|
U-Know! Forum » opinions on last night's question time |
Log In to post a reply
|
|
|
|
| Topic View: Flat | Threaded | |
|
Moon Cat 9577 posts |
Edited Oct 23, 2009, 13:27
Oct 23, 2009, 13:05
|
||
|
I didn't see Question Time as I was out n' about but I caught half of a tragi-comedy on Sky 3 last night called BNP Wives. If anyone would attempt to argue that the BNP were credible in anyway they should be made to watch this mix of the odious and farcical. The bulk of the people came over as fairly hapless, wanting to be led, and desperate for something to cling onto regardless of ideology. They seemed exploited to me. Interestingly, some of the footage was from the BNP festival in Derbyshire that Ratnic01 mentioned and the film crew were asked to leave before the evening 'festivities' commenced because some of the attendees might want to "let their hair down" as the night went on and were concerned about what they might say on camera when more 'relaxed'. Hmmmmmm.
|
|||
Jim Tones 5142 posts |
Edited Oct 23, 2009, 13:50
Oct 23, 2009, 13:47
|
||
|
As I mentioned on the main thread about this, I was annoyed at all the panel except Bonnie Greer. Not much debating at all... Griffin couldn't explain himself on most things, Straw and Huhne didn't (or couldn't) comment on immigration when they had the chance, as it's such a taboo subject for them, plus, they didn't want to steal any headlines of course, even when left with plenty of opportunity put forward by the audience members....and then there is 'baroness' tory Sayeeda Warsi, who cleverly skirted her usual homophobia. Yup, more like 'Circus Time'!
|
|||
grufty jim 1978 posts |
Edited Oct 23, 2009, 14:01
Oct 23, 2009, 14:00
|
||
|
I'm dismayed it went ahead. Which is not to suggest that Griffin put in a good performance. He certainly didn't. But I never expected him to. That was never the issue. You have to understand, I'm looking at this in the context of the next decade or so. It's taken the National Front decades to evolve to the point where their suited representatives now get invited on Question Time. This was never about an overnight bump in the polls, but about how the fascist voice slowly but surely enters mainstream political debate. And in the context of the next decade... I believe we'll see a fertile breeding ground for fascism as the global economy begins to absorb the fact that the days of "growth" are coming to an end. I think resource depletion will become a mainstream and frightening idea over the next decade and even if we succeed in shifting to a sustainable model, the transition period could very well involve major social upheaval. The kind of environment that the far right tends to exploit. The very last thing we should be doing as the global economy teeters on the brink is to be inviting the BNP, and those like them, into mainstream debates. Just before Question Time last night the BBC News discussed the issue themselves. And the language used very clearly implied that this would be the first of several invites extended to the BNP leader. This very fact... that the BNP leader gets regular invitations to debate with the other parties before an audience of millions... makes it far more likely that Griffin will be replaced by someone more effective at the job. And you can pretty much guarantee that by the BNP's third appearance on Question Time, Dimbleby won't be dedicating 90% of the show to picking them apart. If you'll forgive the cliché, I fear we just watched as the thin end of the wedge was inserted. I'm also irritated by how reasonable he made Jack Straw appear. Even on immigration (yes, he was uncomfortable and evasive on the issue, but he was sitting one seat away from Nick Griffin and so appeared reasonable by default). I found myself clapping and saying "Well said Jack Straw" at one point. That's plain terrifying! :-) I was actually quite disappointed with the entire panel other than Straw. Bonnie Greer made a couple of biting remarks, but academics and intellectuals never do well on Question Time because the quick-fire format doesn't suit them. We're a verbose lot, us academics, and we tend not to do sound-bites all that well. The tory Baroness annoyed the hell out of me. Her contempt for Griffin simply came across as that same kind of contempt that tory aristocrats hold for most of us. Sure, Griffin deserved it, but it was a powerful reminder of just how obnoxious the Conservatives are, and how close to the BNP they can sometimes be (she seemed to be on the same page as Griffin on at least one subject... both even using that tiresome phrase "homosexuality being taught in schools"). The LibDem guy was pretty forgettable all in all. Only Straw seemed to channel his outrage at Griffin into something worthwhile. He's either a very good actor, or else there was a lot of genuine and barely repressed rage in Straw's delivery. Overall though, I'm worried that the BBC set a terrible precedent last night. It'll be a long time before we know for sure, but why take the risk?
