First up, I have no desire to ban or sensor… but if I chose to visit a place, to exchange views, it should be on the basis of mutual respect, even if you cant respect the views expressed. Countering an argumnet with intelligent debate is naturally what is desired and the ideal… ignorance is aferall what most hate is based on, and education is only possible through that inteligent, powerful and compelling reasoning.
But the public space also attracts those that are just out to oppose - who get their kicks WUMing and trolling. There is no debate to be had… and whilst this is fine for most of the usual subject matter, there are certain subjects that are simply not appropriate to troll. In these cases debate to counter is pointless… these people are being arseholes.
In addition, it’s not always balck and white. For some folk who may have a very compelling and reasoned argument, verbalising their opinion is not always easy. Its not about confidence in your argumnet, but about confidence in the way you feel about articulating it so that its not open to misinterpretation… no different to how some make good orators and some dont despite the validity and rational of their opinions, so I would not be too quick to judge an opinion by the quality of its delivery…
There is also a more practical considerdation about how unpeasent certain views make an environment. Folks go to public spaces for different reasons, and its not alwyas to engage in serious debate on serious issues with racists and bigots… if an environment becomes poluted with such views whether in seriousness or in Trolling, then the choice could come down to leave or kick out… Its not always about confidence in your argumnet but sometimes you are simply looking for an environment where you dont need to have it… some peace, solace.
Not really sure why you have provided an old article. Didn’t you know about this before you started the thread?
I am now leaning towards thick as fuck, as i have read that she is saying it was a mistake and corrected within hours. Sounds plausible, but they claim she retweeted it along with Labour politics zone(who is this @pap ). I don’t use twatter, so i can’t say for sure, but reposting something? Surely you’d be aware of what you were doing. You seem to be on twatter Barry, can you check the time line? Don’t think it will help her much, but it could prove a lie.
What I see there is someone that has been pressed to apologise for something edge case.
While she _did _say “The Jews are rallying”, implying that the whole race is acting as one, would we consider it racist to say another group of people were “rallying”? If said the Iranians are rallying against Western pressure, would we be racist? Yes, she should have perhaps said Zionist, to distinguish those that believe in the political zionism project from those that don’t.
In context, was she wrong?
We saw the media near crucify her and otwehers for anti-semitism without once bothering to explain how she may have been. Last week, when actual neo Nazis were scre aming tropes about Jews in the street, it took Netanyahu a full three days to condemn what is supposed to be the clearest threat to any Jewish person, anywhere - simply to curry favour with the US President.
More importantly, was Naz Shah _racist _when she made those statements? If so, what does that make the repeated attempts of the Israeli government to dehumanise Palestinians as terrorists?
If you accept that antisemitism is a form of racism, or culturalism, then perhaps the funniest thing about this, if it weren’t so tragic, is the character of the government making the charges. This is a country that treats brown people differently. whether its the Palestinian that has had his village stolen, the migrant workers, or the Ethiopian Jews that face increasing discrimination for not being white. It is occupying the lands of others predicated on a sense of manifest superiority. It is in contravention of scores of United Nations resolutions, only not up before an international beak because the US and the UK keep vetoing the resolutions.
Is there a more racist country in the developed world?
Not being funny Bazza, Saudi is a country where women are not allowed to drive or show their faces in public. Given your myriad complaints of the past on these issues, do you feel this is a worthy contribution as a developed country?
Check the time line. If the article is quoting her correctly, but the times don’t agree, it would then appear that she’s making it up as she goes along.
Get your twitter army on it. They’ll be more than happy to oblige.
