Starmer and Musk: Difference of Opinion.

Two powerful men have gone head to head over the recent disturbances in the UK. Someone posted a lie on X saying the attacker in Southport was a Syrian Muslim. This was posted to cause trouble and whip up community antagonism. People like Nigel Farage, Andrew Tate, and Tommy Robinson, fell for the post hook, line, and sinker. Posting comments about the attacker being a Muslim whipped up anti-Muslim sentiment and riots on the streets. Muslims and their places of worship were attacked. Foreigners from locations around the world from Pakistanis to Poles were attacked, buildings were set on fire, looting was rife, etc. Before that, there had been a riot by Eastern Europeans over a case of social services trying to remove a child. Mainly Romanians and the police were accused of a softly, softly, approach. Allowing rioters to trash their area where the police seemed to run away.

When Native Brits took to the streets it was a violent and disturbing picture to watch, as they clashed, with riot police. Keir Starmer came down hard and fast-tracked rioters through the courts and many received lengthy prison sentences. Mr. Starmer had to be seen to be tough and he was. However, Mr. Starmer labelled these rioters as far-right and no doubt many were. However, many were just angry and the false information given out by troublemakers on social media about the faith and nationality of the Southport attacker, lit the fuse. Frustrated Brits with pent-up anger over one issue or another, rioted. Many Native Brits, especially the poorest feel they are ignored and marginalised. Not just over migrants but over many issues. They have had 14 years of hell under the Tories and when people feel oppressed or not listened to, they will react, sadly, sometimes violently.

Muslim counter-demonstrators and others took to the streets wearing masks and carrying weapons. Yet, the police seemed to have a different approach to these people. Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) and said the British Police were operating one way dealing with rioters and another way with others. The billionaire businessman called the Prime Minister 'Two-Tier-Kier". Musk was also responding to Mr. Starmer's posting on social media saying owners of social media had a responsibility. A responsibility to police and take down postings likely to cause trouble. People like Musk have a responsibility to do that but what about freedom of speech?

Mr. Starmer said attacks on mosques and Muslims would not be tolerated. Such attackers would face and have faced the full force of the law. The latest one is an 11-year-old child controversially. Sir Keir does have a responsibility to protect minority communities under attack. However, Musk fired back that shouldn't protection be for all communities in the UK? Musk posted a video of an attack by Muslims on a pub with a patron being set upon.

Musk and Starmer engaged in a tit-for-tat engagement on X. Another issue that got Mr. Starmer's goat was Musk comparing the Southport attacker to the assassin who nearly killed Trump. In both cases, no allegiances to Islamic extremism were found unless the evidence for that is being covered up.

We live in troubled times and social media posts, personalities, etc, with their views are not helping. People who whip up trouble just for the sake of causing trouble or pushing an agenda are out for anarchy. The recent riots and counter-riots prove this. People should be allowed to express their views, however, if that posting is likely to cause trouble it should be taken down. The person or persons posting troubling language should be banned from social media platforms. Also, they should face, to quote Sir Keir, the "full force of the law" whether they be Islamic extremists or far-right activists. All extremism whether political, religious, or any other extreme agenda, should be dealt with sternly by social media platforms and the law. However, what constitutes hate postings and what does not is a minefield. What is extremist to one, is not extremism to another.

One troubling development I have noticed since the riots is a man writing on a wall in Birmingham 'No Whites' on two walls. 'No whites allowed' on a third wall. A hooded man was caught on CCTV either reading this graffiti or spraying the words on the walls. A seemingly no-go-area for Native Brits. In other areas, I have seen the Flag of St George being flown. Are they saying non-English people stay out? If these two cases are the way Britain is going we are on dangerous ground.