Manchester Synagogue Attack

Allira I agree that not only was it inappropriate it was disrespectful.

GrannyGravy13

Outcast52 there are numerous ways of protesting/supporting Gaza without the need to support Palestinian Action Group which has been proscribed as a terrorist group here in the U.K.

Those holding placards in support of PAG knew full well that they would be arrested.

I agree. My objection is to the use of the word "mob" to classify all who join in these marches, and "silly" for those, particularly older people, who choose to express their support by holding signs to that effect.

Well, silly is quite mild.

And mob - a group of people associated with a place or a thing.

I did NOT call the poster wrong-headed and bigoted: I was referring to their views as indicated by their choice of words to describe participants in marches supporting Palestinians in Gaza, words which I found objectionable.

Allira

Well, silly is quite mild.

And mob - a group of people associated with a place or a thing.

Oh yes, we've been here before haven't we?

Do you think " mob" is a neutral word?

It isn't silly to object to thousands and thousands of people being killed and to protest.

This discussion is not moving forward in any way. Arguing semantics and jumping on people who do not express themselves in the form that you would prefer is not helping the cause of Jewish people feeling secure living in the UK. There is as far as I can see nobody here who does not want that.

Allira

Well, silly is quite mild.

And mob - a group of people associated with a place or a thing.

Interesting to see your very different interpretation, Allira. As someone who has attended relevant marches, I found the use of "mob" particularly judgmental and dismissive, with its connotations of mindlessness and threatening or intimidating behaviour. "Silly", to my mind, was used with a scornful, sneering, dismissive attitude.

Crikey it is a good job I didn't express what I think about the marchers especially those who marched on the day of the terrorist attack.
If you believe in the freedom of people to march then people also have the right to express their views on the marches.

Allira

Well, silly is quite mild.

And mob - a group of people associated with a place or a thing.

I've never heard of anybody using the word "mob" to describe the people in church on Sunday.

"Mob" has negative connotations and is associated with epithets like "rowdy", "noisy", "violent", "disorganised", etc. I'm sure you know what a "mobster" is.

You can choose to be offended if you like Outcast52

StripeyGran mob is a word for a big group of people.
It’s very silly indeed for anyone, let alone older people who should have more sense to follow blindly a group which has been proscribed by the government.They can protest peacefully as much as they like but not hold placards supporting PA.In my view, an in others too they are proving useful tools to the leadership of PA. Yvette Cooper says they don’t know the full extent of this group and their aims and who backs them.

Casdon

This discussion is not moving forward in any way. Arguing semantics and jumping on people who do not express themselves in the form that you would prefer is not helping the cause of Jewish people feeling secure living in the UK. There is as far as I can see nobody here who does not want that.

I want everybody in the UK to feel safe, whatever their religion, skin colour or ethnic origin.

That’s nice.

mob is a word for a big group of people. No, it isn't that simple and any decent dictionary will mention its negative connotations.

I guess semantics distract from real issues.

Of course, but this thread is specifically about the attack on a synagogue sunami, and I was addressing people’s comments about the security of Jewish people living in the UK.

Casdon it’s a losing battle.

Casdon

This discussion is not moving forward in any way. Arguing semantics and jumping on people who do not express themselves in the form that you would prefer is not helping the cause of Jewish people feeling secure living in the UK. There is as far as I can see nobody here who does not want that.

I completely agree, Casdon, and I apologise for moving into semantics to justify my post. I could not be more horrified and dismayed by yesterday's events and I cannot imagine how appallingly difficult life must be for anyone of Jewish faith living in fear and anguish right now.
Many years ago, I was a nanny to a Jewish family in Golders Green at a much more peaceful time. I lived with them, looked after their home and children and learned a great deal about their faith, culture and customs. I have no understanding of anti-semitism and the minds which generate it and I join with all who long for a world of tolerance and acceptance of all races and faiths.

Oreo

Casdon it’s a losing battle.

But you're not losing anything, so I don't understand the claim that you are.

a world of tolerance and acceptance of all races and faiths.

Apparently, you're not allowed to wish for anything like that on this thread. It's only for expressing sympathy for Jews.

(See the post above yours, ticking me off.)

There seem to be a few things you don’t understand sunami
Could one of them be that for Jews this is a very sad and fraught time even tho we are not surprised, which in itself is very shocking.When posters who profess kindness to all only care about the use of two words.

Well that didn't last long, did it? Actually I think the government made a mistake in proscribing PAG and will find it difficult to step back from it. I wouldn't have supported marches this weekend but others are entitled to feel differently. I spent last weekend with a close friend who knows someone who is quite elderly and who has already been arrested for sitting quietly with a placard saying she supports PAG. I think describing them as a "mob" is hardly accurate but Oreo is entitled to her opinion.
This woman was intending to sit again this weekend and was well aware of the consequences of being charged with a terrorist offence. It is very serious and has huge implications for many aspects of one's life like travel, obtaining insurance eg for cars, financial etc, it's just not the jail sentence.I don't think she's "silly". She's committed to what she believes is right and is prepared to accept the consequences of her actions. I also know what her job was before she retired and she is certainly neither unintelligent or uneducated. She is braver than I am and probably braver than most. I don't think anyone has to agree with her POV but she also has the right to make if by quietly sitting with a placard.

Two words? Which two words

What is a PAG ?

Oreo

There seem to be a few things you don’t understand sunami
Could one of them be that for Jews this is a very sad and fraught time even tho we are not surprised, which in itself is very shocking.When posters who profess kindness to all only care about the use of two words.

Well the reference to 'two words' in this post clearly refer to me. So could it be that nothing else in the thread other than those two words offended me enough to object? I've already said that I thought long and hard before posting - maybe you should have done the same when you chose to class hundreds of people you've never met in such sneering, dismissive terms.
And I'm wondering if the reference to 'profess kindness to all' is insinuating that you don't believe that statement to be sincere? How very sad. I'll be withdrawing from the thread now.

Palestine Action Group annie.

Palestine Action Group

Which has been proscribed.

Sadly - it's one of this cases where the intention of most were peaceful actions - have been hi-jacked by a small number of those who destroyed property - not of course attack people -(the usual suspects)

So those taking peaceful action have now been arrested and there is deep division within and outside the L party about whether they should have been proscribed

As opposed to the obvious, which is to arrest just those who did destroy property

A member of my Quaker MfW was arrested on a peaceful demonstration a couple of weeks ago. She said some of the police think - - why on earth are we arresting these older people who aren't actually harming anyone - nor getting in the way that can course harm.