. I suppose there were a few during the Gazza conflict, but nothing really to threaten the UK.

Now virulent anti-Muslim posts is a different kettle of fish, there is, and has been a threat from the Muslims in this country, whether from the so called 'minority' or not, Muslims in this country are their own worse enemies, by allowing the 'minority' to cause so much unrest.

[rojash]

One of the methods in that the Nazis used to gain power was to appeal to the innate xenophobia of the masses - the Jews happened to be a handy target. This was done insidiously by constantly publishing half truths, selective reporting, etc. Pretty much what is happening on Britain now but with the Muslims instead of the Jews as the target.

Interestingly enough, prior to the second world war, there was also a lot of nationalistic fervour and anti-Semitism in Britain. The Daily Mail was a leading light in this respect.

[bpoolmecca]

Not sure the jews caused as much trouble to the nazis as the muslims seem to be doing to western civilisation as usual the majority have to take the blame for the minority but only the muslims can really sort out the trouble makers

[Kromovaracun]

But the way I interpert is there was much anti Jewish feeling in Germany during the 30s, and it was on the back of this that the Nazis came to power.

Quite a few historians would take you up on that, but that's another debate...

Charlemagne wrote a great piece in last week's Economist comparing the current situation to the one in the '30s and made some interesting points. For one thing, we might be heading into a comparable recession, but unlike in the '30s where ajbect poverty pushed people to extremes, welfare safety-nets now exist where they didn't before. I can't see anyone in the UK (or elsewhere in Western Europe) eating wild plants out of sheer desperation now as they did then.

[On the other hand, however, you could counter this and argue that Fascism's support historically came from broadly lower middle-class/ upper working-class circles (the wretched impoverished tended to lean leftwards)]

But even if we're in a similar economic situation, there's no political humiliation equivalent to the legacy of World War I. Sure, there's middle-eastern engagements, but the scale really doesn't compare. In the 30s, pretty much all the former Central powers (and some of the Entente) had this oppressive sense of political humiliation - and in Italy and Germany there was a real hatred of the new democratic systems that had sprung up. I'm not sure the disillusionment now is comparable. Plus remember the very real 'red scare' that existed across Europe throughout the 20s/30s due to the rise of the Soviet Union. The only comparable thing today is fear of Islam, but I'm still not sure it compares.

You've also got the EU, which not only provides economic support (though to be fair they're cutting back on it now...), but also has democratic/liberal requirements for membership.