If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next,” meticulously woven by the Manic Street Preachers. From the sacred halls of their album This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours (1998), this melodic manifesto ascended to the paramount position on the UK’s sonic summit, reigning as a number one single.
The very essence of this opus finds its genesis in the fertile soil of inspiration, where the seeds of influence sprouted from The Clash’s seminal creation, “Spanish Bombs.”A profound connection was forged, the torch of artistic lineage passed from one generation to another, as the Manic Street Preachers breathed life into their own saga.Oddly enough, The English Defence League Party in England choose The Manics’ “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” for their Birmingham campaign in 2013.
Read more : https://www.nme.com/news/music/manic-street-preachers-66-1258877
NME https://www.nme.com/news/music/manic-street-preachers-138-1318336
Use The Manics’s music for politics campaign is not unusual.
But the English Defence League was formed by a group of radical nationalists who despised and opposed Muslims in England. Formed a political party in 2009 and has been accused of involvement in several violence against Muslims and Asians in the UK.
Allow me to kindly remind you that the composition titled “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” carries within it a staunch anti-fascist sentiment, firmly rooted in the far-right opposition. It has come to the attention of the esteemed members of the Manic Street Preachers that this song, which they have carefully crafted, has been adopted by the English Defence League Party for their campaign purposes. Consequently, the aforementioned musicians have taken necessary legal actions against the English Defence League. I kindly implore you to refrain from utilizing their music for such campaign endeavours.
From the year 2009, the fervent followers of the nationalist British National Party have employed this song for their propagandistic crusades. Why? How do these souls, nestled within the realms of far-right political factions, profess their adoration for music without ever basking in its lyrical depths?
For within this harmonious creation lies a poignant phrase that resonates fervently:
“So if I can shoot rabbits, then I can shoot fascists.”
Oh, how it resounds, proclaiming the antithesis to the fervour of nationalism, the dominion of dictatorship, and the creed of the right-winged ideologues.
With every sonic surge and poetic proclamation, the Manic Street Preachers beckon us to confront the stark realities that besiege our existence. They warn of a perilous future, should we surrender to the pernicious forces that lurk in the shadows of our apathy. “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next” pierces through the collective consciousness, an eloquent outcry against the veiled oppressions that threaten to suffocate the dreams of our progeny.
The understanding dawns upon me that the individual tasked with the selection of melodies oftentimes fixates solely upon the title, allowing ignorance of its true essence to prevail. Such misconceptions, my esteemed interlocutor, Let me regale you with a tale harkening back to the year 1974 when Cliff Richard, renowned for his mellifluous voice, bestowed upon us the rendition of “Honky Tonk Angel” (originally known as “There’s a Honky Tonk Angel (Who’ll Take Me Back In)”).
However, as fate would have it, an epiphany seized him—revealing the veiled meaning behind the phrase “Honky Tonk Angel,” an American parlance denoting a lady of ill-repute. Driven by the fervour of his devout Christian beliefs, he expeditiously beseeched his record company to halt the single’s release in the United Kingdom, thus averting any potential discord with his deeply cherished convictions.
“If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next,” a single that dons the mantle of a lengthy title. Its fame, extends to the annals of the Guinness Book of World Records, securing its place as the preeminent song with the most extensive nomenclature.
The progenitors of this sonic creation, the Manics, drew inspiration from a political poster, birthed amidst the tempestuous Spanish Civil War, which spanned the years of AD 1936 to 1939. Adorning this poster, a chilling tableau unfolds—a lifeless child’s form, etched against a backdrop of airborne destroyers, a haunting depiction beseeching all who gaze upon it to ponder the ramifications.
Madrid. The ‘military’ practice of the Rebels. If you tolerate this, your children will be next
Propaganda
Amidst the tempestuous Spanish Civil War, a cataclysmic conflict that raged from AD 1936 to 1939, a call to arms reverberated across the land. Volunteers, driven by an unwavering spirit, mustered their courage to confront the encroaching forces of General Francisco Franco Bahamonde —a man whose iron fist sought to impose a dictatorial regime, steeped in the ideals of far-right fascism. His fervent ambition was to seize the reins of power, thus subjecting the nation to his authoritarian rule.
