I think we are in a peculiar situation because I am still contesting a viewpoint which has now been deleted, and subsequent agreement with that viewpoint. So any newcomers (to this thread) may mis-interpret my position. I have not expressed any opinion about the march!
But now I will:
I believe it's more an expression of disgust with our government than it is about our soldiers. As I've already said, I suspect that the majority of the marchers are fully entitled to be here, probably born here, and have as much right as anyone to express their opinion. I understand their view of our government and suspect that many white people do also. Is Yemen going to be next, a fully democratic country?
Perhaps it is a sensitive place to organise a march but it has sure grabbed the headlines.
What I am saying is: let's stop persecuting those that are here, for whatever reason they are here.
As a Union Official once said (in so many words 'cos I don't have the exact quote) in the 60's during an industrial dispute, "we did not want you here, but now you are here, you are our brothers and we will support you"
I would not disagree with some kind of qualification requirement for those wishing to enter this country. Genuine refugee status is a recognisable, internationally-agreed situation and must not be interfered with. You cannot put a quota on refugees.
But for goodness sake, persecuting anyone who is already here for any reason (possibly through no fault or choice of their own), is not good for harmonic relations. Let's embrace them as neighbours and friends and perhaps their feeling of alienation may subside a little. But I think it will take a long long time to gain their respect and trust. (I was gonna say "Don't start me on the trust/Jenga paradigm/theory/synonym" but now I've mentioned it, I may as well expound my 'synonym' Trust is like a game of Jenga. Break someone's trust once and the tower might wobble. The trust may be strong enough to take a few hits. After sufficient hits and wobbles the tower falls and it'll take a heck of a lot to re-build it)
Suppose we have lost the trust of many of our community through incorrect labelling? It's gonna take a lot to regain that trust. Further harrasment, persecution and prejudice is going to scatter those Jenga blocks far and wide.
If anyone is guilty of an offence, they should be punished. But do not persecute the whole community for the actions of the few.
