I don't know exactly how many of the none Brits here are aware of British politics so I'll just give you a quick backgroud of the BNP, the British National Party (or the British Nazi Party as it's frequetly called these days). The problem is, is that the BNP won two seats in the recent European elections, which I personally see as a huge step back for England. We pride ourselves on our multiculturalism and acceptance and then something like this happens. It was only in 1993 that the leader of this party came out and openly said 'we are 100% racist.' Now of course they must avoid such blunt claims but instead claim that they are looking out for the well being of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish and won't allow anyone who isn't white to join the party. They are anti interracial relationships, claiming that 'racial differeces must be preserved.' They are openly racist and yet they are gaining power. It's beyond me, honestly. Their leader, Nick Griffin, is nothing but a stuttering simpleton that has nothing to offer but racial slurs and insults. It's disgusting that a man like this has any say in representing modern Britain. He was allowed on Question Time recently, a programme where members of the government have to answer questions on the spot. This was an outrage here because most people thought that someone with openly racist views should not have been given this big opportunity to spit his venom, but Griffin made an absolute tit of himself and proved that he is nothing but a racist. There's no politics behind it, no positives. If you guys are interested, here's a couple of clips. You can find the rest on the column on the right, it's very interesting, please watch! if you guys want me to post the clips to stop you searchig, I have no problem doing that. They get more interesting than the first two and whilst it's time consuming, it's worth it. [YOUTUBE]<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4iKfrY9l2kY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4iKfrY9l2kY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zNVB43xfBRY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zNVB43xfBRY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE] What do you guys think? Both Brits and non Brits, do you think that we are under the threat of these blatant racists gaining more power in our multi cultural country? Why do you think that is?
Wow Russia, talk about a transparent, sick, twisted, snake-oil salesmen. That guy reminded me soooo much of the David Duke's and those like him, trying desperately to put a "moderate" and "civilized" face on what is essentially, at its core, base racism and hatred, nothing more. Very disturbing to hear that they have won some seats in the government, clearly a sign that fear of immigration is overriding common sense in some areas.
Interesting post, Russia. This is indeed quite bothersome, but I cautiously believe these types of things pop up and then dissolve over time. Whilst it is disturbing that people like this exist and get into power within countries, I don't see it as being a major threat to the democracy and decency of the UK. Last decade, we had a relatively nutty woman called Pauline Hanson start the "one nation" party which, although not as overtly racist as the BNP, still focused far too much on blame, ethnic minorities and nationalism. She rapidly achieved alarming support - specifically from lower and low-middle socio-economic whites, but the lack of any real substance soon brought the whole thing crashing down. The truth is, she provided an answer (albeit an incorrect one) to the perceived issues of certain segments of the community and people jumped on the wagon as they felt like they were really being understood. If the answers were robust, and the problem real, I suspect the party would have succeeded. They're still around, but have, perhaps, one or two seats nationally. They've also become significantly more moderate. Britain is, as I understand it, the most multi-cultural nation on earth. Assuming that no non-caucasian person votes for the party, and a reasonable majority of caucasian people don't either, it is highly unlikely that the BNP would gain any major power within the government. Single-policy parties act more as powerful lobby groups to major parties than as any serious contender to political power (specifically, they focus more on the senate here). A lack of diverse and relevant policy means that the majority of voters see the party as just that - a single-minded and loud voice. The Greens party here, for example, has only recently begun to gain mainstream support as they've developed policies on a wide range of important areas. Previously, they were just fighting for the environment. Given the distasteful nature of the BNP's policy point, I would think most major parties would actually distance themselves significantly, unlike with the Green Party who support issues understood by most to be significant, worthy and important. The Western world continues to move towards anti-discrimination agendas and there is majority support and understanding why this is the only right way. Britain is a highly visible member of the international community and a centre for international trade, commerce, culture, communication and transit. The exchange of ideas and, hopefully, enlightenment achieved in such places will keep things in balanced perspective. The man has, as you said, only succeeded in proving himself a fool with his idiotic grinning and total lack of substance. The only thing which bothers me slightly is that this is not a new, knee-jerk political party - they have been building up over several decades. This starts to build complacency with the voters as the party becomes normalised. Having said all that - history has proven that small irritations and crazy ideas can change the world. I think that pressure should be placed such, and perhaps it will begin to happen, that this group begins to be disempowered. Democracy or not.
