In today's G2 section of the Guardian there is a very effective article by Billy Bragg, in which he recalls how the original Rock Against Racism movement inspired him and how the current Love Music Hate Racism concept can do the same for potential future Billy Braggs.

A few selective quotes:

"Back in the late 70s, I was working in an office, a place of casual racism and homophobia. I never spoke out against it because I felt I was in a minority and didn't want the grief. On the streets, the National Front were marching through immigrant neighbourhoods, stirring up trouble and trying to divide communities."

This is the thing to remember for everyone out there: you are not alone.  As Billy Bragg found out.

"When I arrived at the rally, in east London, I was amazed to see 100,000 young people just like me - one for every vote the National Front had won in the council elections the year before. I came away with a strong sense that this was where my generation was going to make its stand. Just as youth in the 50s had marched against the bomb and the longhairs of the 60s had opposed the Vietnam war, we were going to define ourselves in opposition to discrimination in all its forms."

And the happy ending:

Well, it was the music of the Clash that got me to the Rock Against Racism carnival. However, it wasn't the songs they played that day, or the speeches that were made from the stage that changed my world. It was being in that audience. I went to work the next day determined to speak up against the racists, confident in the knowledge that I was not alone.

Just by existing we are giving reassurance to those who are not racist or homophobic and giving them the confidence of knowing that they are not alone, and are not even in a minority. When Wealden UAF organise an LMHR concert at some time in the future everyone who attends will be making a difference.  You do not have to be performing, organising or making speeches. Just be being in the audience you can make an impact and may be unwittingly inspiring somebody.

(Photo by neil365 distributed under a Creative Commons license)