If someone referred to you as racist - what's the best response?

[sp1814]

UKIP prospective MP for Ilford, Paul Wiffen has come up with a corker:

http://news.bbc.co.uk...0/england/8609891.stm

David Cameron referred to UKIP as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists mostly".

Was he onto something???

[saxy_jag]

What birthright?

[stokemaveric]

''im not racist...but the uk govt has made me racist''....thats my answer....

[sp1814]

Thank you for your post Lucy.

Definitely given me something insightful to think about.

[modeller]

It would depend entirely what prompted their remark. I would only be annoyed if it was
totally undeserved . If there was some truth in it I would be prepared to explain why.
However if I was a politician I would keep my mouth shut.

I thought Camerons remarks were plain silly I know several potential UKIP voters and none of his descriptions are remotely correct.

[sp1814]

modeller

It was a reaction to criticism of the party as 'sinister' on a community care website.

Perhaps there's some validity in that point of view?

http://www.richardcor...ething-about-ukip.pdf

The document seems fairly well researched and backed up with verifiable sources.

[sp1814]

Good for you Lucy.

But don't you think that politicians SHOULD be questioned?

Did you get a chance to read the pdf?

[Zeuhl]

///as I told him by e-mail shortly after the election last year. ///

your impression of a pompous pudding is almost amusing.

[Zeuhl]

For what purpose?

[VHG]

I would say I am "numberiest" not "racist" (if there is such a word as numberist).

I have no objection to a few people from other countries coming here, of any race, any religion, and colour.

But it is the NUMBER that are coming here that I care about.

I was in central Birmingham a few months ago and a primary school were taking their children on a trip round the shops, each child with their little clipboard. There were probably about 40 children all from the same school.

NOT ONE WAS WHITE.

They were all black, asian, chinese etc.

What sort of awful situation is it that a school in England (a country of mostly white people) is 100% non-white.

THAT is what I maon about, the NUMBER not the RACE.

[Kromovaracun]

Generally, if accused of racism (which rarely happens, because I'm not - and people who aren't generally won't be accused of it by anyone who is sane), my typical response is just to respond in the most outlandish and offensive way I can think of in the spur of the moment, just for the joy of the awkwardness it generates.

[Kromovaracun]

*reads article*

So, I guess my response is largely in line with Mr Wiffen :)

[mightyWBA]

He's entitled to his opinion in a democracy, which is why people want to live here.
Seems to me though everybody is entitled to an opinion so long as it is the right one.

[sp1814]

MightyWBA

Let's get away from that thing about opinions. Wiffen is ABSOLUTELY entitled to his opinion, and ABSOLUTELY entitled to express it.

However, once expressed, it then right for those to disagree with him to express their opposition, surely?

The point of this particular story is that his response was a bit over the top and arguably justifies the criticism which levelled at the UKIP.

[Haggisdj]

One of the chapters is entitled, "They are as extreme as the BNP on immigration". What is wrong with that? It's there opinion. There are a lot of people in this country, and I would guess the number is rising, that abhor immigration. If you don't like their policies then don't vote for them...

To answer your original question, "If someone referred to you as racist - what's the best response?" I wouldn't give a monkey's. Racism is subjective, people see racism where it's not intended, in fact there are people who go looking for it; one man's patriot is another man's racist. It is only very recently that racismhas become an insult and then only in certain circles.

It's only in the

[jake-the-peg]

One mans patriot is another mans racist?

Only if you don't understand the meanings of the words.

A Racist makes generalised comments about people of other races like implying that all Romanians are wife beating Gypsys.

A patriot is someone with a strong loyalty to a country

It's entirely possible for someone to love their country without thinking that all foreigners are scum.