why not the BNP

[confusedpete]

Why do people cry down the BNP ? what is so bad about them?

[Kromovaracun]

There are some racist nutters in the bnp but not all of them are like that. There are lots of ordinary decent people like us in there. If you listen to what they say they can be convincing

Perhaps. But outward appearances have to taken with a pinch of salt. Blair's words for instance were constantly lavished in scorn by his critics who tar politicians as liars - why should Griffin be taken at face value? And even when taken at face value, some of his claims are visibly utter nonsense - for instance his aforementioned claim that the BNP takes racists in and changes their views. Ludicrous.

I would like to see Mr Griffin and one or 2 others get in as mps and then people would get the chance to see what they are like.

Here I'd actually agree with you. I detest the BNP - I find their ideology abhorrent, their membership repulsive and thank my lucky stars every day they'll never get in power. But there's no escaping the fact that a substantial demographic of Britons are anti-immigration (and, sadly, there's also a number who are racist...), and due to the principles of democracy, these have to be represented whether I like it or not.

[NeilBaker]

I am probably on the same wave length as confusedpete in that I dont like the way this country is going. I am NOT a racist though I do think we should control our borders more. Its the numbers that I object to

[codger66]

Yes Neil, but if you control the borders, that would mean refusing entry to some, and many politically correct people here would call that racism.

[Kromovaracun]

Not really. I just wouldn't trust the BNP an inch in discerning who to let in and who not to.

What's racism is when people deliberately act or judge against one ethnic group purely because of ethnicity (or make ridiculous generalisations based on stereotypes, but that's pretty irrelevant in this debate) - which is exactly, however nicely they wrap it up, they kind of measures which the BNP would endorse if in power. I'm sure plenty of liberals (like myself) accept the need for some regulation, but I'm not at all convinced by claims of being culturally attacked or overwhelmed (in fact quite the opposite).

And all the focus they put on immigration unfortunately tends to draw attention away from their institutional homophobia, anti-semitism etc.

[confusedpete]

well Kromovaracun, this has all got too deep for me,think I'll leave well alone now, wished i'd never asked in the first place.

[Kromovaracun]

Sorry, we've got a bit carried away...

Make a note of it though - this is exactly the controversy the BNP rouses. At the very least, you'd be getting this in the paper all the time if they got in.