Reaching out to the Nazi community

The BBC are reporting that :

"A man arrested over allegations of abusing staff at Lowestoft railway station in Suffolk has been remanded in custody on terror charges.

Neil Lewington, 43, of Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, has appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court.

He is accused of possessing improvised explosive devices including timers, weedkiller and firelighters. "

The radio news yesterday included the information that Mr Lewington also had a Nazi handbook, indeed Reuters are still reporting this information.

As soon as this news broke, Jacqui Smith immediately launched an impassioned plea that the public not tar all Nazis with the same brush; "the vast majority of Nazis living in the UK are peaceable and productive members of the communities in which they live", she opined. Meanwhile Communities Secretary Hazel Blears

"today chaired the first meeting of a new Nazi Women's advisory group who have been bought together to advise Government on the role that they can play in winning hearts and minds and tackling extremism.

The National Nazi Women's Advisory Group (NNWAG) is led by 19 Nazi women representing a wide spectrum of communities, professions and traditions. They will discuss issues and concerns that are affecting Nazi women..."

In addition Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Children and Families Secretary Ed Balls

"will today launch a new Young Nazi Advisory Group and unveil the names of the twenty two young people who will act as advisors.

The group, who will have their first official meeting in the coming weeks, will work directly with Government to help deepen its engagement with young Nazis. The advisors will talk to ministers and policy makers first hand about the issues affecting their day to day lives.

Ranging in age from 16-25 this unique group is comprised of individuals from across England and across denominations and includes students, undergraduates as well as a trainee lawyer, youth leaders, a speech and language therapist.

The Young Nazi Advisory Group (YMAG) will have direct access to senior cabinet ministers and will work with Government departments to find solutions to a range of challenges including tackling discrimination; increasing employment levels; preventing extremism and boosting civic participation."

The government issued some notes to editors on the Young Nazi Advisory Group (YNAG), this included:

"Extremism/Radicalisation - Young Nazis have a unique perspective on what can be done to protect and support vulnerable individuals to prevent them being exploited by radical extremists who play on grievances and distort Nazism to justify extremism.

...

Media stereotyping - Media portrayals were seen by many to be a key factor in the public perception of Nazis and Nazism. Many believed the group could be used to introduce media to a diverse range of young Nazis who represent ordinary British Nazis and help to ensure more balanced debate.

...

Creating opportunities to engage with and listen to young Nazis is a key part of the Government's work to Prevent Violent Extremism. The direct engagement and active participation of young people in the preventing violent extremism agenda is far more effective than simply engaging with organisations that claim to represent young people, and is crucial in building and sustaining resilient communities."

OK I admit it, the above (in italics) is a fantasy, of course the UK government have not launched any such initiatives; the quotes and examples are from initiatives launched to win the hearts and minds and so on of UK Muslims. In each example I simply replaced the word Muslim with Nazi and the word Islam with Nazism. For the avoidance of doubt, I am not here equating Islam with Nazism, I am simply and satirically pointing out that when a Nazi terrorist suspect is caught, he is a Nazi and Nazis should be abhorred but when Muslim terrorists are caught the government launches campaigns to involve the Muslim population - odd isn't it?