Of Fascism, Freedom of Speech & Religion
It has long been my contention that the true measure of once proud Albion's decline is the fact there is so little that we, as a country, do so little very well anymore. For example, in the 1930's we could all have taken a measure of pride in our homegrown fascist movement. Under Tom Mosley, our blackshirts at least looked the part in their attempt to establish a new world order.
However, what do we have these days? Nick Griffin, the fat Gruppenfuhrer, who is frankly a sorry apology for a Nazi. What is the point of running a far right-wing political party like the British National Party if you don't embrace the paraphernalia & robes that go with that particular office - as (I think) the great PJ O'Rourke said,
the devil might have all the best songs; but the Nazi's have the best uniforms
Notwithstanding Mr Griffin's poor choice of attire & tailor, Christmas has come early for him & after years to trying, he has finally managed to get himself arrested for his pronouncements on race & religion
Allegedly, Griffin was secretly filmed by the Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation (agendas anyone?) describing Islam as
a wicked, vicious faith
as well as making highly questionable remarks about the contents & meaning of [the Koran].
Whilst his crimes against sartorial elegance are manifest, I rather agree with yesterdays Daily Torygraph...
We have grave doubts, however, about the extent to which offensive speeches on any subject should be matters for the law. Freedom of speech means nothing, after all, if it is taken to mean only the freedom to express views approved by the Government, or those that nobody finds offensive. If the term is to mean anything, it must surely include the freedom to give offence
However, maybe we should all voice concern at the zelotary with which the West Yorkshire constabulary has pursued Griffin. According to various reports, the Yorkshire rozzers have had a team of officers working ten hours a day, five days a week since July!
Now, please recall if you will dear readers that according to the latest set of Home Office statistics, the West Yorkshire police scored -16 for 'public perception' & -24 for reducing crime when their performance was benchmarked against surrounding forces & the Home Office statistical index. Clearly, the Chief Constable has achieved a miraculous turnaround in his jurisdiction that he can allocate such an extraordinary quantum of resources to this matter.
Once more, as the Torygraph points out,
why did the West Yorkshire police think it necessary to send four plain-clothes policemen to arrest the BNP leader at dawn at his farmhouse on the Welsh border, in the week before Christmas?
Do these coppers have absolutely no sense of irony?? Gestapo style dawn raids? The 800,000 odd crypto-fascists that voted for the BNP in the European elections in the summer must surely approve. Please please tell me that the Peelers were wearing leather trench coats & snap brim Fedoras so that I can laugh myself incontinent.
Comments
With regard to the Nick Griffin affair, there are a few curious factors. I wonder why the West Yorkshire police were involved. It would seem easier for the Welsh police to have managed the arrest. Why was Nick Griffin taken to Yorkshire? As you point out the W. Yorkshire police were so busy watching the video footage of the meeting in July, that they must have been exhausted. Why did they take the BNP computers? Were they hoping for the sort of lucky find that they might have found on the police chief's computers? Surely only the home office would initiate the arrest of the leader of a lawful political party? It is well known that Nick Griffin is to stand against Blunkett in the upcoming general election in Sheffield, and he will certainly take a lot of votes of the ordinary working class voter from Blunkett. What were the real objectives of the police and Home Office?
Posted by: harryj | December 16, 2004 7:11 PM
Being of English stock and recently at that, I've been watching with increasing disbelief as events in England unfold over the past few years.
"Orwellian" now seems almost to be an understatement.
Englishmen, it seems to me are faced with two courses of action--continue to do nothing and slide (rapidly) into totalitarianism or rebel, openly and en-masse and face the possible consequences.
My money's on continued indifference and the end of a once-great country.
Posted by: Keith | December 16, 2004 10:47 PM
Anyone here seen 'Brazil'? You really should. The only thing I can think of that sums things up better is the 'Fox's Prophecy'.
Posted by: Mike | December 17, 2004 11:42 AM