Protest at EDL founder Tommy Robinson's Oxford Union talk

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ox ... e-30197545

Protest at EDL founder Tommy Robinson's Oxford Union talk

Academics and politicians have signed an open letter protesting at the decision to allow English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson to speak at the Oxford Union later.

A number accuse the ex-EDL leader of continuing to "incite racial hatred against Muslims".

Mr Robinson said the group was being fascist for "wanting to silence someone with a difference of opinion".

The Oxford Union is yet to comment on the row.

t is the third attempt to get Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Lennon, to talk at the union - the first having been cancelled amid security concerns and the second because he was sent back to prison.

Mr Robinson has now left the EDL but more than 200 people have signed the open letter, including film director Ken Loach, claiming he "continues to communicate with EDL members and issue anti-Muslim statements via social media".

The letter said: "The Oxford Union is helping a vile fascist spread his poison."

(contnued, let the lad speak...no one need fear, he's one of ours...keep your head on...)

[JimC]

Anti-muslim speech does not equate to "vile fascist", although many that do rant against muslims are also expressing racist attitudes. Opposing racist rants should not, via political correctness gone mad, forbid a robust critique of an unpleasant and dangerous religion.

[PsychoSerenity]

Yeah but if you want someone to give a robust critique of Islam at a talk in Oxford you'd probably do better getting someone from the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain rather than the founder of the English Defence League.

[devogue]

The letter said: "The Oxford Union is helping a vile fascist spread his poison."

I'm always suspicious of emotive language like that - it makes me want to hear the "poison" so I can decide for myself.

[devogue]

In April 2012, Tommy Robinson took part in a BBC programme The Big Questions debating about far-right extremism. Mohammed ('Mo') Ansar was on the same programme, and invited Robinson to join him and his family for dinner.[40] The result was their meeting several times over the next eighteen months to discuss issues to do with Islam, Islamism and the Muslim community, accompanied by a BBC team which created the documentary When Tommy met Mo.[41] The turning point came when Robinson and Ansar visited Quilliam and Robinson witnessed a debate between Quilliam's director, Maajid Nawaz, and Ansar about human rights. Robinson said afterwards to the BBC: "I didn’t think a Muslim would confront Mo Ansar because I thought Mo Ansar was being built as the acceptable face of Islam; and that’s everything that I think is wrong. So when I saw this [debate between Nawaz and Ansar], and I read more about Quilliam and I looked at what Quilliam has done – they've actually brought change, which is what I want to do. I want to bring change. I want to tackle Islamist extremism, I want to tackle neo-Nazi extremism – they're opposite sides of the same coin."

[klr]

An associations test for "Oxford Union" would usually lead to "controversial speaker".

[Brian Peacock]

Let the fool speak, and in his telling be known by his word.

[cronus]

We are tribal animals and it is always gonna be that way. And useful idiots are 'useful' for a purpose like this. The upper classes need some fall guy after the torching sessions? Not saying I like it. Nature is cruel. My perspective is nihilism and with no moral code to sway me I look reality in the eye and see it for what it is. If you think you can avert this train by pushing a fat guy on the tracks go ahead...the train will keep rolling and the fatguy be dead.

http://rationalia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=46757

[cronus]

At the stage of things where resource depletion means it'll turn ugly really quickly. Those who want to defend some egalitarian dream, which oddly works in good times when there's plenty of food in the trough, are going to go the way of Germany's interwar communists...that's choice. My choice is to do what I can to help but I'm not going to risk my life doing it since that way I've saved at least one person. Uniforms are clothes. Well, words are exactly that. I've no quaint vision of sheeps and lambs and lions sleeping together. They don't do that unless they are all dead. Can do a realistic ideologue impression for the drama that'll convince the fools. I've a safe room for anyone who convinces me they won't lock me in it.

...and that is why I have courted scorn and derision and loathing. All good training for times to come. Lot's of angry upset people who so soon have to walk around to a marching tune rather than driving to a warm sterile office. And potato peel soup...same today as everyday.

[Brian Peacock]

And how long do you think you've been having these feelings of helplessness and disconnection from those around you?

[cronus]

And how long do you think you've been having these feelings of helplessness and disconnection from those around you?

...ask my wife. ??

[pErvinalia]

Mine left me long before I got to your point.

[cronus]

Mine left me long before I got to your point.

You were past my point then...?

[Brian Peacock]

And do you find that alcohol intensifies or reduces these anxieties?

[cronus]

And do you find that alcohol intensifies or reduces these anxieties?

...yes, both, unlike Jim C I usually avoid spirits. Lately I've seen the writing on the wall and not given a damn. You should try that?