Hmmm.
Whilst having a pointless drunken argument with friends about Gary Glitter recently, it became very obvious how afraid people are of listeners assuming the worst when words are said in defence of a particular person or idea. Let me explain. The point that this person was making was that there has been a disproportionate amount of media coverage given to Gary Glitter's sexual perversions over in the Far East because he is still considered a celebrity by the British tabloid media. He explained that there were in fact many men from western countries who travel to the far east in order to satisfy whatever illegal activity (paedophilia) it is they want to commit.
A fairly simple point you may say. Even while drunk it couldn't have taken him too long to get the message across. However, much of his speaking time allowance (not much in this kind of situation) was taken up with him repeatedly asserting that he wasn't a paedophile and that such acts are disgusting and horrific. It made me laugh that he had to qualify his argument in this way, while drinking with friends - we had of course never expected him to be a paedophile and the fact that he had to state as such made it seem absurd.
So it is with the subject of this blog entry. I would much rather have just launched into a discussion (well monologue) about democracy, oppression and data protection, but instead find that I have to clearly state and justify my position in case I end up offending the sensitive and riling the bone-headed. I am not racist. There we go, thank you.
Now, if I may proceed. Much as I dislike the BNP (there I go again) I can't help the feeling of slight disgust bordering on anger at the release, propogation and abuse of information relating to members of the British National Party. Let's not forget that we live in a democracy where some things should be treated as sacred. One of these is the secret ballot. Don't tell me they weren't voting because it amounts to the same thing. Another one is the right to free expression without fear of intimidation or violence. This may seem contradictory to the more foolish, but the krux here is choice. In this day and age, releasing (accidently or otherwise) information regarding people who hold views deemed 'wrong' and unpopular (though as it turns out not as unpopular as you thought) is a contravention of these rights and those responsible should be dealt with in whatever way the law decides.
Do I have to remind you again that I am no racist?
Browsing the websites, it is disturbing the gleeful way so called liberals are relishing the release of this information, in the hope that it may affect some sort of popular response, in the same way that Paediatricians' clinics might have been attacked by thickos half a dozen years ago. Or Jewish property was attacked 80 years ago.
OK, sorry, I slipped in a reference to the Holocaust as these subjects inevitably will do. But Kristalnacht was not all committed by the SA - it was nationwide and seemingly 'popular'. The Jews were an oppressed minority back then too.
The more I write about this the angrier I've become actually. Can the so-called 'enlightened' amongst you who so hate and vilify the BNP calm the f*** down? So you hate the BNP. So do I. Preach then you fuckers. Change the way people think. It's so easy to accuse others of being intolerant when you've got the majority backing. If you find it funny that people's civil liberties can be discarded so playfully then you're an idiot. Just because they don't think like you do. Besides, do you honeslty believe the everyone in the BNP are racists? Does that mean that everyone in the Labour Party are Communists? You may want to look at the statistics, but the majority of BNP members are a lot older than you are and were brought up a lot differently. Bear that in mind the next time you are spouting your 'tolerant' bullshit. They're not like you. They probably believe in God. They listen to obscure Jazz. They support non-Premiership teams. Eventually they'll die out.
I am no racist.
Just because they hold hold views that are profoundly different from your own doesn't give you a license to piss about with their liberties. It wouldn't be funny if it was the release of thousands of people's names who had attended Mosque would it? Or a demonstration? No.
I remember at school we were visited by a lobby group called 'Smash the Nazis'. No joking. Not a shred of irony in the name. Yes, let's smash them up, smash them cos we're in a democracy you c*nts and you don't belong.
jenray
Pro
Before I make my comment, Dominic, spare a thought for those of us whose eyesight isn't what it used to me...
I find it very hard to read pale grey against white...especially on long posts which I'm interested in reading...that said, I, too, keep recalling this is a democracy and, while the BNP is against the Declaration of Human Rights, it is that Declaration which entitles it to exist in a democracy and to fight repression of its members...it's trying very hard to become respectable even if a lot of its views are not democratic and certainly not respectful of minorities...and, while I personally wouldn't vote for them ever, the fact that there are an increasing number of people who feel so disenfranchised from the other political parties that they are prepared to vote for them means that something is seriously wrong with the listening ears of the main PP's...if they don't pay attention to them, the BNP will continue to grow and the PP's will only have themselves to blame...odd how we have to justify our opinions now on a whole host of subjects...hmmm...that's not good for free speech...And, Gary Glitter has been demonised simply because he was a celebrity...there have been others caught and jailed for similar crimes and nothing at all is heard of them...