Categories: uncategorized
Date: 06 August 2008 18:51:20
Took a wander into IndyMedia today and discovered about NETCU who are the organisation set up to deal with domestic extremism.
Now at this point I want to insert a disclaimer: I do not generally agree with criminal acts, and certainly don't agree with ones where individuals are put at risk or experience loss. However, I am fully aware that there are times where peaceful, legitimate protest has been forced to engage in actions which the law may consider criminal in order to achieve the greater good. (Examples: where individuals have trespassed on property in order to disengage weapons of war, etc).
Part of the blurb on their website states that "Domestic extremism moves beyond the bounds of legitimate protest to intimidate individuals engaged in lawful activity and to impose economic costs on legal businesses." The second part of the statement is what disturbs me. If we consider the actions that impose economic costs on legal businesses it means that promoting fair trade becomes an act of domestic extremism. Encouraging companies to invest in strategies which benefit the environment and reduce pollution become an act of domestic extremism. Similarly ensuring companies follow health and safety procedure becomes and an act of domestic extremism. All of these things impose economic costs on businesses.
If we turn to the bible and Jesus turning over the tables in the temple, this imposed costs on a legal (but immoral company). His actions may have also intimidated the money changers - again making him a domestic extremist.
I am not saying that we don't need law and order, but...... it worries me the wording and attitudes of organisations which are apparently there to protect us. As a Christian aswell as a citizen there are times when I feel it is legitimate to legally say we must be prepared to impose increased economic costs in order to reduce the social and economic costs. Yet it seems it now deems me an extremist and a threat to civillised society.