Farooq Siddique: Nick Griffin was hit by verbal truck
Last week began with BBC's Panorama exposing the kind of racism that still infests some parts of Bristol and ended bizarrely with BBC's Question Time giving a platform to the kind of intolerance we saw on Panorama.
I understand the argument that we need to challenge extremist views head-on and I'm all for free speech, but the way it was handled on Question Time has in no way assured me that this is the best way to undermine an extremist ideology.
-
BNP leader Nick Griffin's performance on the programme was admittedly dire. He was like a deer caught in headlights. I've never hit a deer, but I can imagine how it must be. Nick Griffin was hit by a verbal equivalent of a truck. Even I felt pity for him.
Yes, it began very well. Griffin revealed himself to be devious, evasive while his party policies were shown to be divisive and hate-filled, even though that was never in doubt. But then, as the crowd cheered each swing of the proverbial baseball bat around his proverbial head, it all fell apart with the utterance of one simple word: immigration. And suddenly, the three main political party representatives turned their attention on each other. Griffin just sat there silently, with a grin as wide as the English Channel, licking his lips, watching the petty bickering that followed.
Then, perhaps the most stupid question ever asked by a Muslim audience member on television: "Why do you call Islam a wicked and vicious religion?" – It enabled him to reel off the content of a standard-issue BNP leaflet, unchallenged. Even Sayeeda Waarsi, considered by many to be the most powerful Muslim woman in Britain, ignored it, too busy scoring points for the Conservatives. Griffin went on to call homosexuals "creepy".
The most the BNP ever had was six per cent of the vote. After the show, 22 per cent of the British public believed Griffin "had a point" and would consider voting for him.
You may not agree with everything that is said, but on some things, everyone "has a point". That's what happens when you listen to any point of view, on any given subject. Labour, Conservatives, Liberals all "have a point" too.
They all have some of the answers; no one has all of the answers.
What we have to decide is what kind of country do we want to live in; a tolerant or intolerant society?
The Anglo-Saxons were Germans. Jesus was a Palestinian Jew. The patron saint of England was born in modern-day Turkey and lived and died in Palestine.
And yet, during another world recession, we are being tempted to blame "the other". Europe has been here before. We led the fight against that fascism then. We must not now stare into that abyss ourselves.
45 Comments
View all
by richard, bristol
Monday, November 02 2009, 5:05PM
“Jamie E - great comment!!”
by Jamie E, Stokes Croft
Monday, November 02 2009, 4:40PM
“Superb Farooq!
How did you manage to find yourself in a 1990s timewarp where everyone goes around saying things like 'diversity gives us strength' and 'I like vibrant, multiculturalism, anyone who doesn't is a Nazi'
Welcome to 2009 Farooq. Turns out that many Brits objected to the mass import of Islam but weren't listened to, so started to vote for extreme nationalists.
I guess that means that the old fashioned 'let's celebrate tolerance and diversity' party piece is obsolete, but don't let that get in the way of a paycheck, eh?
Tell you what Farooq, I agree that we should take this demand for tolerance to Islamabad when we start colonising the place with thousands of Europeans, only 40% in work, mind. We can share a truely diverse city. How about Lahore?
Come on Farooq, let's talk tolerance. How dare you wag your finger at white Christians that have tolerated the march of Islam throughout our lands in a way that Muslim countries, Dubai aside, never would.
Untill I can draw whatever cartoon I want and talk down Mohamed on national TV without the following death threats, your civilisation will NEVER lecture mine about tolerance.”
by gerry, bristol
Saturday, October 31 2009, 5:12PM
“Immigration is on everyones lips, its worrying, just read Australia let in 169 last year and are going to increase 50%
and they have room for many more.”
by TimothyB, Upper Knowle
Saturday, October 31 2009, 7:08AM
“George,
Listen dear chap, no one party represents and individual. There are always elements of it that they don't support. People vote for a party for various reasons but generally because that party holds some of their views. But it's never 100%. I have voted Tory in the past but I abhor fox hunting. Similarly there are elements of the BNP that I don't like but they seem to be the only party that is intent on stopping immigration and islamification. I don't want anyone to be repatriated. However I take exception to when you say people who vote for them are not educated etc. I have had a good education with a degree, come from a good family and have the ultimate moral standards. So please stop all this tarring of people who decide to vote for them. I am more determined than ever to vote for them when these students who attempt to deny free speech get on their water sipping, manbag, bandwagons. These guys are the fascists that attempt to deny free speech. Let everyone have free speech in a non hostile environment and we'll all make our educated choices.”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Friday, October 30 2009, 4:17PM
“Or John Snow from Channel 4 News. Now that would be good.
Oh, and as for biased - the recent YouGov survey showed that only 3% of voters would definitely vote for the BNP, so the audience was perfectly formed in my opinion. In fact, I am led to believe there were 10 BNP supporters in teh audience so actually they were over-represented!”