Flintoff's bizzare anti immigration rant

[Richard]

I doubt 1 comment would inspire someone to become a racist arsehole and support the BNP.

You really believe that? A significant proportion of those who vote the BNP into far more power than they should ever have do so because of ignorance, because they're incredibly simple people who are influenced by the lightest drop of a hat. Many people believe the BNP aren't actually racist, imperialist thugs - they don't understand what it is they're voting for, because those behind the BNP are clever enough to mask their realities to those simple of mind.

Flintoff's comment won't alter that many mindsets but it will undoubtedly help win a handful of votes that otherwise might not have been voted.

 

[rivera213]

You really believe that? A significant proportion of those who vote the BNP into far more power than they should ever have do so because of ignorance, because they're incredibly simple people who are influenced by the lightest drop of a hat. Many people believe the BNP aren't actually racist, imperialist thugs - they don't understand what it is they're voting for, because those behind the BNP are clever enough to mask their realities to those simple of mind.

Flintoff's comment won't alter that many mindsets but it will undoubtedly help win a handful of votes that otherwise might not have been voted.

I'm sure of it.

Flintoff's comment wont make 1 person vote for BNP. He didn't say "I'm voting for the BNP" so that's a huge jump you're making considering it wasn't even a remotely racist comment.

And actually, a number of those in London know EXACTLY what they're voting for when they put a cross next to the BNP candidates. To portray them as ignorant is correct, but they are not ignorant of the views and policies of the BNP.

 

[Richard]

I'm sure of it.

Flintoff's comment wont make 1 person vote for BNP. He didn't say "I'm voting for the BNP" so that's a huge jump you're making considering it wasn't even a remotely racist comment.

The BNP are good at very few things, but the one thing they can do very well is whip-up completely innocent comments into propaganda. It's the only way they've gotten a remotely notable foothold.

And actually, a number of those in London know EXACTLY what they're voting for when they put a cross next to the BNP candidates. To portray them as ignorant is correct, but they are not ignorant of the views and policies of the BNP.

I know this - but these far-right extremists make-up maybe 0.0001% of the population or so. The BNP have a much larger support base than this - I know from personal experience that most of their support comes from people who really would be best leaving politics to those who understand it.

 

[rivera213]

The BNP are good at very few things, but the one thing they can do very well is whip-up completely innocent comments into propaganda. It's the only way they've gotten a remotely notable foothold.

Of course, but it's not Flintoff's fault if they do that.

The BNP tried to gain alliance with the Conservative supporters at the last general election but you can't blame the Tories for what another party do so you can't blame Flintoff if the BNP twist his comments.

You shouldn't always have to bite your tongue for fear of morons. That's what "The Sun" paper does. Ha ha

I know this - but these far-right extremists make-up maybe 0.0001% of the population or so. The BNP have a much larger support base than this - I know from personal experience that most of their support comes from people who really would be best leaving politics to those who understand it.

But everyone is allowed to vote and there are a number of Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem supporters who also don't have a clue about their policies but vote for other reasons (including as stupid a reason as their friends vote from tat party! Lol). They get alot of support from ignorance just like the BNP do. It all balances itself off and I really doubt the BNP will be anything but a ****ty pocket. That wont be made any worse by Flintoff's comments IMO.

I was going to vote BNP anyway.

 

[Manee]

I know this - but these far-right extremists make-up maybe 0.0001% of the population or so. The BNP have a much larger support base than this - I know from personal experience that most of their support comes from people who really would be best leaving politics to those who understand it.

Ha, if only politics could be left to the well informed - unfortunately, this would exclude a very large portion of the majority and we'd end up with something not at all similar to a democracy, whereas our current system has some semblence of similarity.

On that note, absolutely flopped my politics AS exam on Wednesday , so perhaps I'm talking bollocks.

 

[rivera213]

On that note, absolutely flopped my politics AS exam on Wednesday , so perhaps I'm talking bollocks.

No, that's probably a sign that you actually know what you're talking about.

 

[Jono]

I was going to vote BNP anyway.

Seriously?

 

[Manee]

No, that's probably a sign that you actually know what you're talking about.

Why?

 

[Richard]

Of course, but it's not Flintoff's fault if they do that.

The BNP tried to gain alliance with the Conservative supporters at the last general election but you can't blame the Tories for what another party do so you can't blame Flintoff if the BNP twist his comments.

You shouldn't always have to bite your tongue for fear of morons. That's what "The Sun" paper does. Ha ha



But everyone is allowed to vote and there are a number of Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem supporters who also don't have a clue about their policies but vote for other reasons (including as stupid a reason as their friends vote from tat party! Lol). They get alot of support from ignorance just like the BNP do. It all balances itself off and I really doubt the BNP will be anything but a ****ty pocket. That wont be made any worse by Flintoff's comments IMO.

I was going to vote BNP anyway.

Both these comments ignore the matter of fundamental importance - the BNP is a dangerous organisation, one that threatens the security and wellbeing of this country; Labour and the Lib Dems (and even the Tories) aren't. There's no damage done if people who don't have a clue vote for the Lib Dems (sadly that doesn't happen much - if it did the country would be a much better place!!!!) but there certainly is damage done if they vote BNP.

