The Thought Police are not the answer

That the appalling acts committed by Anders Breivik are utterly abhorrent is beyond doubt. As are all acts of war.

Because that is how this deranged individual sees what he has done. As an act of war, on what he describes as the oppressive blanket of multiculturalism.

Wars lead to deaths, deaths rarely of those who start wars, but of those the leaders use as their tools of war.

Breivik's atrocities are something born out of frustration, an awful, all consuming frustration which exploded like a raging torrent of molten lava, drowning all sense of reason and driving him to a barbaric and terrifying solution; a statement which could not be ignored.

Racist in any form is a vile and disgusting thing. Yet it is, always has been and will for ever be a part of this world. Attempts to marginalise it, to suppress it or even to criminalise in fact do little more than to drive it below the surface where it boils more virulently.

Those who are its greatest and most active opponents often, ironically, become its greatest proponents, because the constantly remind us all that it exists. For some, this is a state of affairs to be desired.

Humanity has never spoken with one voice. Beliefs differ, and beliefs are strong. When those beliefs are suppressed, they grow even stronger, desperately seeking an outlet as a subterranean river seeks a spring vent.

Since mankind could first walk, he has travelled, further and further afield. In stone age times, Strangers from nearby villages were seen as different, intimidating, even evil.

As man's means of mobility developed, so those strangers came from further afield. One way to distinguish them, a most easy and obvious way was by the colour of their skin. And they brought with them different gods, gods who challenged the accepted ways.

Remember that gods were invented to answer those questions that the fledgling intelligence of humanity could not. Why does the sun rise in the east? Why does the river flow to the sea? Because the gods of the sun and the river so determined it.

Gods gave security to humans, and they clung to them. The presence of strange gods, born by men with strange skins sent shivers of fear through our ancestors, shivers which will never vanish from our lives.

Xenophobia in its most elemental and innocent form is an entirely natural concept, an inevitability of humanity.

But throughout history, men of different creeds and colours have learned to live together, to tolerate each others beliefs, to accept their right to them with, of course, the possible exception of the Catholic Church in certain times.

Tolerance is the key. But tolerance must be learnt. It cannot be forced upon people. You cannot compel humanity of to embrace multiculturalism with open arms just because governments or social movements believe they should.

If there is one lesson we should have learnt from our time on this planet, we simple fools who think we know so much, is that there are few if any right answers, and if they do exist, we probably have not yet discovered them.

There are no quick fixes. None. The thought police have never endured.

Yes, in our history there have been many despicable examples of racial inequality, of religious oppression. Yes, we must be cognizant of these, and strive to eliminate them from our future.

But this will not be achieved through legislation or social engineering. It will take time, and along the way there will be hiccups. But, if it is right, then humanity may eventually achieve it.

The world would do well to take heed of Anders Breivik. He is not alone in his beliefs. Unless we learn the lessons of these events, they will occur again and again, and their scale will grow.

And more people will die, stupidly, pointlessly, needlessly. And we will continue to regress.