"Part of the problem is that the young are passionate and ardent. They are therefore vulnerable to the 'teachings' of the terrorist cells apparently preaching hatred and murder in back rooms of certain mosques or houses"

Extremist politics always blossom during times of depravation, depression and economic instability and it's no coincidence that all over Europe right-wing and extremist religious groups are on the rise. This is because many people (often at the lower end of the income spectrum) feel they have no voice in society; the political elite ignore and lie to them (and us), large corporations dictate government policy and ordinary folk are completely sidelined. With no hope of long-term stability in their lives they seek meaning elsewhere, often in the sometimes incoherent rantings of political and religious fringes who will accept their devotion without question, provided they don't question too much themselves. Some sort of economic stability is essential to prevent extremism in all its myriad forms; people need to feel they can earn a living, have a secure home, know that if they fall on hard times society will care for them.

Combine this with the spectre of nationalism and the lazy. predictable stereotyping of any group outside the mainstream (Roma, homosexuals, immigrants, the poor, the disabled etc) or from another country (see mayomicks rant above and anything uttered by the English Defence League), chuck in a bit of nationalism or religious bigotry and you're away.

On the radio this morning was a chap from a mosque in London (I missed the start of the interview) who, along with some of the ladies of the mosque took tea and biccies to the EDL protest on Sunday in an attempt to create dialogue. It worked partially, but what it seemed to have done is actually get people to talk to each other and recognise that between some of the EDL lot and the Muslims from the mosque there was indeed plenty of common ground.

People need to interact and communicate to have their misconceptions challenged, and they need to talk and understand to see that wherever you are in the world, whatever your sexual orientation, the colour of your skin, where and to whom you were born, which football team you follow or who your god is, at the end of the day we're all pretty much the same, we worry about the same things, laugh at the same things and are all trying to get through life with as little trouble as possible, and pretty much all ordinary folk are sharing the struggle.

Haters gonna hate, but fuck 'em.