Poppy burner

[GORGEOUSX]

In thinking that the man, who happens to be Muslim, got off with a ludicrous judgement for burning poppies?

I say he happens to be Muslim, because Baroness Warsi thinks Muslims get a bad press.

So this man, who happens to be a muslim, got off with a £50 fine and then went on the BBC news to have a jolly good laugh about it.

When the American reverend wanted to come to the UK to talk about burning Korans, he was, quite rightly IMO banned from entering the country; yet this man who deliberately caused many many British people a great deal of upset and offense, by his disgusting behaviour, and total disregard for people in this country, is not even in prison.

Yes Mary Mungo I think you're right.... in other words we're too tolerant.

Fellatio - I really don't think there's a law against inciting religious hatred. Please please post a link if I'm wrong and I'll eat humble pie.

It was talked about under the Labour Govt but I don't think it ever happened. But I could be wrong...

Keep your hair on Rhinestone - did you not see my post of 13.57?! I think people are just loosely refering to the law that covers both.

I'm saying that I don't think there is a law that covers both. PLEASE prove me wrong tho...

I don't think one law can cover both because religion does not always equal race.

here Get your knife and fork out.

I'm staggered that there's no such law!

Phew! Thanks Felatio

I don't understand why you are equating burning a poppy with burning a Qu'ran. Wouldn't the equivilent of burning a Qu'ran be burning a Bible?
I suspect many people would regard Bible burning as more serious than poppy burning.

Oh fuck, hate being wrong!

Ok, but the law is an ass! I still think you should be allowed to burn a religious book if you want. And I say that as a Christian.

can I offer you any condiments?

Some Fellatio Sauce please.

ChazsBrilliantattitude Even with the amount of feeling in this country, to our troops, past and present?

Do we still have laws on blasphemy, or were they done away with? (Only applied to the Xtian God anyway.)

Yes even with that. A poppy is a secular symbol which does not have the significance to many people that their religious book would have.

I agree what he did was offensive and moreover that he quite possibly intended to be offensive. However, I think if he had burned a Bible the reaction in this country would have been very different and that is why I don't think you can suggest that burning a Qu'ran would be a direct comparison to burning a poppy.

"...he quite possibly intended to be offensive."

You think?

I don't think the reaction would have been different, to be honest. Lot's of angry talk and a fine for open burning.

He might have intended to make a political point and have been reckless as to whether or not people would be offended. I don't know? I find nearly everything Nick Griffin says offensive but I don't think he necessarily intends to offend me.

Chaz - he burned the poppy during the 2 minute silence. I suspect he had an inkling that it would be considered offensive.

The public reaction to a bible burning would probably have been roughly the same as to the poppy burning, which is a general feeling of disappointed exasperation that our reputation for tolerance and the right to free speech means that we have to suffer so many offensive arseholes who are given a public platform by other arseholes looking to stir up trouble.

However, I'm sure some Christian group or other would have collectively sought a prosecution using the act I just linked. But Would the punishment have been so harsh as had a white extremist burnt the Qu'ran? I doubt it to be honest. I wish I was wrong, but I doubt it.

Thank you Rhinestone for posting that. I was too busy laughing to get there first. OF COURSE he intended to offend. Is that an emoticon for don't be so ridiculous?

sorry should read, Is there an emoticon.

gives FellationNelson a standing ovation.

GORGEOUSX perhaps you can petition Mumsnet for that emoticon along with the mind reading one for yourself as you can clearly get inside other people's heads and decide what they are thinking.

Any chance you could predict some lottery numbers for me too!

I don't agree that the reaction to a Bible burning would be the same as a poppy burning.

Ooh thank you. I believe that's my first this week.

I think the interviews the perpetrator gave to the media yesterday leave little doubt That he was deliberately setting out to offend.

How does his sentence compare to that handed down to the youth convicted after urinating on a poppy display ay a war memorial?