Thoughts on the Woolwich killing

[Ben Davis]

The EDL have attacked some mosques in the area, because, you know, they're such great logical guys.

Thanks for the update. I'll have to catch up on the news this eve.

Just highlights the need to have a much larger and wider discourse about integration and engagement between people in British society today.

It also highlights the need for such discussion regarding the role of the islamic teachings which are claimed to feed such killings: the so-called 'preachments of hate'. It's clear that islam has teachings which can mandate and even encourage such murderous behaviour however there can be sociological controls. Using UK christianity as an analogy: although the bible has similar 'preachments of hate', you don't see priests calling for the death of those who oppose christianity. It appears that society has decided (IMO rightly!) that the bible is wrong on such preachments and UK christianity has consequently changed its overall behaviour to match. It's true to say that the majority of muslims are not murderous psychopaths like the extremists so could there be a similar 'directed evolution' ('intelligent design'?) of UK islam until it really is a religion of peace?

For too long self-imposed and forced segregation has destroyed our inner cities (I'm from London and live in Birmingham, both arguably two of the most segregated cities in the UK in some wards).

Yes, both religion and the poorly thought through government social housing programmes (along with capitalism!) are generally to blame for this. Free & open discourse backed by social & government action has to be the way forward.