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Sharron Edwards urges more women to step forward.....
"BEHIND every good man, there's a good woman," goes the saying,
but we need more. We know they are there, so why do they stay silent in
the background? Before the reader concludes that I'm just another passenger
on the feminist bandwagon, let me say that nothing could be further from
the truth. Under no circumstances would I want to see our patriotic women
used like 'Blair's Babes' or the 'Blue Rinse Brigade'. There is much more
to it than simply courting respectability. Our women represent the true
spirit of nationalism and patriotism - an invaluable commodity when it
comes to enlightening those who have been indoctrinated with multi-culturalism,
or to bringing up the next generation with healthy values.
So we need to see more women standing up in public for our country,
but this is not something which can be forced from above with artificial
and demeaning quotas. It can only come about when our women, as individuals,
decide to make it happen. For a start, then, I would like to encourage
the less faint-hearted women to stand as candidates, because the greater
in number we are with our men, the stronger we are and the less likely
to be marginalised or divided. Unity is again the key to success.
Understandably, reservations about standing in elections will arise,
but before dismissing the idea out of hand, permit me to address some of
these concerns in the light of my own personal experience. Name-calling
has to take prominence above all else. You probably will be singled out,
partly because you are a woman, but mainly because you are a patriotic
nationalist. It almost goes without saying that you will be called a 'Nazi'.
Not so long ago, when contesting a by-election, I fought the same seat
as a Militant Labour candidate. He concentrated on portraying me as the
biggest Nazi since Hitler, but while this tosh made no difference to my
campaign, he ended up with a mere 17 votes!
All candidates, male or female, must console themselves with the fact
that name-calling derives from insecurity and ignorance; you opponent's
worthlessness and hatred is to be pitied, not feared. Furthermore, there
are laws within the Representation of the People Act to protect candidates
from personal attacks in elections. So if the opposition should become
aggressive and rudely false about your character, a complaint to the Returning
Officer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the police -- together
with plenty of statements to the local press -- can soon put a stop to
such nonsense.
Acceptability among friends and in the workplace is also of obvious
importance, and is also often high on the agenda of uncertainty. All I
can say from my own experience is that I have received both praise and
admiration from all concerned. This is natural, because a nationalist candidate
invariably represents ordinary decent folk by saying what they all think
but don't quite have the courage to come out with.
I meet people from all walks of life, and I can honestly say that everyone
has been comfortable with my politics, the parents of my children's friends
included. From this I draw the conclusion that most people are already
largely in agreement with us. This inspires me greatly. Besides, anyone
who did disapprove wouldn't be worth having as a friend in any case, and
would be taken off the Christmas card list forthwith!
Media not a problem
Another worry which often arises concerns the media. How do I handle them?
What if I'm asked awkward questions? Don't panic, there are plenty of experienced
party officials who can help out here. In time to come, more frequent educational
seminars will enable us to prepare candidates extensively in press procedure.
Also well worthwhile would be to train suitable, articulate members to
provide each region with its own press officer. In the meantime, if you
are confident that you are already able to deal with the media, that's
excellent. A key tip here: Whenever you are speaking to journalists or
appearing on TV or radio, always define the reason for your being there
and adhere to it. What they don't have they can't transmit!
I hope that the comments and pointers above have helped to allay some
of your apprehensions. Such worries are, as a matter of fact, not exclusive
to women, or even to nationalists. Ask any cloth-cap Labour type what he
thinks of the Tories and the air will be blue for a fortnight! That's just
politics; it's nothing to worry about.
Badge of honour
In any case, hostility from the criminals who have dragged our people and
country down into the mud is really a badge of honour. Take heart! For
to contest elections is one of the finest deeds one can possibly do. You
will have the full support of the party at all levels. And, without wanting
to sound patronising, you will find working on behalf of the community
to be rewarding as well as interesting.
Just stop and think for a moment! The courage of our ancestors left
behind them a legacy of freedom; it is only right that today's generation
honour their sacrifice and in turn do what we can for our country. And
it is only right that women join our men in the battle to alleviate the
perils of the present age: lawlessness; disrespect for family values; and
the breakdown of society bred by the policies of the last government and
made worse by the present one.
So if, like me, you too feel so strongly about your family's future,
your beloved country, nation and heritage, do not deny yourself. Be confident
in the courage of your convictions, for you hold a truth within which can
never be destroyed.
Inner strength
Such inner strength is a vital tool for the 'cause', without which we have
no hope for a worthwhile future for our children, and in which the contesting
of elections is inevitably an important part of the struggle, although
there are many other areas of our work in which women could -- and should
-- be much more heavily involved as well.
There have in the past been many great British women who have made history.
In the same vein I call upon all fellow female patriots out there to join
with me and help make history. We have a maternal duty, a natural human
capacity to nurture and care for our family under even the most desperate
circumstances; so whether it be by supporting our husbands in the background,
or by being counted on the elctoral front line, we can make history. We
can make a real difference and provide a fitting inheritance for our future
generations -- a country worth living in, a country of which we can once
again be proud.
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