The Baillie Bugle

Grumble, grumble, grumble...

The marches in London on Sunday; three quarter of a million people marching against war.
Biggest protest march in British history.

All good stuff - I like to see people standing up for what they believe in (whether or not I share their views).
However... Not so sure about the banners being carried by a lot of people.
For a start, this was supposed to be a political march, not an excuse for the tabloids to get some cheap advertising.
The Muslim Association of Britain were on hand, giving placards to keen demonstrators. On one side of one of the placards they handed out it said 'No To War'. On the other side it said 'Free Palestine'.
I think you'll agree these are two completely different issues. It's not nice to see organisations squeeze in their own agenda whenever the opportunity arises. The same sort of outside interference from organisations ruined the NUS student marches five years ago.

I asked someone who marched about his BMA banner. He wasn't really sure what Palestine was, nevermind why or if it should be free. He was just marching against Bush and Blair he said. I'm sure of the 750,000 many were in the same boat.

I'm all for people marching for something they believe in, but I'm very cautious about applauding people marching for something they don't understand.