Is the Liberal Left the Far Right’s Best Friend?

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by Neil Bamforth

Those I would describe as ‘sensible’ in their political views tend to be centrists, a little left of center or a little right of center. The further you drift, either to the left or the right, the more loonies you find. The majority who hover around the center, whether a little left or a little right, in general, are not loonies simply because they don’t hold any extreme views.

That is not to say they don’t hold passionate views. Passionate views in and around the center ground are different beasts to passionate views held by the far left or far right.

Those left of center tend to hold more liberal views on many things, while those right of center more conservative views.

However, due to their ability to not embrace more extreme views, they have the capacity to listen to their opposite numbers politically speaking.

In other words, a moderate liberal can, on occasion, accept that a moderate conservative view is a good idea and vice versa. It is not so polarized around the center that there can never be ‘common ground’ and, by that very nature, enough compromise to make progress on any number of issues.

I am starting to reach the conclusion though, that one view held by both liberal and, possibly, conservative (with a small c) on something, is actually fueling the fire of the far right. Even to the extent that the far right are discreetly appreciative of the liberal view in this regard.

I speak of immigration. Not the immigration that Britain and, indeed, all western liberal democracies require to function, but the uncontrolled or, at the very least, poorly controlled immigration that has occurred over several decades.

Former Prime Minister, David Cameron, once stated that ‘multi-culturalism has failed’ and, I have to say, this was one of the rare occasions I had to agree with him. It has failed. It has failed terribly.

Had Britain maintained strict controls over immigration in terms of numbers and required skills, the nurses and doctors of our NHS would still be here. The hard working immigrants who helped build our nation would still be here.

What would not have happened is the huge and extraordinarily rapid demographic change in so many towns and areas of cities that has alarmed so many, and yes, it has to be said, ‘white’ British people.

The East End of London, Oldham, Rotherham, Rochdale, parts of Birmingham, Luton and on and on. The very long list of British towns, and areas of cities, that are unrecognizable from only a few short decades ago.

Now, there are, of course, white British people who have a problem with other skin colors. They are called ‘color prejudiced’. There are others who have a problem with other races regardless of skin color. The are called xenophobes or racists.

I have absolutely no idea what you can do with these people. Re-educate? Well, only if they are prepared to be re-educated I would suggest. I have little, if any evidence, but I suspect a significant number in the above categories are members of, or supporters of, far right organisations.

Lately, those with specifically anti-semitic views have tended to be more far left.

It makes sense to me anyway.

They are, however, a minority section within the population of white British people. How significant a minority is open to debate, particularly of late.

A far more serious problem is emerging regarding white British people who are not color prejudiced nor racist nor xenophobic. At least not in the ways previously accepted.

They didn’t even notice a person of color or an eastern European, other than merely seeing a fellow human being walking down the street.

They have, however, over the last couple of decades in particular, become increasingly alarmed at just how many fellow human beings they are seeing in their streets who are so clearly different to them. Not ‘different’ because they have a different skin color. Not different because they have an eastern European accent. Different because they clearly have no interest what so ever in British values or the British way of life.

They haven’t moved to Britain to enjoy British values nor the British way of life. They have moved here for a better life under their own terms, and to hell with everyone else.

They don’t want to adapt or assimilate to any degree. They want to move their culture, from their home country where they struggled with poverty and poor conditions, or for what ever reason, to Britain, and continue living in exactly the same way, but without the ‘struggle’ and ‘poverty’ or ‘what ever’ bit.

The old ‘comfort’ of living in a British city or a British town or even a British street has, in many areas, vanished. It has also vanished at a great rate of knots. Too quickly for many to assimilate to such an extraordinarily sudden change.

When they begin to say they are uncomfortable with such a sudden change to the place they live, they have almost immediately been condemned as racist xenophobes. Invariably they are condemned as such by the more liberal among us.

This has upset them. They don’t feel like racist xenophobes. They just don’t want to wake up one day and find there is nothing left for them in ‘their’ town.

They feel that, after all, it is their country? Surely, in their own country, the shops should cater for them? Surely, in their own country, they should understand, more often than not, the language being spoken?

