Tomorrow numerous organisations who support the need to stand up and be counted against racism in all its forms will take part in the Stand Up To Racism march in Glasgow. Last year the Middle East peace advocacy groups the Confederation of Friends of Israel Societies (Cofis) and Glasgow Friends of Israel (GFI) participated for the first time. This year both groups intend to march again and call for an end to antisemitism — the oldest hatred of all.
Unbelievably, with antisemitism on the rise, a campaign to stop Cofis and GFI marching has been launched. It is supported by a group that includes the words “human rights” in its name. Unsurprisingly, it has also been endorsed by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
One may wonder why there is an attempt to remove Cofis and GFI from the march. How strange and puzzling that there are people who wish to impede anyone from standing up against racism. Could there be underhand and sinister reasons lurking in the shadows? Is this another example of a growing climate of antisemitism in Scotland?
The Middle East conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is long and complex. For many years Israel-hating groups have had a free hand in the streets of Glasgow to demonise the state of Israel without challenge or reproach. They have been able to employ rhetoric that did not mention the word “peace” or advocate peace for both peoples, which alone will solve the conflict.
That is no longer the case. Advocacy in Glasgow has moved on, balance is being restored. There is now an organisation that invites people to talk and engage in civilised debate about the conflict, which calls for peace across the divide. Glasgow Friends of Israel promotes open and honest discussion about how to bring both sides closer together rather than driving them apart. Dialogue replacing demonisation matters most of all, as there will never be peace for just one side.
So to those who seek to ban peaceful participants in peaceful demonstrations, I’d urge that for once you put your hatred aside and try to be tolerant of others you do not agree with. Why don’t we join together and march in unison, standing up to racism together? Put your hatreds to one side, let’s walk together in peace. It’s worth a try and we have nothing to lose.
No comments:
Post a Comment