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Nick Griffin gets egg on his face
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grufty jim
grufty jim
1978 posts

Edited Jun 12, 2009, 04:27
Re: Silly thing to do.....
Jun 12, 2009, 04:27
My response spiralled into a blog post. Sorry about that. The most relevant bit, though, is the final three paragraphs. They are in response to the question...

geoffrey_prime wrote:
Other than "it's fun", which I won't comment on, what do these people throwing eggs hope to achieve?


... this isn't really a Free Speech (capital letters) issue. The "right to free speech" is about the freedom to express your views -- yes, even reprehensible ones -- without fear of prosecution. What it isn't about, is guaranteeing anyone the right to be the loudest speaker in a given public place. The BNP have the right to stand for election. They have the right to distribute leaflets, publish a web site, hold meetings and so forth.

But when they start to spout their vile garbage in public, then others have the right to express their disgust. To heckle. To shout them down if they see fit. As for what this achieves...? It is a stark message to those 800,000 voters -- and to anyone tempted by the rhetoric of fascism -- that these views are contemptible. As are those who espouse them. It is a demonstration that those who would give voice to racism will be challenged. A reminder that the rest of us won't allow this prejudice to gain ground.

Griffin should not be arrested for stating his views. But each time he does so in public, he should be challenged. And each public utterance of racism should be drowned out by a thousand voices in opposition.

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The whole piece is here: http://numero57.net/?p=1367
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