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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be angry at getting BNP guff thro' my letterbox?

55 replies

GreebosWhiskers · 30/04/2007 16:24

Okay we have a Scottish election coming up.
Okay I know all about the principle of free speech.

But when I flick thro' a pile of election leaflets that the postie has just fired thro' my letterbox I do not expect or want to see anything from a bunch of bigoted racist arseholes.

Am I wrong?

OP posts:
nogoes · 30/04/2007 17:05

Years ago we lived in a very multicultural area and I was incensed when I saw a BNP stand and I went up to them and said "we don't want your facist racist views around here". The skinhead manning the stall said and "we don't want multi-culturism around here and we have as much right to an opinion as you". I was speechless, I didn't have an answer to that.

chocolattegirl · 30/04/2007 17:13

Unfortunately he is right (in the democratic sense).

Bring back the monster raving loony party I say.

Oh, they're already in local govt and Westminster.

[devil icon]

moondog · 30/04/2007 18:52

Peachy,are you sure that is what they were saying???

BNP have an HQ in Powys,precisely because Wales appeals to them as not many people of other races.

I don't think they distinguish between those they consider to be ethnically entitled to call themselves British.

There have been a few half hearted attempts to muscle in on Welsh nationalist movement (of which I am a part) but that has never been about getting people out,more to do with encouraging those who settle here to integrate.

Isn't that what we all want these days???

elkiedee · 30/04/2007 19:09

They're not about freedom of speech for anyone else, I don't see why they deserve freedom of speech or whatever, and I don't think the initial poster of this thread is at all unreasonable.

maisym · 30/04/2007 19:14

recycle the paper

moondog · 30/04/2007 19:19

How do you know they're not 'about freedom' of speech for anyone else then Elkie?

UCM · 30/04/2007 19:26

These people have a right to stand for election as much as a Muslim party or a Vegetarian party.

It's democracy and you don't have to read or pay attention to it.

If you wanted to start a party with one dimension ie: all mothers should be given 5 years paid mat leave etc, you can.

Just be glad that we can.

roisin · 30/04/2007 19:26

Some of the BNP literature is offensive to the point of being illegal. If it's very bad, report it to the police.

lucyellensmum · 30/04/2007 19:28

i'm not going to read this thread, cos it will insense me no doubt, but if a BNP candidate knocked on my door, i'd invite him in, ask him to wait for the present, his present would be - a air pellet up the jacksie!!!

starsinhereyes · 30/04/2007 19:30

We don't get much bumpf like that as my bro works for one of the main three parties - leafletting, election day volunteering, that sort of thing. I always delight in telling him that I've voted for the opposition .

We seem to have been blacklisted by local canvassers - I guess they're assuming that we all vote the same way in the house .

UCM · 30/04/2007 19:32

But this isn't about whether you agree with their policies, I doubt very much that if someone knocked on your door and offered a Sharia state as a solution to society's problems, you would be impressed unless you are already following this way of life. I certainly wouldn't but the I have possibly picked the worst case scenario.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 30/04/2007 19:32

MD it said the immigrants from all parts of the EU (cant remember if they specified England) were coming here and taking all the jobs and ruining life for the real indigenous Welsh people. So yep, deffo whaat they were saying Oh and lots odf crap about globalization, I meant to ask my neighbour (taught the Globalisation BA LOL) if he was in when they called but forgot- must ask , I usually point religious recruiters towards him as well (he also leads the RE degree)

UCM · 30/04/2007 19:34

I have to add, that my black friends would laugh and probably stand there and chat to them about exactly where they should go back to.....cos they were born here.

moondog · 30/04/2007 19:34

I don't think it did refer to the English Peachy,because doubtless I received the very same document and mine made no mention of the English whatsoever.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 30/04/2007 19:36

I have to say I am sensitive to the Welsh for the Welsh stuff- coz I'm not Welsh. So if they only want Welsh, it ain't me (though bet they're glad of my council tax LOL)

Although as my Mums ays, she'd be glad to send my Grandad back if they can cope.....

