| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:WELL DONE THE FRENCH !!! | |
| Posted by: | Phil Andrews | |
| Date/Time: | 21/07/10 15:13:00 |
| Robin If Sue and the BNP chap were exchanging unpleasantries it was odd that they were smiling and laughing as they were doing so, but that is not the real point here. I think the cause of our indignation was that I have received extensive and sustained criticism for a not dissimilar encounter with former BNP candidate Warren Glass at the 1994 local election count. My first impression was simply "how hypocritical can you get?" Under the circumstances I was unable to stop myself making a comment as I passed the two of them in the counting area, whereupon the BNP candidate came after me and proceeded to threaten me. I gave him two very short words of advice pertaining to sex and travel which I'm pleased to say he heeded (this whole incident was witnessed by the outgoing Chief Executive Mark Gilks), and a few minutes later he again approached me and offered me an apology which I accepted. We had a brief conversation during which he explained that he had known Sue previously and we had a short conversation about the BNP, which was witnessed in its entirety by my agent Ian Speed. All in all, although politically confused, he didn't seem a bad bloke. It is possible to know somebody, and even to like somebody on a personal level, whilst finding their politics distasteful. I've not the slightest doubt that Sue finds the politics of the BNP repugnant. I do not think the fact that she knows somebody who now happens to be in the BNP, or the fact that she has a Facebook friend who was a serial National Front local and parliamentary candidate during the 1970s and '80s (as do I), makes her a closet fascist. Some people change, and even those who don't needn't be given up on. Under the right circumstances they might be persuaded to rethink their positions, and ex-fascists sometimes turn out to be the most enthusiastic and useful anti-fascists (the zeal of the convert and all that). This is why I believe that whilst on an organisational level "No Platform" is almost always the correct policy in dealing with fascist groups, on an individual level it usually isn't. My own anger over this encounter was incurred by the double standards involved, not by the incident itself. |