They are confused, and even a little bit frightened.

They see marches on TV by Muslim men demanding Shariah law. They see their local shops turn into Polish delicatessens and African food stores. Their local butcher has gone. Their local pub has closed. Their local hairdresser has been replaced by one who specializes in African Caribbean hairstyles. Their local library is now a mosque. Another local pub is now a Sikh temple. They can’t get a breakfast at the local cafe any longer as the owner is now a Muslim and doesn’t make bacon sandwiches. The other local cafe is now Algerian.

Their ‘world’ has vanished. Their ‘town’ has vanished. Their home is now a solitary oasis of what their entire town used to be.

They don’t understand why ‘the government’ has allowed their town to become, for them, a foreign country.

They don’t understand why questioning this results in people they have previously perceived as decent, left of center liberals are suddenly condemning them as racists.

They don’t like the ‘far right’ anymore than the ‘far left’. The ‘far right’ and the ‘far left’ are the extremists. The ‘far right’ are the racists and fascists. The ‘far left’ are the anti-semitics. They don’t want to have anything to do with that sort of thing. They are just frightened and bewildered about what has been allowed to happen to their town. What has happened to their very lives.

Eventually, they decide they have had enough. The centrists, the left of center and the right of center won’t listen. They don’t seem to care. Perhaps the right of center never did? After all, even if they are conservative with a small ‘c’ they are still profit driven aren’t they? Money is everything?

Perhaps the left of center, the more liberal, are so liberal they think the metaphorical doors into the country should be open to all. Perhaps they don’t care about ‘being British’. Perhaps they don’t care about us. Perhaps they are more interested in creating their impossible nirvana of every race, creed and culture living happily side by side.

Perhaps they have forgotten to take into account the needs of human beings to feel safe and secure in the place they call home. The need for the comfort blanket of familiarity.

Who does care about us then they ask? Who is saying this is all wrong and shouldn’t be happening they wonder? Oh, yes. Them. The ‘far right’.

We don’t like them but they do seem to care. Don’t they?

Of course, the far right don’t care. They care less than the centrists, whether left or right of center. The far right, just like the far left, are predominantly thoroughly unpleasant people who thrive on hatred and division.

They aren’t entirely loony though. They can see a storm coming. They know that ‘ordinary people’ are increasingly fed up. They know that ‘ordinary people’ have had enough. They know that ‘ordinary people’ are not going to take it anymore.

They know that ‘ordinary people’ aren’t like them. ‘Ordinary people’ are not racist xenophobes full of hatred, but they know ‘ordinary people’ are damn well fed up of being told they are.

The nice, moderate, gentle liberals have told them they are, simply because they don’t like it when their town is no longer their town. Now it belongs to alien races and alien cultures and they have had enough.

If the only people listening are the far right then so be it. If the moderate, gentle liberals they once thought were the people who cared no longer care about them and their fears, then so be it.

There is a storm coming in Britain and it ain’t going to be fun. Not for anyone.

And history finds a way to repeat as it always does.

We never learn do we? Somewhat depressingly, I doubt we ever will.

About Post Author

Neil Bamforth

I am English first, British second and never ever European. I have supported Oldham Athletic FC for 50 years which has made me immune from depression. My taste buds have died due to too many red hot curries so I drink Kronenburg beer and milk - sometimes in the same glass. I have a wife, daughter, 9 cats and I like toast.
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jacob freshour
4 years ago

