Unite Against Facism Protest BNP Leader's Question Time Appearance

I have been watching news coverage of protests outside the BBC television centre were David Dimbleby's "Question Time" was to be aired. Question Time is a discussion programme involving a panal of politicans and celebrities as well as a studio audience who can ask questions. I have often watched Question Time with interest and enjoyment. It is an opportunity for ordinary people to put politicians on the spot and challenge them. In the run up to the 2005 general election the leader of the three major parties came on one at a time to be grilled.

Last night's edition of Question Time was quite controversial, as the panal included British National Party leader, Nick Griffin. He leads a far-right, whites-only political party here in the United Kingdom. The BNP formed as a splinter group of the British National Front by John Tyndall in 1982. They are a slimy, racist bunch but have recently won favour by raising some legimate concerns, such as the issue of illegal immigration.



A large mob comprised of members of Unite Against Facism struggled with police outside the BBC Television centre in an attempt to enter the building. They opposed the appearance of Nick Griffin on Question Time believing that it was wrong to give him a platform. This group began in 2003 as a coalition that included the Anti-Nazi League, the National Assembly Against Racism, the Trades Union Congress. They have supporters from all the major parties, including, surprisingly, Conservative Party leader David Cameron.



In my last year at university I encountered The Anti-Nazi League, one of the groups which founded UAF. I tagged along on some of their protests and attended some of their gatherings to see what they were about. They likewise worked to impose censorship by banning the BNP from voicing their opinions. "No platform for Nazis" was one of their slogans.



Now, I have no love for the BNP. They are a bunch of racist thugs, but in many ways these far left groups are just as much a threat to our democratic society in my opinion. How hypocritical to protest facism by trying to deny someone's freedom of speech. It also puts everyone's freedom to speak their mind at risk, for who is to stop someone else trying to take away other people's freedom to speak their mind if their views are deemed unpopular? Who is to decide what is and what is not acceptable? Mob rule? I am also quite astounded and disgusted that members of the mainstream parties would give any support to the antics of people like that.



The way to combat groups like the BNP is not to try to silence them, but to refute them. They should be engaged in debate and exposed for what they are. That was the aim of last night's edition of Question Time, and I think it was largely successful. Don't silence people, refute them. That is the way of a democratic society.

A KabanetheChristian Classic

I just want to see if it is possible to post youtube videos on here. I think it should be. I thought I would post a video by a young friend of mine. KabanetheChristian or, Tommy. He's a very bright young man from Virginia. He's been a bit of a bad boy by converting to Eastern Orthodoxy, but he is still one of my favourite youtubers:). He has some excellent videos defending the resurrection of Jesus and refuting the Jesus Myth (the belief that Jesus never existed as an historical figure. The video below is a classic. Part of me does have issues with the way he presents himself (quite sarcastic and mocking of Jesus Mythcism), but I could not help but be entertained when I saw this last year for the first time. He demonstrates the silliness of the mythcists.

Intro to my bigoted ways.

Hey folks. My name is Jason.  I am an evangelical Christian from the United Kingdom. I started this blog mainly so I could re-connect with an old friend of mine from university who I have not spoken to for a long time. That would be my friend Matt (dsypraxicfundamentalist). I am hoping to get back in touch and keep in touch this time. My blog title was inspired by something he once said after giving his testimony as a joke. He had met many challenges to his faith and adopted many opinions along the way, but in the end he ended up just being a narrow-minded, bigoted funadementalist. In modern Western secular culture, evangelical Christian perspectives are not considered all that politically correct, and the charges of narrow-mindedness and bigotry are often levelled at us. Laughing about it, and having a bit of a laugh at ourselves is helpful I feel.

Beliefs

I believe as a Christian that Christ Jesus, the second person in the triune Godhead came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 3:15) by dying for their sins on the cross at Calvary (Romans 5:8), and that by grace through faith alone in Him (Ephesians 2:8-10) we can have forgiveness and eternal life. He rose again the third day and is alive today. Christians worship a living Saviour and Lord! The Old and New Testaments of the Bible are God's inspired and inerrant word, and are our sole and final authority in all areas of life.

Until about just over a year ago I was a Young Earth creationist, holding that the days in Genesis 1 were literal 24 hour days. I came to question that viewpoint and now believe that an exegetical case can be made for an old earth interpretation of the passage. I also believe that a local rather than global flood of Noah's day is presented in the Bible. I am pretty agnostic on the theory of evolution. I have not made up my mind.

I believe that when God wills to save someone, He succeeds every time. He doesn't do His best and leave it to the will of the fallen sinner (See John 6:35-45). Jesus is a powerful and perfect saviour! Also unless God changes a man's heart first, He will never come to Christ because "the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8-7-8).

So that's my intro to my bigoted ways. I will probably blog on here at some point each week. I might post some of my videos here (and videos from others perhaps) if that is possible on here. Thanks for visiting everyone. Have a really good day!