Strands #259 “Would You Look At...
Quizzes & Puzzles5 mins ago
UAF raises petition against the BBC.
31 Answers
Was the BBC right to allow Tommy Robinson of the 'English Defence League' (EDL) on Newsnight?
Apparently on the 'Unite Against Fascism' (UAF) web site, they are raising a petition.
The petition says:
/// We the undersigned are deeply concerned with the way Jeremy Paxman interviewed Tommy Robinson of the English Defence League (EDL) on Newsnight, 25th July 2011. We are deeply worried that a fascist such as Robinson can appear on a flagship programme in the first place.///
/// The interview was meant to challenge Robinson on the EDL’s links with the Norwegian right wing terrorist Anders Breivik. Instead Jeremy Paxman allowed Robinson to go unchallenged when he spoke of the EDL being nonviolent, even though Robinson was convicted that very day for football hooliganism. The EDL have attacked mosques, beaten up Asians and tried to assault trade unionists at a Peterborough TUC/UAF anti-EDL rally.///
/// Paxman even agreed with Robinson about the fear of Islam, responding with “noone denies there’s a lot of anxiety…tremendous anxiety”.///
/// The BBC’s ethos is one of entertaining, educating and informing. Paxman failed on all of these. Robinson was allowed to rant about Islam and stir up Islamophobia. We expect interviewers to probe and uncover the truth behind the likes of Tommy Robinson’s rhetoric. Jeremy Paxman failed to address substantive issues concerning the Edl’s ugly reality, in so doing he failed the viewing public.///
/// The BBC is a broadcaster which is funded by people from all of Britain’s diverse cultures, faiths and ethnic backgrounds. As such we don’t feel it is appropriate for the BBC to give a platform to fascists like the EDL as it allows them to perpetuate their biogtry and lies.///
/// We therefore demand that the BBC looks into this matter and responds to our concerns. ///
On Saturday 3rd September 2011 the UAF, backed by national unions are organising a demonstration to celebrate diversity and oppose the racist English Defence League in Tower Hamlets.
It seems that it is perfectly correct for this demonstration to take place, but it is wrong for the EDL to voice theirs and other's concerns.
Apparently on the 'Unite Against Fascism' (UAF) web site, they are raising a petition.
The petition says:
/// We the undersigned are deeply concerned with the way Jeremy Paxman interviewed Tommy Robinson of the English Defence League (EDL) on Newsnight, 25th July 2011. We are deeply worried that a fascist such as Robinson can appear on a flagship programme in the first place.///
/// The interview was meant to challenge Robinson on the EDL’s links with the Norwegian right wing terrorist Anders Breivik. Instead Jeremy Paxman allowed Robinson to go unchallenged when he spoke of the EDL being nonviolent, even though Robinson was convicted that very day for football hooliganism. The EDL have attacked mosques, beaten up Asians and tried to assault trade unionists at a Peterborough TUC/UAF anti-EDL rally.///
/// Paxman even agreed with Robinson about the fear of Islam, responding with “noone denies there’s a lot of anxiety…tremendous anxiety”.///
/// The BBC’s ethos is one of entertaining, educating and informing. Paxman failed on all of these. Robinson was allowed to rant about Islam and stir up Islamophobia. We expect interviewers to probe and uncover the truth behind the likes of Tommy Robinson’s rhetoric. Jeremy Paxman failed to address substantive issues concerning the Edl’s ugly reality, in so doing he failed the viewing public.///
/// The BBC is a broadcaster which is funded by people from all of Britain’s diverse cultures, faiths and ethnic backgrounds. As such we don’t feel it is appropriate for the BBC to give a platform to fascists like the EDL as it allows them to perpetuate their biogtry and lies.///
/// We therefore demand that the BBC looks into this matter and responds to our concerns. ///
On Saturday 3rd September 2011 the UAF, backed by national unions are organising a demonstration to celebrate diversity and oppose the racist English Defence League in Tower Hamlets.
It seems that it is perfectly correct for this demonstration to take place, but it is wrong for the EDL to voice theirs and other's concerns.