and I as I noted in my last reply, radical anything religion wise is a problem with me…I grew up in the tribe and lived in it large part of my life. Not the super radical right wing christian side, but close enough to the radical fringe. In the last 10 years it has grown increasing radical and is no different in attitude, purpose, and intolerance than radical Islam. So, my point was, it’s not race or nationality that is the problem, it’s religion. It’s hard to to reason with someone who’s is deluded enough to think their imaginary friend is counting on them to issue in the kingdom of said imaginary friend. The reason, I commented in the first place is that your article squirted around the issue for the majority of of it’length. Framing they writing in terms of “they” and making it a radical right or left issue leads to a lot of confusion and came off, at least to me as the dog whistle writing the racist right uses in this country. You did not get to anything about religion until well down the page and the marches on TV point. In the circles I live in, that most people would likely call radical left, radical Christian’s and radical Muslims are viewed as the same threat.
In the right wing world that I grew up in, only radical Muslims are viewed as a problem. The right wing bat shit crazy, sharia law loving Christians are viewed as fighting for Murikkka and wanting to issue in the 2nd coming of Jesus. He will throw the faggots, Jews, and immoral hollywood types in the ring of fire to burn forever, and likely any brown skin folks with the above mentioned commie reprobates. So…we do have common ground…Neil I am beginning to like you, however, I am not cutting you any slack on the far left being the far rights best friend nonsense, at least in this country. In this country, the far right is the intolerant religious zealots.There belief that they are to foster in the coming of Jesus and follow law based on the Bible is the terrorism that is taking root in this country…btw..thanks for the dialog…

Neil Bamforth
4 years ago

Jacob : Where I live we have Sikhs, Hindus, African Caribbeans, Poles and all sorts. All of the above are my neighbors and, in some cases, friends as well.

Our issue – and I include the above when I say ‘our’ – is the high number of Muslims who refuse to accept anyone who isn’t Muslim.

That’s the bottom line. There are people who struggle to accept anyone different – even I’m not that daft – but we all struggle to accept conservative Islam in our midst.

jacob freshour
4 years ago

Neil..fair enough….as far as social media…I don’t fit the rest of the theory however, lol. I am a boomer, the older I get, the more liberal I get, I hate stagnation. I love learning new cultures, I have been in 3/4 of the states in this country and have lived in six states. I have on a regular basis dealt with everyone form the CEO to homeless people, people of numerous nationality’s and religions and it has enriched my life. In this country, it’s not immigrants wanting to change this country into something I don’t recognize or want to live in, it’s the right wing Trumptards. They are trying to hang on to a myth and change this country into something it never was. The same point’s that you put forth have been used numerous times in our history to demonize, the Japanese, the Chinese, the Irish, the Native Americans, and the Black community. They all changed our community’s and brought customs that made us richer for it.And the US likes to embrace and celebrate the cultures, while at the same time demonizing the people that brought it…Ironic. As far as sharia law, no different than the right wing “christian” brigade…no different…The Bible just as violent as the Quran, so the radicals on both side cherry pick the radical parts they want to use to hold power over others or the parts they want to bash the others religion. So, as far as that kind of blow back and change, I understand fighting it. The fact that business change or neighborhoods change is a fact of life, the town I grew up is almost mot recognizable to me, and their our no immigrants involved. Time marches on and change occurs, that is normal. What I certainly do not understand and honestly, do not have a lot of empathy for is old people afraid of change. Maybe that is why I get along better with people younger than myself, I embrace most change and do not want to quit growing or become stagnant…One last thing that you may find amusing, I love British/European movies and TV, thank god for netflicks and I am thinking about trying Britbox or Acorn in the near future.

Neil Bamforth
4 years ago

Touche jacob! 🙂

In fairness, you have to live in a problem like this to know about it. There is also, of course, ‘the age issue’. As we get older, we find any form of dramatic change unsettling at best.

As to believing me, I freely admit I have reached the stage were I have absolutely no idea what to believe anymore – on social media at any rate.

jacob freshour
4 years ago

hard to comment, but I would first have to believe you. And, in reading you article. I don’t. You throw in all the little trigger phrases to try and be clever, but in reality it is the same old shit dog whistle. You might want to study what Glen wrote…I do like your culture btw..lol…

Neil Bamforth
4 years ago

Jacob : what about the ‘that’ s not always so in Europe’ bit? In Europe, including Britain, we have waaaaay more immigrants who don’t want to mix with us. It isn’t multiculturalism, it’s their culture or none.

