Return to: Home | Politics | UK Politics

2 comments from readers

No2PC
10 September 2009 at 16:11

James, freedom of speech is universal and not just for those who have a left wing vision of the world. I get offended when jihad fanatic loving Ken Livinstone and white male hating Harriet Harman appear on question time. The BNP are a political force because of these social engineering nutters and because of the failed policies of the left- Mass uncontrolled immigration, multicuturalism and political correctness. These poliicies have upset many people and caused havoc in our nation. Nick griffin has gained power on the back of this anger and instability. The left created him so stop whining like a spoilt child that has dropped its dummy. Nick Griffin and BNP will be defeated by rational policies such as balanced migration as suggested by Frank Field that advocates one in one out instead of everyboby in. Also when the political commissars in local councils and police forces stop trying ban st georges day parades, bonfire night and the nativity then the BNP will fizzle out. Just because the left hate British culture and traditions many Britains value them and get offended when they are attacked.

See quote

A thoughtful mind, when it sees a Nation's flag, sees not the flag only, but the Nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the Government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the Nation that sets it forth.

Henry Ward Beecher

braytan3945
15 September 2009 at 15:55

No2PC, the fact that no reputable or mainstream party or TV company wants anything to do with the BNP has nothing to do with freedom of speech or "The Left".

The BNP has become a (minor) political force because (a) they've been working on it since the demise of the National Front in the 1970s (b) the people running it now are a lot cleverer than their predecessors (c) It learnt how to sell itself better to exactly the kind of fearful, aliented (not just economically), ill-informed people who want most to believe in its mixture of scaremongering, opportunist, ill-informed, dishonest and racist policies and colourful, populist rhetoric. I dont recall "the left" forcing them to do all that.

I think we can both agree that when Henry Ward Beecher (who by the way was an opponent of racial bigotry) made that quote he wasnt required to put up with fifty fat skinheads wearing St George's t-shirts marching through his neighbourhood demanding that he be transported back to his "country of origin" by force. Nor did he see denying the Holocaust or supporting neo-nazi or neo-fascist causes elsewhere in the world as part of the "principles", "truths" or "history" that "belong to the Nation". Nor was he required to dodge nail bombs in street markets allegedly planted by people who may or may not have been associated with the BNP. Nor was he ever required to give up his home or his job on account of his race or skin colour.

Its funny how when you see a fat skinhead waving the flag you dont see the flag, the nation or its symbols, insignia, truth, history etc. You just see the skinhead. Why do you think that is?

Its hard to see the flag or think about what the flag means to you when the symbols of all that is nasty, ugly, brutish and divisive about Britain today are standing in front of it.

Reminding people of what the flag stands for is a good thing to do from time to time. I'm just not convinced that either you or the BNP are the best or most qualified people to do it.