BNP ballerina

cleanbluesky · 12 Jan 2007 at 20:35

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/12012007/325/ballerina-dances-political-storm.html

LONDON (Reuters) - Around 50 protestors shouting the slogan "Ballet not bigotry!" staged a noisy protest on Friday outside a London theatre where a ballerina named as a member of a far-right political party was performing.

The demonstration outside the Coliseum threatened to upset the genteel world of pirouettes and arabesques as Simone Clarke prepared to play the lead in the romantic classic "Giselle".

The English National Ballet's principal dancer was named in a newspaper last month as a member of the British National Party (BNP), a minority anti-immigration party.

Whilst I believe in the legitimacy of protest, the UAF seem to be getting very personal with their targets recently.

Interesting to see that most people are taking a sensible approach rather than O M G W T F B N P?!?!?!

Solari · 12 Jan 2007 at 20:37

That's outrageous IMO. Personal targetting because of political associations while someone's at work is BS.

Rosbif · 12 Jan 2007 at 20:38

No different from Charlie Chaplin being a Commie IMO.

Mind you it would have been class if there were folk waving banners that said 'Comedy not Commiedy' back in the day.

Dolph · 12 Jan 2007 at 20:44

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6255723.stm

I find this part especially ironic...

She told the newspaper she joined the BNP after reading its manifesto.

"I'm not too proud to say that a lot of it went over my head but some of the things they mentioned were the things I think about all the time, mainly mass immigration, crime and increased taxes," she said.

Although she advocated tighter border controls, the ballerina - whose partner is a Cuban immigrant with a Chinese father - said she was not in favour of "removing foreigners".

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:05

Dolph said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6255723.stm

I find this part especially ironic...

There was me thinkijng you'd be outraged and campaigning for her right to free speech without harrassment for her views.
Where are all the usual mob who believe in freedom of worship etc posting in support of this womans right to hold her views without persecution.....

Oh right it doesn't work that way, she's not pro muslim ....

Dolph · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:10

VIRII said:
There was me thinkijng you'd be outraged and campaigning for her right to free speech without harrassment for her views.
Where are all the usual mob who believe in freedom of worship etc posting in support of this womans right to hold her views without persecution.....

Oh right it doesn't work that way, she's not pro muslim ....

I passed no comment either way about her right to not be harrassed, so I'm not really sure where you are coming from.

Of course, she has her right to her opinions, just as other people have their right to object to them. Freedom of speech works in both directions. She can be a member of the BNP and be associated with those views just fine, just as those who disagree with her can make a protest about them.

That's the fun thing about freedom of speech, it works for speech you like and speech you don't.

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:21

Dolph said:
I passed no comment either way about her right to not be harrassed, so I'm not really sure where you are coming from.

Of course, she has her right to her opinions, just as other people have their right to object to them. Freedom of speech works in both directions. She can be a member of the BNP and be associated with those views just fine, just as those who disagree with her can make a protest about them.

That's the fun thing about freedom of speech, it works for speech you like and speech you don't.

So could I legally protest about a worker for holding muslim beliefs? She should not be demonised for her beliefs nor do her beliefs affect her job.
Why isn't she being given police protection ala Abu Hamza?
Why aren't these protestors being arrested for breach of the peace?
Why is it OK to demonise the BNP but no-one else?

Tute · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:21

VIRII said:
There was me thinkijng you'd be outraged and campaigning for her right to free speech without harrassment for her views.
Where are all the usual mob who believe in freedom of worship etc posting in support of this womans right to hold her views without persecution.....

Oh right it doesn't work that way, she's not pro muslim ....

Absolutely spot on Virii.

Dolph · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:28

VIRII said:
So could I legally protest about a worker for holding muslim beliefs? She should not be demonised for her beliefs nor do her beliefs affect her job.
Why isn't she being given police protection ala Abu Hamza?
Why aren't these protestors being arrested for breach of the peace?
Why is it OK to demonise the BNP but no-one else?

I'd have no problem with you holding a protest about a worker holding muslim beliefs. I'd think you were an idiot, but I'd have no problem with you doing it. I'd also have no problem with anyone protesting about your views, that's the beauty of free speech.

However, I don't currently make laws in the UK, so if you have a problem with what you percieve with injustices in the current ones, it's not my doing.

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:35

Dolph said:
I'd have no problem with you holding a protest about a worker holding muslim beliefs. I'd think you were an idiot, but I'd have no problem with you doing it. I'd also have no problem with anyone protesting about your views, that's the beauty of free speech.

However, I don't currently make laws in the UK, so if you have a problem with what you percieve with injustices in the current ones, it's not my doing.

I'm just confused by your lack of haste to rush to her defence to be able to hold her views free from prejudice and harrassment....... it smacks of double standards.

void · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:35

VIRII said:
So could I legally protest about a worker for holding muslim beliefs? She should not be demonised for her beliefs nor do her beliefs affect her job.
Why isn't she being given police protection ala Abu Hamza?
Why aren't these protestors being arrested for breach of the peace?
Why is it OK to demonise the BNP but no-one else?

yes legally you could.

void · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:39

Dolph said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6255723.stm

I find this part especially ironic...

Virii just because he said it was ironic, it does not point out his view on the matter. Even an English teacher part of the BNP, would point out the irony

cleanbluesky · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:43

Dolph said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6255723.stm

I find this part especially ironic...

Do you find a Muslim who doesn't believe in death for homosexuals ironic as well?

jegz · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:44

VIRII said:
So could I legally protest about a worker for holding muslim beliefs? She should not be demonised for her beliefs nor do her beliefs affect her job.
Why isn't she being given police protection ala Abu Hamza?
Why aren't these protestors being arrested for breach of the peace?
Why is it OK to demonise the BNP but no-one else?

Agreed!

void · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:46

cleanbluesky said:
Do you find a Muslim who doesn't believe in death for homosexuals ironic as well?

Do you find BNP members who say they are not racist ironic?

Solari · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:50

void said:
Do you find BNP members who say they are not racist ironic?

On a side note...

Does holding your nation's best interests at heart (ie: preserving heritage, national identity) make you a racist? A lot of people seem to think so these days. :rolleyes:

Some forget that a large proportion of the immigrants being complained about are actually white (South Africans, Poles etc) so the whole racist argument falls flat on it's face IMO.

Goatboy · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:50

This was in the paper before the protest, they expected 'around 100 people' to show up, that article says 40 did.

There some common sense points made further down in the bbc article which I think covers the situation well.

starscream · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:51

cleanbluesky said:
Whilst I believe in the legitimacy of protest, the UAF seem to be getting very personal with their targets recently.

I'm inclined to agree :eek:

While I support the cause of UAF/ANL I think they should be targeting the ideology of the BNP rather than individual members.

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:52

void said:
Virii just because he said it was ironic, it does not point out his view on the matter. Even an English teacher part of the BNP, would point out the irony

It's all about context

If this was a bunch of BNP "thugs" complaining that the new teacher had a veil on we'd see a bunch of people who claim (seems it is utter BS though) to be all for freedom of expression etc criticising the BNP "thugs"... how dare they harrass this poor teacher.
No such defence for the ballerina though and what on earth do her politics have to do with her ballerina related work?

VIRII · 12 Jan 2007 at 21:53

void said:
Do you find BNP members who say they are not racist ironic?

Why?
Who is that in your sig by the way

BNP ballerina

Man of Honour