jacob freshour
4 years ago

Glenn , couldn’t agree with your post more. If the fear is from development that may or may not be needed, indeed the change is jarring. And there is nothing wrong with fighting it or standing against it. Example, in the states a lot of people do not want a walmart in their community because it decimates local business. On the other hand, fearing change on only ethnic or religious grounds, like a large majority of the right wing in this country is racist. For someone reason, right wingers don’t like be called out on there racist bullshit. Blaming an someone of another race or religion because the coal jobs are not coming back or because none of the children in your community want to own the local butcher shop is the height of stupidity. The world is changing always has and always will. The same arguments were used by people 100 years ago in villages that feared change. Many of us welcome diversity and the cultural richness it brings. PS…the ordinary people are not going to do shit, they are the ones left behind fighting their make believe bogeymen…

Glenn Geist
4 years ago

In small town Florida where I live, the threat to what seems to be our culture isn’t from Latin America as most true racists will tell you (I think they add quite a bit of flavor actually) it’s from our expansionist owners who want to put high speed rail down our charming main streets, cover every inch of open land with cookie cutter boxes and square miles of concrete and poison air and water so they can enjoy living in California while we suffer. OK, so does that make me a racist?

Black people and Mexican people and Caribbean people are already part of our American culture – an essential part and a part that I appreciate, still I’m annoyed at what they call “development” and I call cultural decay. Is there a bad name for people who want to retain the look and feel of small town America? Others want to preserve their neighborhoods and the appertinent lifestyle, whether up or down scale. Give me a taco truck or an Indian restaurant – you can keep your Big Bux Starbucks and chain restaurants. I built my house here because I like the way it is and I’m going to resent you if you want to drill for oil in my back yard or urbanize it or put high rises on the beach. Sorry. I’m not going to like anyone taking away my lifestyle, white protestant, Hasidic Jew, Mikosukee or Cuban. It’s not about race.

To me it’s less (if it’s a thing at all) about race than about change and change that takes away as much or more as it adds. We seek out places that we like and want to keep them places we like so everyone who wants to change the environment to something we abhor seems like the enemy. Sorry.

50 families in my little hamlet. Some are immigrants and most of those are my favorite neighbors. I don’t care if all of them are, but if they take to slaughtering goats or throwing garbage in our little pond or shooting guns in the air at 4 AM it would be different. Such things are the reason we have zoning and rules. It’s not racism. It’s human nature and it’s respect for others and their right to use and enjoy their property and environment. Most Immigrants to this country try to fit in, are not hostile and want to be Americans. That’s not always so in Europe and I sympathize with those who have to endure hostile enclaves more than we do.

Dislike for cultural chaos and mutual contempt is not racism and communities have a recognized right to have a say in how they look and feel.

Neil Bamforth
4 years ago

😂😂😂😂😂😂…. I like you jacob with a small j.

I’ve never met a good racist. Always a first time I suppose 😁

jacob freshour
4 years ago

lol…you 2…what town exactly is not it’s own my little racist nationalist. More people are moving right, that is a good one…Faux news tell you that or Brietbart…and you are right history does repeat it self, we have heard your tired racist pandering over and over in history and you have always been wrong…at least have the balls to be a good racist and own your racism…

jacob freshour
4 years ago

lol…sorry lil snowflake, I didn’t realize that calling your puddle piece stupid was name calling …in the real world it would called truth…go to your safe place, it will be all right…

Neil Bamforth
4 years ago

Michael : Yes. Seriously. More and more people are moving politically further and further right, simply because their understandable fears and concerns are resulting in many being tarred as racists etc by the political left.

Everything dangerously polarized over here right now.

You’re either left or right. If you’re neither they all hate you!

Admin
4 years ago

“The nice, moderate, gentle liberals have told them they are, simply because they don’t like it when their town is no longer their town. Now it belongs to alien races and alien cultures and they have had enough.”

Seriously dude?

Neil Bamforth
4 years ago

Jacob : Name calling is your alternate view? I rest my case.

jacob freshour
4 years ago

well…there it is the stupidest thing I have read today…in the age of Trump, that is saying something…

Neil Bamforth
4 years ago

Jerry G : I’m assuming you haven’t read, nor understood, the article. If you did read and understand then, perhaps, you wouldn’t be the far rights best buddy anymore?

Jerry G.
4 years ago

Dude give it up man. I thought you had for a while, but clearly not, as your nationalism is showing like a dirty slip.

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