Friday
Oct232009
Video from Britain: The British National Party and BBC's "Question Time"
Friday, October 23, 2009 at 8:23
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Britain has been caught up this week in a debate over whether the leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, should appear on the BBC's headline political discussion programme, Question Time. The BNP, which has its roots in the 1980s National Front, is primarily defined by its views on race and immigration, which many see as a "whites-only" or "whites-first" policy, both for the BNP's membership and for its vision of England/Britain.
Griffin was joined by British Minister of Justice Jack Straw (Labour Party), Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion Sayeeda Warsi (Conservative), member of Parliament Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat), and playwright and deputy chair of the British Museum, Bonnie Greer.
Videos of protests outside the BBC and a six-minute extract of the discussion are followed by the full programme in six parts:
Before the programme, crowds gathered outside the BBC to protest Griffin's appearance.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1sc5aKDBw[/youtube]
From the start of the discussion, the focus was on the BNP and race, wrapped up in notions of "British" or "English" identity, personified initially by Winston Churchill and then by the multi-cultural Britain that has developed since World War II. Notice also the exchange over the Holocaust, which is likely to dominate British news coverage today:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIHNJP9e9EQ[/youtube]
The programme moved on to other topics, including an interesting exchange over British and Islam in Part 3 and over the merits of "indigenous" residents of Britain in Parts 5-6. Question Time in full (6 parts):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK6Gw4Qlz0A[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vrrGuwAfq4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XgG5W7VVR0&feature=channel[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Nbwi4KZBA&feature=channel[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3gDnq9E4vw&feature=channel[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jQsTtbR1OU&feature=channel[/youtube]
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
Britain has been caught up this week in a debate over whether the leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, should appear on the BBC's headline political discussion programme, Question Time. The BNP, which has its roots in the 1980s National Front, is primarily defined by its views on race and immigration, which many see as a "whites-only" or "whites-first" policy, both for the BNP's membership and for its vision of England/Britain.
Griffin was joined by British Minister of Justice Jack Straw (Labour Party), Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion Sayeeda Warsi (Conservative), member of Parliament Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat), and playwright and deputy chair of the British Museum, Bonnie Greer.
Videos of protests outside the BBC and a six-minute extract of the discussion are followed by the full programme in six parts:
Before the programme, crowds gathered outside the BBC to protest Griffin's appearance.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1sc5aKDBw[/youtube]
From the start of the discussion, the focus was on the BNP and race, wrapped up in notions of "British" or "English" identity, personified initially by Winston Churchill and then by the multi-cultural Britain that has developed since World War II. Notice also the exchange over the Holocaust, which is likely to dominate British news coverage today:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIHNJP9e9EQ[/youtube]
The programme moved on to other topics, including an interesting exchange over British and Islam in Part 3 and over the merits of "indigenous" residents of Britain in Parts 5-6. Question Time in full (6 parts):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK6Gw4Qlz0A[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vrrGuwAfq4[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XgG5W7VVR0&feature=channel[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Nbwi4KZBA&feature=channel[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3gDnq9E4vw&feature=channel[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jQsTtbR1OU&feature=channel[/youtube]
Reader Comments (3)
'why are you hijacking Churchill's reputation?'
His discursively constructed reputation as a hero that is.
Of course Churchill did not base his politics exclusively on race but Griffin is correct to have suggested that he'd be at home in the BNP.
This is the best summary of Griffin's performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QAvkFS_cgk
I agree with Griffin on Islam and homosexuality.
Muslims must learn to assimilate into British society. The country's cultural and political institutions are at stake here. We cannot have two separate cultures co-existing side by side. Sharia law (courts), polygamy, 'no go' areas and radical mosques are unacceptable. Griffin says Britain is a Christian country. I think 21st century Britain has evolved into a post-Christian country. It is very much a secular country, even if Christianity is indeed the cultural wellspring of its people. The sun is setting for the Church of England...sorry to say. Anglicanism is nearly dead. The Bishop of Fulham said so himself just a few days ago.
Europe does a terrible job when it comes to assimilating minorty groups -- almost as bad as Japan. That is why Japan has such strict immigration laws.
America assimilates minority groups better than anyone.