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I don't see why not, seeing as how Anjem Choudary has been on BBC TV,
a number of times, and was part of a debate, in front of a studio audience, where he put forth his view that Britain would one day be an Islamist state, and that we will all live under Sharia Law. It didn't make edifying viewing. I have watched him on any number of programmes, and he seems perfectly serious in his aims, though many consider him nothing more than a fanatic and not to be taken seriously.
a number of times, and was part of a debate, in front of a studio audience, where he put forth his view that Britain would one day be an Islamist state, and that we will all live under Sharia Law. It didn't make edifying viewing. I have watched him on any number of programmes, and he seems perfectly serious in his aims, though many consider him nothing more than a fanatic and not to be taken seriously.
But that's OK isn't it em10, we're supposed to put up with c**p like that from Choudray and his ilk (freedom of speech and all that), BUT it's a different kettle of fish when we respond i.e. via the EDL or even an ordinary joe in the street daring to protest about the way islam is trying to take us over. We get castigated from pillar to post for daring to speak out (no freedom of speech for us)! I don't care if the EDL are fascists, I prefer them to the islamic fascists. I will now sit back and wait for the flack !!
Zita
"The argument isn't about whether someone should be interviewed or not;",
But it does form part of the UAF's complaint, "Activists have launched a petition protesting against the BBC’s decision to invite Stephen Yaxley-Lennon –....."
Hopefully there will not be a repeat of the the violence committed outside BBC by the disgraced UAF.
"The argument isn't about whether someone should be interviewed or not;",
But it does form part of the UAF's complaint, "Activists have launched a petition protesting against the BBC’s decision to invite Stephen Yaxley-Lennon –....."
Hopefully there will not be a repeat of the the violence committed outside BBC by the disgraced UAF.
AB Editor
I can partially see what you mean, but how can the ordinary person who holds genuine concerns about the spread of Islam into Britain voice their fears, without being associated with the Far Right, called a knuckle dragging Neanderthal or a Nazi etc?
It would appear that to some, it is only the 'Left' that are intelligent and anyone belonging to the 'Right' is somehow a second rate person.
Like the way you put the word normal in inverted comers when referring to right wingers.
Are the "NORMAL" ones, the ones that don't rock the Left's boat?
I can partially see what you mean, but how can the ordinary person who holds genuine concerns about the spread of Islam into Britain voice their fears, without being associated with the Far Right, called a knuckle dragging Neanderthal or a Nazi etc?
It would appear that to some, it is only the 'Left' that are intelligent and anyone belonging to the 'Right' is somehow a second rate person.
Like the way you put the word normal in inverted comers when referring to right wingers.
Are the "NORMAL" ones, the ones that don't rock the Left's boat?
>>The EDL is a fascist organisation which incites and uses violence to further its ends.
Have you seen some of the violence used by "anti EDL" groups (particulalry Asian and Black) when they meet the EDL?
Here is an example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqzuddYsrjs
Have you seen some of the violence used by "anti EDL" groups (particulalry Asian and Black) when they meet the EDL?
Here is an example
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqzuddYsrjs
exdc
I am not aware of the violence outside the BBC to which you refer so I can't comment upon it.
All I 'know' is that the rise of the far right across Europe is chilling and disturbing to me and I want their views challenged on a programme like Newsnight (let's not get on to Norway, before anyone starts) just as I want the views of Islamic fascists to be challenged, full stop.
That's what programmes like this are for, to inform the public and hold people to account.
That's democracy. We are not so brittle that we will fall over if you disagree with us but we will give you a hard time if you don't hold people to account.
I am not aware of the violence outside the BBC to which you refer so I can't comment upon it.
All I 'know' is that the rise of the far right across Europe is chilling and disturbing to me and I want their views challenged on a programme like Newsnight (let's not get on to Norway, before anyone starts) just as I want the views of Islamic fascists to be challenged, full stop.
That's what programmes like this are for, to inform the public and hold people to account.
That's democracy. We are not so brittle that we will fall over if you disagree with us but we will give you a hard time if you don't hold people to account.
Saw also on BBC this morning about a scheme in Bradford to track children from birth to find out more about what illnesses they may get.
They are looking at 14,000 children, and half of them are Asian.
To be honest this frightens me, I dont want to live in a country where half the people are Asian.
I currently live on the edge of Birmingham (just outside) and the city of Birmingham could well be the first city where 50% of the population are non-white.
What an awful inditement of our country, and I am glad people are standing up against this awful situation.
It is a pity more people dont protest instead of just moaning about it in pubs or on street corners.
A week or so back we had two firemen came round to our house to check our fire alarms.