In this turbulent theatre of warfare, the International Brigades emerged as a formidable force, attracting valiant souls from every corner of the globe. Their purpose was resolute—to defend the ideals of liberty, justice, and equality against the relentless onslaught of Franco’s nationalist faction. The conflict, dear reader, was far from a mere struggle between two opposing entities; it epitomized a proxy war—a clash between the forces of communism and the radical nationalists. The republics, encompassing an intricate tapestry of subgroups such as the moderate Socialists, communists, Catalan people, and Basque people, found themselves pitted against the opposition that wielded weapons as a means to assert dominance—the nationalist coalition, comprised of aged military factions, Royalists, devout Catholics, and the like.
Behind the scenes, external powers fuelled this inferno, with the republics receiving support from the Soviet Union, staunch proponents of Leninism and other communist ideologies, while their adversaries garnered aid from the depths of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.
During that era, a profound sense of duty impelled numerous British men to answer the call of war, among them George Orwell—a luminary whose words would inspire the timeless works of Animal Farm and the notorious 1984. It is worth noting that the very propaganda poster you allude to belonged to the republican faction, its purpose being to shed light on the harrowing atrocities committed by the nationalists.
Read More: Animal Farm
Regrettably, the Spanish Civil War culminated in the triumph of General Francisco Franco’s nationalist forces, and he, in turn, assumed the mantle of leadership, an enduring tenure that persisted until his demise in 1975. For almost four decades, his governance exerted a pervasive influence over the nation’s destiny.
Lyrics
The future teaches you to be alone The present to be afraid and cold So if I can shoot rabbits Then I can shoot fascists
The passage you eloquently reference serves as a poignant reflection on the lessons imparted by the inexorable march of time. In its essence, it speaks to the solitude one often encounters along life’s winding path, where uncertainty and chill pervade the air.
The resolute words “If I can shoot rabbits, I can shoot fascists” find their origin within the pages of Hywel Francis’ esteemed literary work, Miners Against Fascism: Wales and the Spanish Civil War, published in the year 1984. Within this insightful tome, the author portrays these words as the profound utterance of a valiant Welsh militiaman who, guided by unwavering conviction, selflessly volunteered to join the fray of the Spanish Civil War.
Bullets for your brain today But we'll forget it all again Monuments put from pen to paper Turns me into a gutless wonder
The term “gutless wonder,” when translated literally, may appear as “irrational wonder,” devoid of meaningful connotation. However, it serves as a descriptor employed in lieu of the phrase “foolish people.” Its origins can be traced back to the works of Kurt Vonnegut, particularly his seminal novel Slaughterhouse-Five, published in 1969. Within this semi-autobiographical masterpiece, the narrative delves into the haunting aftermath of the World War II incendiary bombing of Dresden. One of the notable characters introduced is Kilgore Trout, a struggling science fiction writer hailing from Ilium, New York, who finds financial solace through the management of newspaper delivery boys. Kilgore Trout, a recurring figure in Vonnegut’s literary repertoire, employs the term “gutless wonder” to denounce a young boy’s desire to abandon his pursuit, branding him as lacking courage or fortitude. This theme resurfaces in Vonnegut’s 1973 novel, Breakfast of Champions.
And if you tolerate this Then your children will be next And if you tolerate this Then your children will be next Will be next Will be next Will be next
Gravity keeps my head down Or is it maybe shame At being so young and being so vain
Holes in your head today But I'm a pacifist I've walked La Ramblas But not with real intent
La Rambla, or Las Ramblas as it is commonly known, stands as a prominent thoroughfare weaving through the heart of Barcelona. I have traversed its storied path, though perhaps not with a resolute purpose, but rather with a spirit touched by the indelible influence of George Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia.
And if you tolerate this Then your children will be next And if you tolerate this Then your children will be next Will be next Will be next Will be next Will be next And on the street tonight an old man plays With newspaper cuttings of his glory days
And if you tolerate this Then your children will be next And if you tolerate this Then your children will be next Will be next Will be next Will be next
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If you are interested in the story of the volunteer soldiers who joined the army. International Brigades highly recommended http://www.international-brigades.org.uk/