It’s almost as if they have something to hide. Like, for example, a weak intellect and knee-jerk hand-wringing reactions to anything that vaguely sniffs of the Right. So bankrupt of ideas and a coherent agenda, post USSR/1960s Socialist dream, the Left spends more time arguing amongst itself on how to quell democratic values. They also happen leave a huge void filled with dangerous ideas and idiocy in their wake. Namely, the ideas and moral values of the loony Far Right.
Seems like nothing changes. I’m reading a book called “Austerity Britain 1945-1951″ right now, by a chap named David Kynaston. Very good indeed. Highly informative. Not least for its portrayal of a real life scene in a pub, where a group of Marxists refused to stand for the National Anthem merely hours after Armistace was called and the War ended. Capitalist war of atrition, you see. We were all Nazis.
Indeed.
Well, here’s a tricky one. Am I a Nazi for supporting these two gentlemen’s right to accept an invitation to speak at Oxford University?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7114343.stm
Now, I couldn’t possibly be a fascist (in the British sense) even if I wanted to. Which I expressly do not. This is out of pragmatism and principle. For if the BNP ever gained power, I would be on the boat with the rest of the foreign b’stards.
Yet all that aside, my deep down almost fundamentalist belief and support for freedom of speech is unwavering.
If they are wrong and sick, which I reckon they are pretty much, then allow them to show themselves up so that they can be shot down in flames (not literally, of course) by people of more sense and knowledge.
One pious, idiotic left wing student is reported to have said:
““This has nothing to do with free speech, it’s about giving credibility to fascists, making them appear to be part of the mainstream.”
Well, that’s all very good – except for the obvious flaw in assuming Oxford Uni is in any way ‘Mainstream’. Unless of course you think noshing down on the vicar and fagging for Giles for spunks and larks is in any way mainstream. Oxford University = ivory towers. A place of philosphical thinking, of academia, out-there ideas, things that don’t necessarily get put into practice in the world of politics, but are talked about by men with strange hair and body odour. That’s why it’s a University, not a Select Committee or a focus group. What’s the fucking problem?
If 99% of what lecturers and students wank about is all hot air, what’s different about two men from the opposite end of the spectrum coming along to talk? There’s nothing mainstream about any of it.
It’s almost like you want to go up to these pathetic glove wearing, tofu munching, Guardian reading, Bordeaux Chateuax slumming, daddy’s slush fund from the City spending cunts, tug them by the ear and say ‘Don’t worry Jeremy, those nasty wasty men will be gone soon and we can go back to arguing the toss about whether Menshevism could have made it if it weren’t for those Right wing fascist Bols.’
If they’re wrong, then we have nothing to worry about, got that Lefties? It’s not rocket science.
And a word about the throw away insults about Griffin being Nazi scum. Well, I don’t care to comment, but let’s not forget that this ‘Nazi scum’ happens to be picking up an awful lot of votes these days, from areas and people that are not necessarily ‘Nazi scum’. As intellectuals, you’d think they’d come up with a more intellectual foundation and explanation for why this is occuring.
Oh, but no, that would be legitimising them and giving succour to racism. Intellectually bankrupt fucking left wing pricks.
I’m out.
JD.
UPDATE:
The Guardian’s Comment is Free section has a lively debate on the Oxford University / Free Speech furore.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/micah_smith/2007/11/a_crushing_disappointment.html
Please take note of the common sense and words of wisdom from DavidTHarryBlog. I could not have put it better myself. Well done, that man.
Filed under: Political Comment, Political Rants, Politics and Current Affairs: Lucky Dip | Tagged: democracy, free speech, human rights, left wing, News, News & The Media, oxford university, Politics and Current Affairs: Lucky Dip, uk media, uk news
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Good points, at least Griffin knows where he stands. Galloway’s position on free speech is like Stalin’s – if he agree with what you say he defend to the death your right to say it – if he doesn’t, he happily ban it. The seer bloody hypocrisy of chanting kill Tryl, when they’re protesting against the far right that they incite violence!!!
Thanks Steph, we’ve put you on the roll of honour by the way. Are you really a kidknapp consultant? We might need you in the future that’s all, John’s always getting himself kidknapped. Or have I got the wrong end of the stick and you advise people on how to kidknapp?
If so, can I have your advice, the last lot messed John’s snatching badly and it all got a bit wayward.
Anyways, you’re right, Griffin is an evil that can be tolerated because it shows how normal the rest of us are. I feel the same about Galloway, problem is that he has managed to get into a strange clique that disguises his politics by being in the press all the time as some sort of hero, much like Livingstone did in the 80’s.
Thanks.
I agree with you about Galloway but Red Ken is alright
I’m an avvocato (lawyer), I’ve defended clients accused of kidnap and worked as an intermediary, which is obviously just a coincidence…
I don’t take those sort of cases anymore though. My kidnap consultancy work is very unexciting, it’s just advising on best practices and legal aspects of kidnap recovery.
But if you should you ever kidnap someone… email me
I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who was a BNP member but I’d be grateful if you could spell out exactly why it is that they are “loathesome”, “vile” etc etc.
I’ve just been on their website and as far as I can see not one of the assumptions that I’d had was true.
They say they are not anti-semitic and claim that they have Jewish members. They say they are democractic and don’t believe in forced emigration ( apart from convicted terrorists)
Could you spell out exactly what it is that you find so hateful.
Many people say that they are “racist” and if by that they mean White Superiority in an armed KKK ” thge ubermeschen must be done away with” kind of way,that would be true.
But if by “racism” you mean they believe that assimilation with Muslim and black Africans is unachievable, impracticable and is turning into a disaster for all sides concerned then I’d have to own up and say I believe that as well.
In short, specifically what BNP policies do you object to and why do you think that makes them racist.
Interesting blog by the way.
B Wood.
Your points were of such interest and so thought provoking, I’ve written a fresh article, in dedication to answering you.
Please see the front page.
Domastic animales?
Crikey. Are you sure this is an existing species of animale?
I checked wikipedia, and nothing of the sort exists. In fact, you appear to be the FIRST PERSON IN THE WORLD TO KNOW OF DOMASTIC ANIMALE!!!111!!!!!
I suggest you get on the phone to George Bush and Vlad Putin, and explain that something odd has landed in your garden from outer space.
It’s the only believable story I’m afraid.