I think they'll gain SOME ground, but ultimately there's a reason they're called 'extremists' - most people don't agree with them, and never will. Look at France, their equivalent part has consistently scored 10% or so and has never been more than a blip, apart from a flash result where they came 2nd in the Presidential run-offs in '02, only to be resoundingly crushed a week later down to their original size by the Conservative Jacques Chirac. That ultimate reason is that racism is, inherently, a flawed premise. I believe most racists - of all colours - either have hit the reverse jackpot in their dealings with other colours, or have a gene (in)active that is(n't) in most people. And now, for the fun stuff... The BNP was recently forced by court order to open membership to non-whites. I think I'll join just to needle them. I'll stroll up to the bar after conventions, flirt with the barmaids, and order a "White Lady" in a loud voice. It's a pretty awful drink, but I'll imbibe for the greater good. :smt023
I saw QT part 2 and it was exciting. That Black playwright said she wanted to slap Griffin according to the tabloids. I remember the National Front when I saw it on 60 Minutes back in the 70's. One of the leaders I think its Tyndall said Britain might had a Black Queen. Morley Safer said later Britain already had one:Queen Charlotte Sofia wife of King George III. Griffin's remarks about David Duke and the KKK was funny as well.
A day after seeing the question time broadcast I went to the British Library to hear speeches of famous people called The Sound and The Fury. One man I've hear was speaking of his rememberence of heckling Oswald Mosley the British Fascist. That insident was recorded and it reminds me if some people heckled Griffin in one of his BNP rallies.
Well I was wondering when someone was going to bring this up, I actually went onto the BBC complaints site and complained about this man being given a spot on TV funded by the License payer, also the week before that I heard him on Radio 3 trying to exsplain his policies and his view on why he has the right to use British Military Icons as advertising for his morally bankrupt party. Nick Griffin is nothing but a national front skinhead bully in a suit, trouble is we are in a bit of a trying time financially and that is when parties/people like this flourish they use these excuses to transfer there hatred onto immigrants and so on, blaming them for Job Losses/lack of Jobs, this is a bad time for Britain and I'm ashamed. I will say the BBC needs to seriously think about its censorship policy, you don't see ITV or any independent channels giving this man a throne to spout his garbage from! no! because they are wise and would be too scared to upset its sponsors, I think the BBC has become too comfortable with it's position in British Television, it feels it has no one to answer to anymore they need reining in. How many people watched that show and felt sorry for Nick? because by putting him on there and challenging him it made him look the victim, giving him exactly what he wanted, sympathy and with that people who Identify with his dressed up Racism.
I was personally very glad he was allowed on Question time. He was always gonna get carved up and make the party look stupid. If people were considering voting for the BNP before question time, the sure as hell will be reconsidering now.
The broadcaster said that the BBC had mishandled the first appearance of the British National party on the flagship political programme, by setting the “attack dogs” against Griffin. As a result, some people were likely to have felt some sympathy for Griffin, she hinted. MacGregor, 68, who presented the Today programme for more than 17 years, said: “I don’t think it was right to completely skew the formula to him and one issue. “It either gave him a huge audience for his views, which I would not approve of, or it gave the impression of attack dogs against Nick Griffin,” she said. The BBC has had 243 complaints that Thursday’s show was biased against Griffin, compared with 114 complaining about him appearing on it. Meanwhile, an ICM survey found that 23 per cent of people said the appearance on Question Time will win the BNP more support. The poll also showed that almost two-thirds of voters feel the mainstream parties have no credible policies on immigration and 10 per cent agreed with the far-right party that there should be a halt to all future immigration. The above is from a Telegraph report, which backs up my personal opinion that Griffin has done nothing but benefited from his appearance on Question Time, he has been given the respectability of a mainstream politian by being a guest and I should imagine he predicted the turn of events whilst on the show and was probably quite happy about being the Star of a Witch hunt.
Yes I think it is good that he was allowed to be on television. I think the vast majority of people will see how racist they are. But I do not think they can stop the changes that are happeniong in Europe between WW and BM.
