BNP complains of being censored

[Dell19]

Junk Mail makes up a huge part of the Royal Mail's market. If the postmen refused to deliver that then they would be fired.

Ok so I assume that they only have the right to refuse to deliver something if they have a very good reason that the company agrees with?

 

[Pillager]

#3. "no" to defense cuts actually means "yes" to increased spending

If only.

 

[samildanach]

I'm not comfortable in a society whose moral arbiters are the ****wits of the Royal Mail. I think the Royal Mail should be forced to post these pamphlets, if it results in bloody social consequences then the BNP leadership should be held accountable. If it results in the murder of an asian or black then they should be done for exhortatation to commit murder - nice life sentences all round.
I agree with SN on this - this is weakness and cowardice on the part of our political establishment. Censorship will only encourage them and give them a legitimate hook to catch new voters with.

 

[The Yankee]

Unless they've done something illegal, then censorship is not the answer. There are other ways to further marginalize the party, most of the good suggestions have already been posted.

They still have every right to spew whatever crackpot ideas they have. And everyone else has the right to ignore it.

 

[privatehudson]

I think the Royal Mail should be forced to post these pamphlets, if it results in bloody social consequences then the BNP leadership should be held accountable. If it results in the murder of an asian or black then they should be done for exhortatation to commit murder - nice life sentences all round.

I highly doubt that will happen in the real world. They might be accountable for it, but actually proving it in a court of law in this country would be probably near to impossible.

 

[samildanach]

I highly doubt that will happen in the real world. They might be accountable for it, but actually proving it in a court of law in this country would be probably near to impossible.

They did one of our home grown Imams on it recently - although "life" translated into 7-8 years in prison. However, no one died as result of his rhetoric.

 

[privatehudson]

Yes, but they have to prove a direct link between the event and the incitor, with the current "Official" stance of the BNP, the likelyhood of linking their current literature to any event of murder or similar.

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

While I understand the aversion most posters here have for the BNP, I am saddened by the call for official government repression against them that seems to have become the hallmark of this thread.

It is unthinkable to me that the state mail service would not punish mail carriers for failing to carry fully paid mail for political reasons. That is government acquisence to political censorship and nothing more, and I find it a supreme act of cowardice.

Want to be a "brave hero" against this tiny party you dislike? Contermail flyers of your own, start a counter-campaign, shore up support for a rival party. But don't turn to censorship.

I'd generally agree with you, and I'm very much opposed to censorship, especially when it comes from the government.

Where I do feel differently though, is where this issue comes to effect individuals.

If an individual as a matter of conscience cannot bring themselves to aid this dispicable organisation, even when the company they work for is obliged by law to do so, I cannot feel comfortable in arguing that they should be punished. I recognise that they are doing something wrong, but I don't think the law should force people to break their conscience.

I'd also say that the reasoning in this case is not political as you put it, but moral. Contempt for racism is much more than a political orientation. It is enshrined in the law, and in the values of soceity at large.

As a seperate issue, any leaflets or TV ads that advocate violence or incite hatred should be banned, in lines with our laws on these matters (hooray for our pragmatic unwritten constitution).

 

[MrPresident]

Less bullets than soldiers? Where did you get that from?
What are these soldiers shooting? Mortars, Shells, Missiles..

It is well-documentated that the British army is under-funded and lacks the necessary supplies. Rationing of bullet-proof jackets, tanks that don't work in the wrong type of sand, the scaling-back of the new aircraft carriers, machine-guns that jam in the heat of battle, radios that melt in the desert, are just some of the problems. It's no wonder that American weapons mysteriously disappear when British troops are around.

Originally posted by Drunk Master
Can someone explain what "grooming" is?

It is conditioning a person, usually a child, to do something, usually sexual. It is now a crime in Britain for an adult to "groom" a child to engage in sexual acts.

Originally posted by Enkidu Warrior
If Britain elected the BNP, one bullet to go around the entire army would be too many.

I am not advocating the election of the BNP. I am simply saying that not all of their ideas are ill-thought out, racist, or both.

 

[Mise]

Unless they've done something illegal, then censorship is not the answer. There are other ways to further marginalize the party, most of the good suggestions have already been posted.

They still have every right to spew whatever crackpot ideas they have. And everyone else has the right to ignore it.

Do people have the right to spew crackpot ideas if it will lead to racist violence? The American government called for the extradition of a British citizen on similar grounds.

ALL of the BNP's ideas are ill thought out. They just don't seem to understand the economy. This holds true for many "other" parties though...

 

[carlosMM]

Meh....they do have their right to preach their twisted ideas.

have they?

any sane democract will quickly forbid spreading anti-democratic and racist ideas - or you get another Weimarer Republik!

 

[EzInKy]

have they?

any sane democract will quickly forbid spreading anti-democratic and racist ideas - or you get another Weimarer Republik!

When a democracy forbids free speech it ceases to be a democracy.

 

[samildanach]

Who needs bullets?

Sans Peur!

OUTNUMBERED British soldiers killed 35 Iraqi attackers in the Army’s first bayonet charge since the Falklands War 22 years ago. The fearless Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders stormed rebel positions after being ambushed and pinned down.

Despite being outnumbered five to one, they suffered only three minor wounds in the hand-to-hand fighting near the city of Amara.

The battle erupted after Land Rovers carrying 20 Argylls came under attack on a highway.

After radioing for back-up, they fixed bayonets and charged at 100 rebels using tactics learned in drills.

When the fighting ended bodies lay all over the highway — and more were floating in a nearby river. Nine rebels were captured.

An Army spokesman said: “This was an intense engagement.”

The last bayonet charge was by the Scots Guards and the Paras against Argentinian positions

 

[stormbind]

Huzzah!

That story sounds a heck of a lot better than those involving friendly fire

I've been reading a (little) bit on bayonets from Victorian sources (written by red coat officers) for my sabre/swordsplay studies. Bayonets can be used a bit like swords. Didn't look at it in detail though; sabres don't clash with bayonets anymore

 

[FriendlyFire]

When a democracy forbids free speech it ceases to be a democracy.

Democracy dosnt protect Lies and treason. Also the government has a right to defend its people. One of those ways is censoreship. (i,e revealling the name of an undercover cia operative and putting lives in danger vs freedom of speech)

 

[CurtSibling]

That was quick. Usually it takes a little longer before someone starts mentioning Hitler.

Maybe find another analogy next time...

Perhaps many Americans do not realise the BNP are not just 'nationalists.'

They are on par with your KKK.

Read their manifesto if you are sceptical, sir.

 

[Archer 007]

When a democracy forbids free speech it ceases to be a democracy.

You have hit the crux of this dicussion, my good sir.

 

[Archer 007]

Perhaps many Americans do not realise the BNP are not just 'nationalists.'

They are on par with your KKK.

Read their manifesto if you are sceptical, sir.

And even though we hate the KKK, we dont censor them.

 

[CurtSibling]

And even though we hate the KKK, we dont censor them.

Good for you.
It just shows that people never learn...


PS
Would you censor jihadist hate broadcasts?
Is it easy to Aljazeera TV in the USA?

 

[CurtSibling]

You have hit the crux of this dicussion, my good sir.

Funny how people can glorify democracy when it suits the situation.

Then at other times, scream for a federal republic...