Defeat hate and we beat extremism

TERRORISM is a sign of weakness. It is the last desperate throw of extremists.

They have lost the argument. They’re not strong enough to take on our armed forces. Not popular enough to stand for election. So they attack defenceless civilians.

How do we defeat them? We all have a part to play.

Not many of us will meet a terrorist. But lots of us will meet people who drive hatred against others; whether they be Muslims, Jews, black people or gay people. This hatred is the long grass in which extremism hides.

Our job must be to strip away the cover. That might lead to awkward conversations with family or friends who will tell you it’s just their opinion. So be it. It’s those small steps that will defeat extremism.

Last night was an awful reminder that we all have a responsibility to do our bit to tackle hatred, no matter what community we come from.