not just a protest

On Armistice day, 11 November, as the country was starting its 2 minute silence in memory of those who died in wars, a group called Muslims Against Crusades chanted ‘British soldiers burn in hell’, burned a large poppy, shouted ‘British troops are murderers', and held banners which read ‘Islam will dominate’ and ‘Our dead are in paradise, your dead are in hell’.

Their actions have been termed a protest, but against what exactly? They are closer to the broad definition of treason, which though an outdated law in need of updating, is still in existence.

Two members of the group of about 30 have been arrested on public order charges. Depending on which section of the law they are charged with, the sentence could be very minor.

Contrast this with the case of the man who jokingly and foolishly made a threat on Twitter about blowing up an airport. Everybody knows it was just hyperbole but he now has a criminal conviction which has already disadvantaged him.

Laws are made and upheld in the public interest. Which of these two behaviours, the tweeter or the protesters, will invoke the greater disgust amongst most people ?