Today's daily email edition of the Guardian flopped into my inbox. It seems the current police investigations in Ipswich have satisfied the media by detaining two men who the press have freely named. Personally I think it's wrong to name these people in the media. If these men end up being freed and not found guilty of the crimes they will still be marked with that stigma for the rest of their lives. Innocent until proven guilty is not a phrase taken to heart by the public mob. I can still remember the events in 1999 when News of the World published names and locations of known paedophiles in the UK. Of course, being such an esteemed publication they took their time out to check the details were correct. And this didn't lead to any innocent members of the public being attacked by the angry mob..... But that is a rant for another time.
It appears the British National Party are applying some intelligence to their methods (apart from hiring a reporter from a left wing newspaper but hey we all make mistakes). The article details plans such as "Avoid using phrases such as black and white" and so on. Yes, anything to prevent us from appearing as a xenophobic small minded party that wants to preserve English national identity. I had a quick glance at the BNP's homepage and noticed their 'daily news' section. Muslim spokesman compares Britons to Nazis. As the aforementioned Muslim was a Scottish member of the Muslim Association, Osama Saeed, I had a quick read at the post. The last paragraph left me somewhat bemused when they referred to him as a "guest in our country" and a reminder that Muslims played a part in the SS. Yes, large numbers of non-Jewish ethnic groups joined the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) for a large number of reasons. Being a member got you a job, better wages and potentially better lifestyle. I am not supporting what the Nazis did but it is easy to see how people could fall under its spell. Mainland Europe was in a right state at this point due to the economy and recovery from WWI (again, how true that it was a 'world war' is a topic for another time).
In fact, joining the BNP does remind of the Secret Seven. Secret rendezvous, codewords and passwords - it does sound rather exciting! Maybe we get lashings of ginger beer at meetings. To be honest the Guardian article doesn't reveal much more than I already knew. It has small pockets of supports mainly in areas with high integrated ethnic minority populations. Its members are people who are pissed by that and tap into this 'myth' of British identity.
3 comments:
The BNP story made me laugh. Look at the adverts to the right of the story; "Great White Records".
Yes, you're talking about sharks. Sure, we believe you [shuffles out of room slowly]
^^My Dad did a God awful doc on the BNP and Nazi Rock around the world, which thankfully never won the Bafta it was nominated for. Channel 5, I say no more.
Great White Records interestingly enough however, were planning to start a policy of handing out free sampler records to kids in predominately minority or highly multi-cultural areas, at the gates of schools. No, really. I believe controversy prevented them, rather than stupidity, or even better, just plainly getting a doing off some nice Yardies.
Interestingly, the label donates every profit to the BNP. The guy who helps run them was jailed for creating and distributing anti-semitic propoganda. They also have a notable anti-Scottish stance which they appear to try and keep a bit quiet.
Scary stuff. On a more humorous anecdote, my dad doing that documentary gave me the opportunity to puruse Nazi magazines that are banned here. Including a centerfold of "Proud Aryan Women", all with dyed blonde hair. I kid you not...
They probably just lash the ginger bearded at meetings...
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