M. A. McRae, author: Remember the 2011 London riots?

I am currently writing the fifth Penwinnard story, probably to be called 'Season of Storms.'

Today, I did some research into the 2011 London riots - they have a (probably small) part to play in the novel I am writing. Remember the event? Londoners must have been horrified. I am far away from London. I was utterly shocked. Civilised England, and this happens!

While most articles about it emphasised that the rioters were of all races, a few had the audacity to point out that the rioters were overwhelmingly of ethnic descent, some blatantly said 'black.'

One article that I read with interest was this one -

https://livinginamadhouse.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/

Daily Archives: August 12, 2011

Not as white as they are painted

August 12, 2011 – 8:46 am

Robert Henderson

His article highlighted the way that reports twisted themselves inside out trying to pretend that the riots had nothing to do with race. Political correctness does not like it when the facts are unpalatable.
The vast majority of those involved were recent immigrants, some, the children of immigrants. It is said that the police were so frightened of being called racist that they were reluctant to interfere when (mostly) blacks started looting shops and burning the cars of strangers.

But as Robert Henderson points out - no problem can be solved by refusing to properly and truthfully describe it. In particular, race relations are not improved by fostering a sense of grievance in those who consider themselves the underdogs. There is no need for whites to crawl to those we are trying to help, and there is no point in emphasising and exaggerating past crimes, often 'crimes' that were committed with the best of intentions.

The following words are his.

'What should be done? I suggest this. All attempts by government to appease ethnic minority groups should stop. No more money for community leaders, ethnic based charities or public projects which promote the interests only of minority ethnic groups. All the laws such as the Race Relations Act and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 which give de facto privileges to ethnic minorities and prevent honest objections to immigration and its consequences should be repealed. The police should be banned from playing the role of political commissars and get back to honest coppering; catching villains and maintaining order. Institutionalised political correctness should be stripped from public service and any organisation which receives public money. Most importantly, politicians and the mainstream media should stop incontinently promoting the liberal fantasy of multicultural heaven and recognise that it is not heaven but at best purgatory.'

I would add that reporting should be accurate. It is not up to journalists to filter the facts to the current mania for being politically correct.

Note that I do not agree with everything that Henderson said. Some were, if not flatly wrong, at the very least with little evidence to back the claims. And yet he has some very good points.

Obviously, the suggestions of Henderson (above) were ignored. Four years later, and we are still trying to solve problems without ever defining the problems - and being 'racist' if we do.

So now we have the massive problem of widespread Islamic terrorism - Muslims who take their religion to extremes. It is almost obligatory to hastily add that this is 'only a tiny majority.' But for a 'tiny majority,' they seem to be remarkably effective, and worse, more flock to them every day. If only those Muslins were a little more selective about which tenets of their faith to follow. (Oh, yes, I said Muslim. It is not a mere coincidence that 100% of Islamic terrorists are Muslim.)

The Koran says:

'He that fights for God's cause fights for himself. God needs no man's help.'

but also, 3:156 - 'If you should die or be slain in the cause of God, His forgiveness and His mercy would surely be better than all the riches they amass.'

and: 4:93 'he that leaves his dwelling to fight for God and His apostle and is then overtaken by death shall be recompensed by God. Surely God is forgiving and merciful.'

and even: 2:216, p32

'FIGHTING is obligatory for you, much as you dislike it. But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and love a thing although it is bad for you. God knows, but you know not.'

The Koran frequently contradicts itself, but there do seem to be more clauses in favour of violent jihad than there are against it.

But what if you would like to convert, and then you would no longer be an infidel. Unfortunately, it appears that for some of us, it is not possible.

p191, 16:37 - Strive as you may to guide them, God will not guide those whom He confounds. There shall be none to help them.

32:13 Had it been Our will, We could have given every soul its guidance. But My word will be fulfilled: 'I will surely fill Hell with jinn and with humans all.'

2:1 As for the unbelievers, it is the same whether or not you forewarn them; they will not have faith. God has set a seal upon their hearts and ears; their sight is dimmed and grievous punishment awaits them.

and: 2:10 There is a sickness in their hearts which God has aggravated: they shall be sternly punished for the lies they ever told.

So this 'god' has aggravated sickness and confounds hearts, so for some of us, there can be no turning to Allah. We are doomed to remain unbelievers who will ultimately face tremendous punishment.

Just a tad unfair, you might say?

4:56 Those that deny Our revelations We will burn in fire. No sooner will their skins be consumed than We shall give them other skins, so that they may truly taste the scourge. Surely God is mighty and wise.

'God is mighty and wise.' It's a tremendous irony in that context, don't you think?
In short, I am with Ayaan Hirsi Ali in thinking there is something fundamentally wrong with Islam.

(Ayaan Hirsi Ali is author of the book 'Infidel' among others.)

And yet, there are similar things in the Christian bible, probably similar in the holy books of the Jewish faith (some, of course, they hold in common.) The difference is that a miniscule number of Christian and Jews decide to wage war on civilisation. I would say none, but I suppose there could be a madman here or there.

Quotes taken from 'The Koran' translated with notes by N. J. Dawood, Penguin Books, 2006 edition.

My message is this:

* Shun political correctness when it gets in the way of facing facts.

* Facts should never be deemed unsayable.

and, in fact:

* Political correctness run mad has set the scene for religious extremists to run mad.

___________________________

One of the main characters in my fifth Penwinnard Story is Mutty. His full name is Mutana Wirta, and he is described as 'black as coal with an impish grin.'

Expected publication date, November, 2015.

The cover shown is not final, though maybe something like it will be.

And thank you to Elijah for allowing me to use his image.

Meantime, there are four other Penwinnard Stories to enjoy. They are set in a Boys' Home close to the imaginary village of Ryalston in Cornwall.