BBC Question Time broadcast - a lesson in how not to stop the BNP

[Dante]

BNP on QT was a disaster, this article is a Marxist critique of the liberal argument that they need to be 'exposed' by 'debating them'
http://www.workerspower.com/index.php?id=47,2175,0,0,1,0

[Hit The North]

Good article.

It's comically ironic that left-wing advocates of debate with the BNP and opponents of no-platform, like Vanguard1917 on this forum, who continually mis-characterises it as support for state censorship, now find themselves tail-ending Jack Straw!

[Vanguard1917]

It's comically ironic that left-wing advocates of debate with the BNP and opponents of no-platform, like Vanguard1917 on this forum, who continually mis-characterises it as support for state censorship,


What have i 'mis-characterised' exactly? Your party openly supports state censorship because it sees the working class as a group of vulnerable and impressionable children who need to be protected from the pathetic views of the likes of Nick Griffin.

[Vanguard1917]

BNP on QT was a disaster, this article is a Marxist critique of the liberal argument that they need to be 'exposed' by 'debating them'

Are you scared of debating the views of the BNP because you secretly believe that you'll lose?

[Zanthorus]

Your party openly supports state censorship because it sees the working class as a group of vulnerable and impressionable children who need to be protected from the pathetic views of the likes of Nick Griffin.

I don't support state censorship but I'd like to point out that so far I haven't seen any radical leftists on Question time. There's some state censorship we should really be getting worked up about.

[Vanguard1917]

I don't support state censorship but I'd like to point out that so far I haven't seen any radical leftists on Question time. There's some state censorship we should really be getting worked up about.

Indeed.

[progressive_lefty]

I have to admit, I felt a bit embarrssed seeing the way some leftists have approached this.
I saw some highlights of the show on Australian news television, and felt bad at the way Griffin was treated. I wouldn't want anyone to think for a second that I agree with anything he believes in or has done, but I just can't stand this stifling of free speech. The guy is irrational and has no reasoning in what he says, you don't have to interrupt him, stop him from speaking or personally attack him to stop the BNP. The BNP will implode itself, they don't appeal to anyone, so let the fucker talk, don't interrupt him, if people want to stop the BNP just read his speeches and let him talk everywhere. How in the hell his he going to win votes when he says things like:

'the British Government commited genocide against the Indigenous people of Briton'

As far as I'm concerned, he can talk as much as he wants in full view of the public. The mistake would be to silence him. Anyone familiar with the Israel/Palestine debate will be aware of some of the techniques pro-Israel groups have used to blackmail discussion on the occupation.