The mentioned having to go to Sparkhill (100% Asian area) when they get fires (moslty from candles). Some of the anti-Asian things they said to us surprised me, and in fact if I had felt like reporting them then may have been sacked.
There is a huge undercurrent of anti-immigrant feeling around the country that will one day boil over.
They are looking at 14,000 children, and half of them are Asian.
To be honest this frightens me, I dont want to live in a country where half the people are Asian.
I currently live on the edge of Birmingham (just outside) and the city of Birmingham could well be the first city where 50% of the population are non-white.
What an awful inditement of our country, and I am glad people are standing up against this awful situation.
It is a pity more people dont protest instead of just moaning about it in pubs or on street corners.
A week or so back we had two firemen came round to our house to check our fire alarms.
The mentioned having to go to Sparkhill (100% Asian area) when they get fires (moslty from candles). Some of the anti-Asian things they said to us surprised me, and in fact if I had felt like reporting them then may have been sacked.
There is a huge undercurrent of anti-immigrant feeling around the country that will one day boil over.
"how can the ordinary person who holds genuine concerns about the spread of Islam into Britain voice their fears, without being associated with the Far Right, called a knuckle dragging Neanderthal or a Nazi etc?"
Write to their MP, talk in a way which isn't about "Us" and "Them", do I eloquently without foaming at the mouth and do it with facts from recognised sources.
Also: don't support a group of football hooligans just because they support the same team as you.
But as I said in my first comment, you always have people on both "sides" who will make "normal" representatives of either shake their heads with something akin to disappointment.
The "normal" was meant to stand in for moderate - but moderate has it's own fuzzy connotations within politics and I didn't want to get dragged into defining it as it wouldn't be helpful for our discussion.
There are moderates on either side who find it embarrassing to be associated with those allegedly supporting the same kind of movement.
Write to their MP, talk in a way which isn't about "Us" and "Them", do I eloquently without foaming at the mouth and do it with facts from recognised sources.
Also: don't support a group of football hooligans just because they support the same team as you.
But as I said in my first comment, you always have people on both "sides" who will make "normal" representatives of either shake their heads with something akin to disappointment.
The "normal" was meant to stand in for moderate - but moderate has it's own fuzzy connotations within politics and I didn't want to get dragged into defining it as it wouldn't be helpful for our discussion.
There are moderates on either side who find it embarrassing to be associated with those allegedly supporting the same kind of movement.
In the UAF's own words: "The BBC is a broadcaster which is funded by people from all of Britain’s diverse cultures, faiths and ethnic backgrounds"
So it is. And they should have added "and political viewpoints" and however unpleasant their views may seem to some (me included) they are as entitled as anybody else to have their views heard on the BBC.
So it is. And they should have added "and political viewpoints" and however unpleasant their views may seem to some (me included) they are as entitled as anybody else to have their views heard on the BBC.
*To be honest this frightens me, I dont want to live in a country where half the people are Asian. *
what difference does it make?
to answer the OP...i didnt see it and dont plan on watching the vid as im about to cook..... but if the interview was to talk about ABB then it should have stuck to that not for tommy robinson to rant and stir up Islamophobia.... im all for freedom of speech but he should have stuck to the subject matter or been taken back to it....... he can rant his coke fuelled rants on the street corners like they usually do
what difference does it make?
to answer the OP...i didnt see it and dont plan on watching the vid as im about to cook..... but if the interview was to talk about ABB then it should have stuck to that not for tommy robinson to rant and stir up Islamophobia.... im all for freedom of speech but he should have stuck to the subject matter or been taken back to it....... he can rant his coke fuelled rants on the street corners like they usually do
You all can see what a difficult job the BBC has and, I have to say, does it pretty well most of the time.
VHG
I am truly sorry that you are frightened but I'm not sure what we can do about it except to say that immigrants, like everyone else, just want to get on with their lives with as little interference as possible.
These fascist groups, whether the EDL or Islamic, try to forment fear and loathing, just to advance their agendas. After all, if we're all getting on well together, where does that leave them? Love and peace to you.
VHG
I am truly sorry that you are frightened but I'm not sure what we can do about it except to say that immigrants, like everyone else, just want to get on with their lives with as little interference as possible.
These fascist groups, whether the EDL or Islamic, try to forment fear and loathing, just to advance their agendas. After all, if we're all getting on well together, where does that leave them? Love and peace to you.
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