The Platform

We know what you’re thinking…

The Platform is a blog designed to afford the self-styled, middle-aged South Asian men who dominate the Muslim Council of Britain the opportunity to further propagate their bigoted views. It is a means to further misrepresent the Muslim community via the effusive waffling pontifications of a sexist pseudo-representative, undemocratic and obscenely rich, government-funded Muslim umbrella organisation. Lead by a misogynistic group of Muslim men, keen on maintaining and/or bettering their positions and establishing the dated and barbaric Shariah Law into the British Legal system [by June 17th, 2012, to be exact – please mark it in your diaries], The Platform is another devious tool of the Council’s elaborate and ingenious plans to achieve their iniquitous Wahhabi and Islamist ends.

Or so certain elite quarters may wish to think.

The Platform is a project of the MCB Youth Committee, and characteristic of many youth-led initiatives, we like to express ourselves with explicit and unapologetic precision. And as such, we will unapologetically confirm that what we have just listed above is the precise opposite of what The Platform, and indeed the MCB, is about. [We will not, however, deny that it was remarkably entertaining coming up with all that…]

The Platform is, a youth led blog that seeks to facilitates a neutral ground upon which to have a radical thinking for the future; how we want to be and how we can achieve it. It brings together a diverse milieu of talented young and mature writers to voice views and opinions on current events and topical issues. As the title suggests, it is an open platform for debate, discourse and discussion; a space to constructively engage, employing that very explicit and unapologetic precision, yet in an environment of mutual understanding and respect.

Furthermore, The Platform is a blog with a difference. Not merely a forum for commentary, it is a blog with a visionary objective and direction; one that seeks to asses the present and shape the future by espousing progression. And who better to lead on that, than the youth, the leaders of the future.

The blog is focussed around a central theme: “Britain ten years on – envisioning and structuring progress.” This is designed to mark the completion of the first decade of the millennium with a positive and dynamic approach to the possibilities of the new decade ahead. It is also to promote a proactive approach to debate, maintaining a visionary focus on progress.

The Platform will span 6 structured weeks encompassing 5 pertinent categories:

Universal Values
Crime & Security
Politics and Civic Participation
Spirituality
Culture
In each week will hope to see new, vision-setting and engaging articles posted from individuals throughout the UK and abroad. These will facilitate an engagement with the wider world by helping to encourage and generate thought-provoking views and opinions on the pertinent issues of the day. Blog articles will include contributions from leading academics, journalists and politicians in their respective fields, along with quality contributions from young writers, to generate an exchange of ideas on relevant topics under each category.

You can also be involved by sending in articles on your reflections and vision. This leaves us with the most important question: in structuring progress for Britain, where would you like to see the Community in ten years time?

The Platform is due to be launched in 22nd January 2010.

Needless to say, watch this space.

The Platform’s team would like to show its appreciation to all contributors who have contributed their exclusive articles to this project. We both extend our gratitude and praise towards their contribution and involvement in an initiative to encourage progress and the common good.

We would also like to thank our dynamic team members and volunteers for all their hard works in bringing this project to fruition. The project would not have been possible without their sincere and determined efforts that, commendably, have been contributed in a voluntary capacity.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that the views and opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Muslim Council of Britain, its affiliates, its sponsors or its supporters.