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Palminder Kaur explores the power of a Facebook campaign to stir emotions, for good and ill.

The potential power of Facebook to promote a cause has perhaps only recently been explored by its users. The Christmas campaign to get Rage Against the Machine to number one instead of Simon Cowell’s latest favourite was a delicious victory for those weary of the previously inevitable annual X-Factor bombastic ballad. There have also been more sinister protests. Controversial groups have sprung up to post pictures of sex offenders and murderers. Whilst claiming to act in the public interest, the tone of these protest groups is almost exclusively hysterical.

A Facebook mob rose again this week to protest an issue which is much less straightforward. Many groups have been formed to challenge the inflammatory threat by Islam4UK to march in protest through the streets of Wootton Bassett, a sleepy town that has become famous for repatriation ceremonies for British serviceman killed abroad.

Islam4UK are a thoroughly unpleasant organisation whose extremist aims include introducing Sharia law to Britain, and turning the country into an Islamic state. They have been very open about having chosen Wootton Bassett for maximum outrage and publicity.

After trawling through the many Facebook groups set up in opposition to the proposed march, I can only conclude that they have succeeded spectacularly. Indulging in and inciting frothy mouthed hatred as well as jeering threats, most of the contributors to the ‘debate’ on Facebook are not only playing straight into the hands of the Islamic fundamentalists, but are mirroring their bigotry exactly.

Arguing with people this irrational is of course a thankless if not pointless task but a few people have been braving it. However it is clear that many people simply do not understand that most Muslims despise these extremists as much as non-Muslims. Should the march go ahead, moderate Muslim groups fully intend to hold a counter march against Islam4UK.

Commenting in these groups with a name as 'ethnic' as mine seems to lead to a surge of replies demanding I 'go back home', usually with a profanity or a bizarre 'lol' to accompany the message. I am not known for my generous opinion of my fellow man but even I have been shocked by the frenzied, belligerent sentiments expressed by these people. Many are very young and I cling to the hope that everyone is a little insane when they’re pubescent but most do not have even this admittedly flimsy excuse.

Since when was being clear headed, thoughtful and tolerant synonymous with weakness, but charging headlong into a fight with the first person who cocks their finger at you a sign of strength? It seems thoughtfulness and rationality are forgotten older siblings while flailing fists and jabbering insults the infants monopolising matters. Issues surrounding religious and racial harmony are more sensitive than who gets to hold the rattle.

It is not opposition to the march which is troubling, but the ignorance and hostility this opposition has exposed. The few souls who have tried to address this ignorance are met with further aggression, or more commonly a refusal to even attempt to understand the information being shared.

Surely the most effective course is to embarrass Islam4UK, to let them march? If you find their views offensive don’t go and stare, wallowing in outrage. They are by no means a large group - the least effective outcome for them would be to turn up and be completely ignored. It is our own sensitivity that is giving these people publicity. It is their ability to get a reaction out of us that is giving them momentum and it will be our hysterical overreaction to that manipulation that will give them power.

Taking a stand against extreme Islam for being repressive and violent, being against an Islamic state because it would not allow the freedom to demonstrate according to one’s beliefs – how can fighting these undesirable principles effectively take the form of violent intolerance? A brawl can only increase exposure for Islam4UK and as a consequence for the BNP. The BNP are all over this – their members are out in force whipping up hatred and feeding on existing prejudices with their insidious teachings of narrow mindedness. This confrontation, were it to take place, would then leave us with two deeply intolerant organisations enjoying increased exposure and influence.

Thankfully at the end of my Facebook trawl I was lucky enough to find a group called ‘Against hatred, ignorance & intolerance’. Here you'll find a refreshing amount of prudence along with some excellent spelling. If you do find yourself on the more vitriolic groups look out for the people using wit to challenge where logic has proved completely ineffectual. You can't say they didn't try.

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