(and he'd fit into the BNP)

moondog · 30/04/2007 19:38

Well the BNP aren't saying that.
And neither is anyone else.

UCM · 30/04/2007 19:39

I think this is something to do with being 'middle of the road'. I personally don't give a shite unless it affects me.
Lots of people were doing building in London in the last 3 years very cheaply. Our business suffered dreadfully. My husband, has been called in umpteen times now to clear up the mess. Yes, he charges appropriately for the job, but also for the sheer craftsmanship. But, also for the fact that we have a mortgage, vehicle, and 2 kids.

If you are living in a house with 13 others (don't start me on this as I know someone who rents houses to Europeans and I think it's wrong) you can afford to work for 30.00 per day.

PeachyChocolateEClair · 30/04/2007 19:41

Well actually people have said that to me MD, and as I said I'm now sensitive. I didn't like the leaflet, I don't like the whole nationalist movement. As I said I agree that they should be able to deliver where they want, but I don't like them and never will. (And that was how I interpreted the leaflet)

Think I'd best off this thread

wheresthemerlot · 30/04/2007 21:51

I can't help thinking it's best to read the guff before binning it - I like to be informed about what a party is saying. Not that I'd ever vote for the BNP or similar party.

Funnily enough I've had debates with my bf about independence governance for the English (in line with the devolution of Scotland/Wales/NI) and we had to agree to differ even though it was just an academic arguement . He doesn't even vote!

madamez · 30/04/2007 21:58

Yup, YABU. The BNP are as entitled to freedom of speech, and to print and distribute leaftlets outlining their views, as is anyone else.
And it's not always an entirely bad thing to know exactly what people you disagree with are saying, because then you can challenge them if it's factually wrong, slanderous etc, and also you are informed if you find yourself discussing the issues with someone at the bus stop ie:
Other person: You know, the (whatever) organisation talk a lot of sense..
You:, what, like saying (cite favourite completely loopy example from leaflet).
Etc

saintmaybe · 01/05/2007 10:08

There's that example, though, of the freedom of speech not extending to shouting 'fire' in a crowded cinema; sometimes it is physically dangerous. I'm not black or Jewish or gay, but I think I might feel truly afraid for myself and my children if I knew that these people were around and canvassing for support.

I used to live near Welling in se London, and when the BNP opened an HQ there the number of racist attacks locally went up sharply.

I'm not necessarily saying they shouldn't be able to have a pov; not sure what I'm saying tbh, but I don't think the OP is being unreasonable to feel angry that it's coming into her home, which was the question. I would be too.

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 01/05/2007 10:27

But we live in a democracy, and part of that means that people have the right to an opinion. I would far rather have that than being told what I can say/do and not have the right to vote.

It?s a leaflet, if you don?t like what it stands for then chuck it in the bin. If you don?t like what the party stand for then don?t vote for them. But you can?t have it both ways.

Personally I think that the best way to argue against a party is to inform yourself about what they actually stand for, from their literature and not from the media.

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2007 13:54

people are entitled to freedom of speech, i do believe however that inciting racism is illegal in this country. Just because the BNP do this in a subtle manner by jumping on the genuine concerns of some people does NOT make it right. So, you are most definately not being unreasonable

beckybrastraps · 01/05/2007 13:59

"If you don?t like what the party stand for then don?t vote for them."

In fact, make sure you do vote for someone else. Low turnouts can give parties such as this a high share of the vote, that does not represent local opinion, although they will of course claim that it does.

lucyellensmum · 01/05/2007 14:05

that is a very good point becky. Thing is, we had a leaflet based on "getting the imigrants sorted" from our local conservative councillor not so long back - they say what people want to hear, or what they think they want to hear. Perhaps if these people didnt feel so marginalised there wouldn't be such a deep running mistrust - ooh this makes me mad, im going to shut my mouth now.

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