|
|||
|
Moon Cat 9577 posts |
Oct 23, 2009, 14:12
|
||
|
Jim Tones wrote: ratcni01 wrote: I think its because people are insecure about their identity on a personal level that they turn to the BNP or to defining themselves as Celts or whatever. No, we are products of our families, knowing your identity is great, a sense of "where I come from" valuable, but most people don't actually know their origins and thats been a sideeffect of the huge social and cultural changes that have happened in Britain and globally in the last centuries. Hmmm... "or to defining themselves as Celts or whatever" Well now, speaking as someone with Welsh heritage, I'm not insecure about anything. We certainly have a "where I come from" stance, as the history is rooted in a lot of Welsh families (cue interbred jokes) AND we wave the Welsh flag because we've been fucked-over by the 'english' government in the past with incidents like Tryweryn, a watered down (excuse the pun) display of mild ethnic cleansing! Not to mention the 'Welsh Not' wooden block 'system'- which has never been written about much, even on the internet. Plus, we also have to throw out the reminder that it should never happen again. Surely, nothing wrong with that? Pfuagh! If you were really proud of your roots you would have changed your name to TIMOTH the Mighty and formed a pagan-black metal band called Dragon Blood or something. Tch!
|
|||
|
Jim Tones 5142 posts |
Edited Oct 23, 2009, 14:20
Oct 23, 2009, 14:19
|
||
|
Moon Cat wrote: Pfuagh! If you were really proud of your roots you would have changed your name to TIMOTH the Mighty and formed a pagan-black metal band called Dragon Blood or something. Tch! Whaddya mean "If" ? ;-)
|
|||
Incoming Traveller 218 posts |
Oct 23, 2009, 14:25
|
||
I didn't see the programme last night, but I'm listening to my local BBC (Radio Cornwall) lunchtime phone in and every single caller is saying Griffin was treated unfairly and that they support the BNP. The racists are queuing up to spew their rubbish about how everyone should become Christian as soon as they set foot in Britain and how Asians breed too much. I don't have a landline and so can't contribute any other viewpoint. It's very depressing and frightening.
|
|||
sanshee 1080 posts |
Oct 23, 2009, 14:35
|
||
|
Griffin did not come out triumphant at all. Having said that, I did not expect every single question bar the last-minute one to be centred around his lot. Issues of the day are the usual topics. THE BBC said they'd show impartiality, which they didn't, but maybe for the better, if ye get me. I was a bit bored of the audience Jerry Springer style whooping, and the guy who almost (on purpose) called him 'Dick 'Griffin did no favours to the good fight either. In Griffin's own words though, the BNP aren't fussed any more about skin colour. Surely a vote loser for all those who love em for that alone. He was bricking it, shaking like a leaf all the way through. A bit of a pantomime, but somehow, useful as well. x
|
|||
ratcni01 916 posts |
Oct 23, 2009, 14:37
|
||
|
Nothing wrong at all, that jibe (and admittedly that's what it was) was aimed at some of the hippy types who identify themselves mystically or something with the Celts when it more just cos they smoked too much dope to actually think about who they really are. Sounds like you have a sense of who you are, what your real heritage is. Think there is something going on for people who feel powerless in a world that does not necessarily treat them well where there's a reaction based on a personal lack of identity, historic, social, familial, cultural etc and for some in poor communities for instance here in Derbyshire where mining work was a large part of identity out of that being removed a lot of social sytems were disrupted. Working men disempowered, familes hurt through poverty, stress etc. "How do I retain a pride in my identity as working man when I have no work - who in fact the hell am I then?" except a lot of people don't even have enough spare time or the means to even ask the question. And agreed the brits have plenty of bad bad history, wherever they've been, even within Britain itself.
|
|||
|
Moon Cat 9577 posts |
Oct 23, 2009, 14:37
|
||
Wow! Red Peony is such a lucky lady!
|
|||
drewbhoy 2557 posts |
Oct 23, 2009, 15:11
|
||
Sometimes we might have to let them/him hang themselves to let the public see how pathetic they really are! The BNP Leeds councillor on Radio 5, discussing Question Time after the screening, was a complete muppet, more like him and they'd soon fade away. But I can see your point!
|
| Pages: 8 – [ Previous | 1 2 3 4 5 6 | Next ] | Add a reply to this topic |
|
|
|
| U-Know! Forum Index | |
