Together we can beat jingoism
It was good to read the Shropshire Star report on fire servicemen visiting a mosque. Whenever people of different origins meet there is the hope that somewhere nationalists may read, think and change their views.
It was good to read the Shropshire Star report on fire servicemen visiting a mosque. Whenever people of different origins meet there is the hope that somewhere nationalists may read, think and change their views.
I have re-read George Bernard Shaw's 1929 preface, John Bull's Other Island, to verify what he wrote about a united Ireland. He imagined shouts from Belfast of "we won't have it" but regarded this as a hopeful sign that they will have it gladly enough when they have the luck to get it.
This was the last paragraph, preceded by about 30 pages of intricate, proven facts and controversial opinions. He wrote: "Nationalism stands between Ireland and the light of the world."
His reference to Islam followed an episode in the Egyptian village Denshawai (of the then British Empire). Peasants were revenged because they rebelled when British men shot their birds (their livelihood).
After much argument between eminent people, a crazy peak was reached when Sir Edward Grey appealed to the House not to criticise or repudiate the terrible punishments inflicted on the peasants as they were "the fuglemen of a gigantic Moslem plot to rise against Christendom".
We must hope that intelligent people continue to outnumber the bigoted.
Mary Stringer, Bridgnorth
