Rivers Of Blood?

The UK was shocked at the senseless and brutal murder of a serving soldier on the 22^nd May on the streets of Woolwich in our capital city. This crime was carried out by Islamic fundamentalists of Nigerian origin, protesting about the war on terror. It has to be said that anything with the word ‘mentalist’ sends red flashing warning lights and tells many people all they need to know, but sadly there will always be the occassional rat crawling out of the sewer to wreak havoc. In this age of the camera phone, there was much disturbing footage provided by witnesses and the attackers themselves were actively encouraging filming. The victim was named as Lee Rigby, a drummer in the 2^nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

 

The crime itself was an example of the lowest form of cowardice as the attackers drove onto the pavement to knock down their target and then hacked him to death as he lay on the ground. As this took place, some people then confronted the attackers. One of the most dramatic scenes in the aftermath of the attack was the bravery of a woman called Ingrid Loyau-Konnetto who confronted the killers. In an era where warfare in the West has moved towards dealing with single issue terrorist groups, the picture of Mrs Loyau-Konnetto standing face to face with a terrorist could be considered as icon of freedom against oppression, like a UK version of the student defying the tanks in Tiananmen Square a generation ago.

 

 

Another key moment following the incident came in the form of a Sky News interview from the Imam Ajmal Masroor, a man who has been a commentator in the media on Islamic issues in the last few years. Mr Masroor took an uncompromising stance from the outset by saying that if people don’t like Britain so much that they could contemplate attacking it, then they should hand in their passport and leave. He also challenged them to stand for office and participate in the democratic process should their concerns be related to foreign policy. Crucially, he pointed out that no God would accept murder and that if they have committed the crime because they expect to go to heaven, then they will never smell heaven. His stinging attack concluded by condemning the attackers as criminal, thugs, low life scum and that they should go to prison for a long time. In the aftermath of the tragedy, his words marked him out as the voice of the people and not just moderate Islam.

 

Back in 1968, Enoch Powell made an address to a local area branch of the Conservative Party which became known as the “Rivers of Blood” speech, dealing with the issue of immigration from the commonwealth. It is often forgotten that the words “rivers of blood” did not actually feature in the speech, but took its name from the following line that Powell derived from Virgil’s Aeneid:

“"As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding; like the Roman, I seem to see 'the River Tiber foaming with much blood”

Powell was demonised and vilified from all sides of the House of Commons for his words, which came at a time when the winds of social change were starting to blow in the UK, indeed he was sacked from the shadow cabinet and didn’t hold a senior political post again. He conceded that there were many immigrants who were happy to integrate, there were also others who had a vested interest in fostering racial and religious differences with a view to gain dominance over other immigrants and the rest of the population.

It could be argued that some of the consequences of Powell’s speech have been seen in recent times in our country, though perhaps not in the quite the same way that could’ve been imagined back in 1968. Events that would not have been forseen in Powell’s time could include hate preachers such as Anjem Choudary railing against UK foreign policy and refusing to condemn the killers of Lee Rigby, whilst being happy to take £25K per year in benefits from the tax payer and receive police protection because his life has been threatened.

A few days before the shocking events in Woolwich, the Sunday broadsheets were claiming that a source close to the Prime Minister had said that grass-roots members of the Conservative Party were “mad, swivel eyed loons”. If these allegations are true, this is a stark example of politicians being out of touch with the people and shows a complete ignorance of the genuine concerns over uncontrolled immigration. It is interesting that these alleged comments emerged following the rise of the UK Independence Party in the recent local elections at the expense of the mainstream parties.

Most ordinary citizens have the same the same basic criteria in what they expect from Government. They are looking for people of substance who will maintain our defences, look after the NHS, education and national infrastructure. They also expect that our basic freedoms and national identity will be upheld by those in power. What they do not expect is for our politicians to be apologising for our history and appeasing those who hate what our country stands for. If politicians allow themselves to be disconnected from the people, they will only allow rabble rousing groups like the English Defence League and BNP to gain a foothold.

There has been an enormous outpouring of goodwill and sympathy towards the grieving family and the armed forces since the attack. The coffers of Help for Heroes have been boosted by many donations, this was partly a response to the fact that Drummer Rigby was wearing a t-shirt with the logo of the charity at the time of his death. The incident has shown that these terrorists are beaten already as the only thing at their disposal is cheap shots. The corrosive ideology that they were standing for has been rebutted by other senior people from their faith and one of the killers’ family have been quick to issue a statement to condemn the murder.

 

A poem was trending on the social networks in tribute to Drummer Rigby:

Just out for a walk after an early stack

Not looking for trouble, not watching my back

Mothers with prams holding hands with their kids

Not paying attention to the car as it skids

Caught completely off guard not expecting what comes

One man with a knife another with guns

No chance of defence no chance to fight back

Looking for help as the cowards attack

An angel arrives as the light turns to grey

A woman attempts to steer attackers away

My last thought of 'Thank You' never strays from my brain

As my body shuts down and I feel no more pain.

 

I look to my left and I look to my right

Thousands of squaddies are all that's in sight

Uniforms are crisp and their faces are clean

No sign of anger or hate to be seen

As if by command they salute all as one

The RSM smiles, says 'Welcome home son'.

These heartfelt words are enough to bring tears to the eyes of all who read them. Although written from a secular perspective, the poem takes on a spiritual dimension by eloquently expressing the journey from this world to the eternal realm in a way that is reminiscent of the following sentiment expressed in Psalm 23:

“even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me…”

At the time of writing, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale have both been charged with murder and also the attempted murder of police officers who were responding to the crime.  This should ensure that they will spend their lives behind bars because their plan to go down as martyrs has failed beyond measure. The British people have again responded to an act of terrorism with characteristic resilience and defiance. It is now up to our politicians to show their mettle by doing all things possible to root out extremism from this nation.