RESPECT win seats at Bradford Elections but what’s the point?

You may have heard that RESPECT, whose public figurehead is George Galloway MP, has made some major gains in the local elections in Bradford. Five seats were gained on Bradford Council and even the Leader of the Council, Ian Greenwood lost his seat to Respect candidate (and now councillor), Alyas Karmani.

The win is a significant one for the party, which had no seats in Bradford prior to George Galloway winning the by-election and becoming MP for Bradford West. It was done by mobilising the youth and securing their votes by making promises, as all political parties do. However, will all this make any difference whatsoever? Is there any point to this?

In my humble opinion, no.

Respect has no track record of actually achieving any change and change is exactly what RESPECT has promised to the youth of Bradford. What will the new RESPECT councillors in Bradford do when they realise that they can’t actually make real change? The youth may become more disillusioned and this could really backfire on the party. Councils are notorious for being… well… ineffectual – more change is made by people who get off their behinds and go and do something, rather than suited politicians arguing in a meeting behind closed doors, and who only come out to visit you during elections. That may just be a rude awakening for the new councillors, when they get a taste of what council politics is all about.

I really do hope that the opposite is true but at the end of the day, when you take a good look at things, what impact have councillors made? What impact have political parties made? I don’t think people can easily reel off a list of achievements that they are proud that their elected councillors have done for them. The whole electoral system doesn’t work and is all about giving people the illusion that their vote counts and that they are making change by putting their cross on a ballot paper. This system just doesn’t work and RESPECT would do better to move away from wasting time electioneering and move into mobilising people to make real change. If voting was worth anything, the Prophet (pbuh) would have practised it and instructed us to follow suit. But it isn’t worth anything and is another misguidance thrown at people, believers and non-believers. Voting for political change doesn’t work, but Islam does – RESPECT would be best to remember this, especially the Muslim councillors, as they are trying to capitalise on Muslims to vote for their empty promises.

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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Norway Attacks: Anti-Islam terrorist, Anders Behring Breivik

Just when you think that an attack has taken place that DOESN’T link to Muslims, it’s been revealed that Anders Behring Breivik, the man behind the bombing in Oslo and the massacre at a youth camp in Norway, had links to the English Defence League (EDL) and carried anti-Muslim views.

Daily Express: Killer was advisor to the EDL on Islamic hatred
BBC: Norway attacker profile

Clearly the hatred which is being carried by people like Anders, knows no bounds and can be unleashed against innocent people. In this case, 93 people have been killed. Anders appeared briefly on YouTube, in a 12-minute anti-Muslims video called Knights Templar 2083. He was against Muslim immigration into the country and it seems that his attacks were directed at the policies of the Norwegian government.

We are all threatened by hatred like this. It gets bottled up and eventually needs to be vented somewhere, usually at the expense of other people. It’s time to stamp out this hatred and groups that nurture and feed off this. Freedom of speech is a nice idea but not when it results in tragedies like Norway. Hate needs to be kept in check and any group which is propogating the hatred of Muslims and Islam needs to be dealt with and stopped, fairly and legally. It’s not good enough for governments to sit back and allow this to happen. Unless they want it to happen?

Speak out against groups like this, against terrorists like Anders Behring Breivik. The problem isn’t Islam. It’s anti-Islam.

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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Amy Winehouse is dead; Everyone dies but Allah is Alive and Everlasting!

I’m not one to dwell much on celebrities who have passed away and it doesn’t matter what I say about the celebrity because their fate is now well beyond us and they are having to deal with life after death. But what I am concerned with is those who are affected with this death. Amy Winehouse was found dead at her home in London, on Saturday 23rd July 2011. She was 27. Like many celebrities before her, people are mourning her death and remembering her life.

She was no different to any other human being – she had her qualities, she had her downsides and it is a sad time for her family and loved ones.

Many people look at her as a role model. But is she the role model that we should be fashioning ourselves after? If you’re looking for music and freedom without boundaries, then maybe. If you’re looking to live a God-Fearing life, then no. That may be hard for some people to swallow and I do not wish to offend but this is the reality of things. People are born and die. But Allah is Alive and will never die.

How we should live our lives is far from that of Amy Winehouse and other celebrities. Allah Has Guided all of mankind with how we should live. We find this Guidance in the Qur’an and the Character and hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). So while the death of a celebrity like Amy Winehouse is tragic, remember that one day we all will die and how we have lived our lives will be Judged by Allah. Turn to role models like the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions: Umar (ra), Abu Bakr (ra), Uthman (ra), Ali (ra) and others. If you’re not Muslim, then you could do far worse with your life than looking into Islam and becoming Muslim. Don’t wait for death to overtake you.

Stand Up 4 Islam!

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