General Chat

Lisa I am very grateful that you and I live in a country where we can exchange our views, and where people can demonstrate peaceably. Having just read a book about the terrible Stalinist regime, I think the right to free thought and speech is so precious. Hope its still sunny in Southsea. nell :-)

in respect david if they have a problem with the goverment then that is not our doing.my grandfather and his father fought for the country in two world wars and alot more gave their lives for it.that is why i am upset that this can happen in our country.if we burnt the iraq flag in a park we would be arrested.it is damn disrepectful for what our flag represents.i too believe that the war was wrong but they should have burnt down parliment where tony blair is based not insult us by burning our flag.

Lisa Sorry but I only have vague recollections of the flag burning incident but as I remember it was a demonstration by British Iraqis who were quite understandably a tad upset when the government sent British forces into Iraq? They weren't trying to incite racial hatred - the flag represented the British government. However, many of us have been waiting for the day that the BNP can be dealt with by law so I'm well chuffed with that:)

nell i respect your views and hope you respect mine.love and hugsxxxxxxx(:

I am very sceptical about what 'inciting racial hatred' means. The problem is not that some demagogue rants hatred of a particular group of people - its that there are people prepared to listen. Hitler didn't invent anti-Semitism. It was widespread throughout Europe - many refugees in this country were fleeing pogroms. Ditto the French Hugenots who settled in London in the 17th century. I am also mindful of the fact that it was an English king who first expelled Jews from this country, and an English government that invented Concentration Camps. With regard to your specific point, I don't know the reason behind not charging whoever was responsible with inciting hatred, so I can't comment on that incident. I prefer to ignore most of what is in the newspapers anyway, as most of it seems to be aimed at titillation, gossip and inciting bad vibes. We have a lot of different races and cultures in the town where I live and we all seem to get on fine. Different faiths have different celebrations and all are invited. It's a shame it isn't like that in other parts of the country. nell

helen that was not on my original thread just adding comments from another members questions.what do you think should they have been arrested for burning our national flag like the bnp leader was for insiting racial hatred.i think the two are the same and should have been dealt with the samexxxxx(:

Lisa I can't see how burning flags and asylum seekers are connected. I don't know if the Commission for Racial Equality publishes break-down figures of racial incidents by colour and frankly I don't care. I just hope that I will never ever be in the position of requiring asylum. nell

fred the goverment have brought these problems on themselves/they say that it is any racial abuse but how many white people have reported an incident of racila abuse by a black person,or muslim and nothing has been done about it.the flag incident proves my pointxxxx):

i thought they are brought in the country by the goverment as we have a shortage of nurses and doctors etc.that is different for the thousands of asylum seekers that are not allowed to work but do have to be found accomodation and to have food ,healthcare.who is paying for that?xxxxxxx(:

Lisa The only reason I can call myself English is that my ancestors came from England as far back as I have managed to trace. But I strongly suspect that centuries before they came from what is now Germany, Scandinavia or even further afield. If its only the money that bothers you then what people are called should make no difference. Apart from the people who take, many immigrants to this country add to our economy. They teach children, nurse sick people, pay taxes and buy goods. Many of our musicians, composers, writers and artists have come from other places in the world and have vastly enriched our little island. nell

i think this country is losing alot.i disagree with racial remarks.but freedom of speech where we cannot say this country has to address the asylum issue without being called racist.i have a problem with it not because of colour but money.more taxes.,nhs being overstretched,education.we are the ones that are paying for it.when people seek asylum and live in the country.it isn't just them we are paying for.if they have children we are paying for their families too.like i said it is a financial thing that really bothers mexxxxxx):.

It is a sad fact - 'minority' groups have more rights than the 'conventional' white British male. If a white person spoke harsly to a black/Asian/Indian person, they would be considered racist. However, if it were the other way round, no-one would bat an eye. Quite scary really. Some days, I feel like I don't belong in my own country. Racist is racist whichever way round it goes. It should all be treated in the same way. I'll bet though, if an Asian (just for example) was accused something racial, the person accusing would be called racist as well.

there was a debate on sky where a women who was to do with immigtration.said why can't people that are coming into the country to seek asylum be called british.we'll all be one big british family.my view on that.and this is not racist is if you were born into any country that you were.ie.american,scotish,british,welsh.that is like me moving to america and be called american when i am notxxxxxxx(:

I agree too, but don't you think this inequality actually causes people to think racist. Like the fact St Georges day isn't officially celebrated like others. All these associations etc., that ethnic minorities have if we started calling things 'the White/English Persons .....' there would be an outcry from all the dogooders, not acceptable.

Unbelievable! we really do let people get away with murder! c x

clare i saw it in a national news paper .if i can remember rightly it was last year.and had something to do with al queda.if it was a british member of the public burning another national flag then they would be chucked in jail.all racist incidence and anything that can stir racial hatred up no matter whether your back or white should be treated as racial hatred and should be dealt with the same.x):

I totally agree. This is the first that i've heard of the flag incident and i find it totally disgusting. c x

this is not a racist statement and is not meant to be.but your view on these two incidence.firstly what is the difference between muslims burning our flag the british flag in regents park with police present and no-one being arrested.also the head of the BNP being taken to court and charge with racial hatred.can somebody tell me what the difference is.burning our national flag is very offensive to me.i would live and die by the flag.i agree that the head of the bnp views were unacceptable and i do not agree with them .but all racial hatred should be treated the same not one from the otherxxxxxxxxx):