The Murder Of Jo Cox: This Is What Majoritarian Ultra-Nationalism Looks Like – OpEd

UK Labour MP Jo Cox, was shot, and stabbed and killed by a white nationalist shouting “Britain First”.

Ms Cox, who supported Britain to stay in EU, had been campaigning with her husband and two little kids and had been a strong supporter for intervention in Syria as well, as well as campaigning for Britain to take in more refugees.

Britain, as a nation desensitized by violence, has a reputation to keep calm and show fortitude, as compared to the cousins across the pond.  British politics is good humored, debated in Parliament in PMQs, and chases in boats across the Thames. Yet, never since the early 1980s, has it been so toxic.

For far too long, British white nationalists has been regarded as stupid idiots who can’t spell or construct a single English sentence, but not anymore. They are a threat, just as much as ultra nationalism across Europe and US, and they need to be identified and dealt with firmly, with extreme prejudice, if necessary.

There are rational arguments both for and against Brexit. Already three major publications have endorsed and taken sides, the Spectator came out for Brexit, and the Economist and Financial Times came out against Britain leaving the EU. But no side supports violence, especially the stabbing and shooting of a defenseless public servant.

An attack against an MP is an attack against democracy itself…and it should be dealt with accordingly.