Comments on: Watching the Redwatchers http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/ Award-winning University of York Student Newspaper Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:31:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Joseph Peach http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-39915 Joseph Peach Sun, 11 Feb 2007 03:32:13 +0000 http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-39915 Actually, I've changed my mind a bit. I think that Redwatch should be prohibited from publishing personal information on anybody; I thin k that this is both immoral and desirably illegal, since invasion of privacy causes people to be less open about sharing views. I still think that they should be permitted to continue publishing any fascist arguments, and indeed to spread misinformation. In any case, I think that it is a better use of our time to disseminate correct information and anti-fascist arguments rather than to try to curtail the Rewatch members' freedom of speech. Actually, I’ve changed my mind a bit. I think that Redwatch should be prohibited from publishing personal information on anybody; I thin k that this is both immoral and desirably illegal, since invasion of privacy causes people to be less open about sharing views. I still think that they should be permitted to continue publishing any fascist arguments, and indeed to spread misinformation. In any case, I think that it is a better use of our time to disseminate correct information and anti-fascist arguments rather than to try to curtail the Rewatch members’ freedom of speech.

]]> By: Joseph Peach http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-39914 Joseph Peach Sun, 11 Feb 2007 03:19:44 +0000 http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-39914 I believe that there is a third side to this discussion, and I would like to persuade you that it is the best. Most of us agree that the actions of Redwatch are repugnant and immoral, and that fascism, racism and misinformation are evils. However, most of us agree that the freedom of the press and the right to publish as one wishes are very important. I think that the way we can clear this up is to distinguish between moral and legal desires. I believe that it is immoral to publish hateful articles, but that it should never be illegal. It should never be illegal because, were any organisation to be granted the right to censor and to control information, such an organisation would become far too powerful and would itself constitute fascism. We must counter the lies of fascists with clear, well-researched articles, and counter their shouts of hate with sensible argument. We must never recourse to fascist methods ourselves. I believe that there is a third side to this discussion, and I would like to persuade you that it is the best.

Most of us agree that the actions of Redwatch are repugnant and immoral, and that fascism, racism and misinformation are evils. However, most of us agree that the freedom of the press and the right to publish as one wishes are very important.

I think that the way we can clear this up is to distinguish between moral and legal desires. I believe that it is immoral to publish hateful articles, but that it should never be illegal. It should never be illegal because, were any organisation to be granted the right to censor and to control information, such an organisation would become far too powerful and would itself constitute fascism.

We must counter the lies of fascists with clear, well-researched articles, and counter their shouts of hate with sensible argument. We must never recourse to fascist methods ourselves.

]]> By: K Smith http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37669 K Smith Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:27:09 +0000 http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37669 Do fascists always leave caps lock on? Do fascists always leave caps lock on?

]]> By: tom http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37455 tom Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:42:15 +0000 http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37455 What truth would Redwatch be speaking and publishing? What kind of a political truths are the addresses, phone numbers, job descriptions and even license plates of people who are prepared to speak out against racism? It is a cowardly attempt to stop people exercising their right to freedom of speech, and speaks volumes about the validity of their political arguments if these are the tactics they need to fall back on. It also speaks volumes that despite this intimidation; and in the face of death threats, violent attacks, knifings and fire-bombings there are still people willing to openly oppose fascists like the BNP and protect our society from them. As for the idea that the BNP would represent the interests of the working class, it only takes a second to realise that it isn't the case. The BNP are a fascist organisation, opposed to the welfare state, whose purpose is to spread racism and blame the failings of a political system on the innocent and vulnerable people who are its worst victims. Also, if we are to talk of 'speaking and publishing the truth', it bears remembering that the BNP deny the occurence of the holocaust: they aim only at spreading lies, division and fear. What truth would Redwatch be speaking and publishing? What kind of a political truths are the addresses, phone numbers, job descriptions and even license plates of people who are prepared to speak out against racism? It is a cowardly attempt to stop people exercising their right to freedom of speech, and speaks volumes about the validity of their political arguments if these are the tactics they need to fall back on. It also speaks volumes that despite this intimidation; and in the face of death threats, violent attacks, knifings and fire-bombings there are still people willing to openly oppose fascists like the BNP and protect our society from them.

As for the idea that the BNP would represent the interests of the working class, it only takes a second to realise that it isn’t the case. The BNP are a fascist organisation, opposed to the welfare state, whose purpose is to spread racism and blame the failings of a political system on the innocent and vulnerable people who are its worst victims.

Also, if we are to talk of ’speaking and publishing the truth’, it bears remembering that the BNP deny the occurence of the holocaust: they aim only at spreading lies, division and fear.

]]> By: Kate http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37448 Kate Thu, 25 Jan 2007 00:06:28 +0000 http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37448 'Speaking and publishing the truths'? So you find it acceptable that whilst giving out anti-BNP leaflets in Acomb last week (exercising the right to freedom of speech that the BNP claim to defend) we were photographed by Ian Dawson, a BNP National Group Support Officer, and told that our photos would be appearing on Red Watch? This is the same person that told a member of the university's Islamic Soc who was leafletting to "get out of his country". There is no place in Britain for any party that relies on tactics of intimidation. For a party that claims to be fighting a 'traitorous parliament' they seem to only target groups and individuals within society rather than institutions. ‘Speaking and publishing the truths’? So you find it acceptable that whilst giving out anti-BNP leaflets in Acomb last week (exercising the right to freedom of speech that the BNP claim to defend) we were photographed by Ian Dawson, a BNP National Group Support Officer, and told that our photos would be appearing on Red Watch? This is the same person that told a member of the university’s Islamic Soc who was leafletting to “get out of his country”. There is no place in Britain for any party that relies on tactics of intimidation. For a party that claims to be fighting a ‘traitorous parliament’ they seem to only target groups and individuals within society rather than institutions.

]]> By: john winston beatson http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37160 john winston beatson Tue, 23 Jan 2007 13:04:58 +0000 http://www.nouse.co.uk/2007/01/23/watching-the-redwatchers/#comment-37160 IF RED WATCH IS SPEAKING AND PUBLISHING THE TRUTHS THEN NO ONE CAN COMPLAIN BUT THEIR FIGHT IS WITH A TRAITOROUS PARLIAMENT WHOSE LIES AND CONCEIT IS DESTROYING BRITAIN FOR MANY WORKING CLASS PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY WITH THEM AND THEIR RANKS ARE GROWING IF RED WATCH IS SPEAKING AND PUBLISHING THE TRUTHS THEN NO ONE CAN COMPLAIN

BUT THEIR FIGHT IS WITH A TRAITOROUS PARLIAMENT WHOSE LIES AND CONCEIT IS DESTROYING BRITAIN FOR MANY WORKING CLASS PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY WITH THEM AND THEIR RANKS ARE GROWING

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