Sat, Feb 11 2012

Gabriel Hershman

The English Angle: Left, right or round the bend?

Fri, Sep 11 2009 09:59 CET 1987 Views 10 Comments
Two plus two equals five, Hitler was Jewish and the British historian David Irving is a nice man.

Now, each of these statements is progressively more absurd. Yet perhaps I should be free to say such things. Other people should also – of course – be able to say how "misguided" these beliefs are.

I know that sensibilities are delicate but I support the BBC’s decision to give a platform to the British National Party (BNP) on its Question Time programme. It won’t trigger a civil war and it will offset persistent accusations by the BNP that the political establishment is gagging them.

In fact, given recent developments I’d much rather have dinner with Nick Griffin (whom the media repeatedly brand "far-right") than Hugo Chavez (whom is branded "far-left"). And talking of dinner, Chavez recently visited Iranian president Mahmoud "dinner jacket" (sic Richard Littlejohn) in Tehran. So the socialist Chavez – who by the way associated with prominent peace-spouting socialists in the UK – sups with a Holocaust denier who stole Iran’s recent election.

We’re clearly entering a new era where this "right-left" labelling is meaningless. So maybe we should just desist altogether. If we choose labels perhaps they should be more along the lines of "misguided", "evil", "mad", "angry" – this being down to the writer’s subjectivity, of course. Eg: Castro "misguided", Gadaffi "mad", Dinner Jacket "evil".

On this basis I don’t rate Griffin as all that extreme. He’d probably qualify as a mere "Angry".

Where do you draw the line? I don’t like to give him publicity but David Duke carries the can. A former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, Duke is particularly dangerous and manipulative. Incredibly, this rabid anti-semite has even taught international relations at a supposed higher education institute called the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management (the posher the name, the more suspect the institution, one feels) in Kyiv. This institution has even awarded Duke – who believes Jewish interest groups provoked World War 2 – a doctorate.

Griffin can’t be responsible for the actions of all his supporters. But if he drew a line in the sand and publicly disassociated himself personally from this Nazi (having shared platforms with him in the past) and repudiated his beliefs, then he would be on the road to partial redemption. Will someone in the Question Time audience ask him to do so when he is on the panel?

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Comments

Anonymous Del Sun, Sep 20 2009 08:41 CET

The BNP website does not state any beleif in 'white supremacy', it does state a beleif in the right of the indigenous Brits (anglo-celts) to a homland and not to be overtaken to the point where ethnic Brits are a minority race in Britain. They get my vote!

Anonymous deaks Mon, Sep 14 2009 08:19 CET

political differentiation is circular not linear. Extreme Left and Extreme Right are identical for all practical purposes. A dictator in a communist uniform (e.g. Kim Il Jong in North Korea) is no different from a dictator in a fascist uniform (e.g. Mussolini or Hitler).

Both are entitled to a hearing in a democracy even it, in your opinion and mine, they talk dangerous rubbish.

Anonymous Lesley Ann Beggs Sun, Sep 13 2009 06:49 CET

This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained дискриминация.

Anonymous Mark Fulton Sun, Sep 13 2009 06:44 CET

This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained дискриминация.

Anonymous Joshua Sun, Sep 13 2009 03:51 CET

There are two aspects to "white nationalist," white and nationalist. There seems to be much ado about the racial aspect and not enough on the the nationalist aspect. Globalisation is a major threat to both Europe and the USA. Globalist plutocrats don't approve of nationalism so they focus the corporate media in on the racial aspect.

Anonymous Phil Bryant Sat, Sep 12 2009 16:31 CET

Lets suppose Griffin does dissassociate himself from David Duke, will 'The Establishment' then dissassociate itself from the terrorist Nelson Mandela?

I mean, Duke never 'necklaced' anyone, did he! Nor did he 'sign off' with the Church Street Bombing!

Anonymous Brian Miles Sat, Sep 12 2009 11:18 CET

Glad to see that the BBC are now trying not to cherry pick panelists. Why should we not hear Griffins views as with others!! It's up to the public to make their own mind up.

Anonymous hampstead Sat, Sep 12 2009 07:40 CET

the BNP is just an MI-5 sock puppet..wonder what they caught Nick Griffin doing so he agreed to be such a public douche bag...

telegraph reported authenticated drawing in 1909 of Hitler playing chess with Lenin in guess who's hosue in Vienna..hhmmm....

Anonymous Fire and ice Fri, Sep 11 2009 21:46 CET

The BNP may be racists but they are left wing racists not right wing racists. The Holocaust was committed by the political left not the political right.

Anonymous MC Miker G Fri, Sep 11 2009 16:55 CET

The BNP believes in white supremacy, would deport (forcibly eventually) anyone who's not "indigenous" English, and includes many active holocaust-deniers in its ranks. Even if Nick Griffin has to paint himself as a "former" holocaust-denier for political expediency, one quick look at the BNP site and forums will quickly disabuse you of any notion that this belief isn't party-wide.

I hope you enjoy your dinner with these people; I'm afraid I won't be joining you - my gag reflex would prevent me.


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