My letter to Eric Pickles in response to his letters to UK Mosques

Dear Mr Pickles,

I see that you have written letters to members of our society to try and encourage them to stamp out extremism. I was left slightly saddened and confused when I got home and my letterbox greeted me with a vacant silence.
Why did I not receive one? Granted I am not a Muslim, nor is my voice one that's heard by millions of ears. But am I not a member of this society? Do I not share influence with those around me, Muslim or not? Or are Muslims those that sit outside of our society? Do we all not jointly and collectively share in the responsibility of ensuring no member of our society feels so disconnected, who feels no warmth in the arms of British society that they would instead find comfort and warmth in the arms of extremists?

If you wish to see who really shoulders the majority of the responsibility, then you'd need only look into a mirror. The letters you sent out should have been sent to all those in Westminster. I believe that it is Westminster that has the largest amount of influence when it comes to someone being radicalised or not. Actions speak louder than words Mr Pickles and a picture is worth a thousand words. Do you not believe that the pictures of civilians being killed in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and many more places at the hands of forces supported, funded and aided by Westminster have less of an impact than one extremist speech. Do you not feel that were these pictures not being painted by the hand of Westminster then speeches calling for an attack against the UK would carry all the weight of a feather. There is such a thing as a society and we are all a part of it. Religious, non religious. Blond hair, brown. Blue eyes, dark eyes. Light skin, dark skin. This is our society, there are no individual sections of it. Our society then looks to Westminster to lead it, is that not the point? And lead you do, however you seem to lead yourselves in one direction and point us towards another. Leading by example is always the best way. Rather than insisting others do more to end extremism perhaps you should do more to end extremism in the decisions you make. Decisions that affect people all over the world.

You may respond to this letter if you wish or you may not, I wouldn't get offended if you didn't. My reason for writing this was not solely to get a response but to at least get you to think. It's with great optimism that I hope it has, however it's with a heavy heart I fear it has not.

All The Best,

Damien Biggs