Equally, Flintoff has to be aware of his responsibilities as a widescale popular public figure (or someone like Neil Fairbrother has to make him aware if he's too naive) and ensure that dangerous organisations simply cannot use his words as any form of propaganda. You should always bite your tongue if opening your mouth can do damage - Flintoff certainly knows this, because the cricket media have long since made it so.

 

[Jono]

How much publicity has Flintoff's comments received in England, particularly considering the elections?

 

[aussie]

How much publicity has Flintoff's comments received in England, particularly considering the elections?

None really. I am surprised there is even a thread about this haaa..FREDIEEEE

 

[Richard]

How much publicity has Flintoff's comments received in England, particularly considering the elections?

Fortunately the elections are today (I've just cast my ballot) so the possibity to spin things up for this round wasn't that high. There's already fears about how many votes the BNP are going to get though, and whether they'll manage to land any seats.

I've barely watched any non-cricket news today so I don't really know how much talkative there's been about them TBH.

 

[GIMH]

On that note, absolutely flopped my politics AS exam on Wednesday , so perhaps I'm talking bollocks.

**** off there is no way you are only 17?!?!!

Both these comments ignore the matter of fundamental importance - the BNP is a dangerous organisation, one that threatens the security and wellbeing of this country; Labour and the Lib Dems (and even the Tories) aren't. There's no damage done if people who don't have a clue vote for the Lib Dems (sadly that doesn't happen much - if it did the country would be a much better place!!!!) but there certainly is damage done if they vote BNP.

Equally, Flintoff has to be aware of his responsibilities as a widescale popular public figure (or someone like Neil Fairbrother has to make him aware if he's too naive) and ensure that dangerous organisations simply cannot use his words as any form of propaganda. You should always bite your tongue if opening your mouth can do damage - Flintoff certainly knows this, because the cricket media have long since made it so.

LOL @ the way that you say "even the Tories" as if they are on the brink of extremism but not quite there! They have governed this country more than any other party in modern times you know. (gonna cop huge flak from all parts here but meh, everyone knows I want David Cameron's babies)

Anyway, I don't really think that Flintoff should be blamed or criticised if BNP use his words for their own gain. Propaganda monkeys can pretty much do that with anything. If someone was stupid enough to vote BNP on the basis of what Flintoff said then I imagine the BNP leaflets would have already persuaded them anyway.

Finally, on a complete tangent, must say I'm fed up of all the anti-fascist leaflets I've received. Not because I disagree with the sentiment, but because I can't help but think that something like that would actually inspire people to vote for the BNP much more than any offhand comment from a guy like Flintoff. Will go into more detail if nobody gets where I'm coming from.

 

[tooextracool]

I agree with this and flintoff would have been perfect if he had stopped right there (i.e. expressing his annoyance over Receptionist in a Hotel in England not speaking English is a fair point), but when he took it beyond that and started talking about 'multicultural level' is where he got it wrong.

And If he is so annoyed by people in his country not learning English, he should make sure he speaks Tamil before he jumps on the Superkings plane next year.

Can't see how these examples are related. One person is working and has settled full time in one country and cannot speak the local language, whereas in Freddie's case he was scheduled to be in the country for 6 weeks. I'm not sure how this is supposed to be related. Not to mention of course that one example involves a role that involves entirely dealing and speaking to the public while the other involves minimal interaction with people. If Flintoff worked at a call center in Chennai for 6 weeks, maybe you might have an argument.

I agree with your basic sentiment regarding Freddie and his lack of media nous when dealing with the public. However, in this case, I think the telegraph has made a mountain out of a mole.

 

[Manee]

**** off there is no way you are only 17?!?!!

18 in 4 months

 

[BoyBrumby]

1- What does expressing a view about someone who cannot speak the language of the country they live and work in have to do with a racist political party? Are you not allowed to express an opinion (in this case a very valid one) at all nowadays if it is considered bordering on politically incorrect?

2- How are UKIP suddenly thrown in with BNP? Lol

1) It's not what he said, it's how it might be spun. Look at the title of the thread: "bizarre anti-immigration rant"; it's obviously nothing of the kind but it's the kind of thing that might be seized on by the racist loony fringe.

2) See below. UKIP are just fascism-lite, really. The worst kind of little Englanders pining for an Albion that never existed.

Without wishing to become too deeply embroiled in a political debate, David Cameron's pithy description of UKIP supporters in 2006 did hit the nail on the head: "a bunch of ... fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists, mostly."

 

[GIMH]

The thing that concerns me about UKIP is that they are perceived by many to be a more centre-right than far-right party, and as such people who want to make some sort of statement but don't have the guts (not really the word I wanted to use there tbh) to vote BNP will vote for them as they see it is a respectable vote.

 

[four_or_six]

**** off there is no way you are only 17?!?!!



LOL @ the way that you say "even the Tories" as if they are on the brink of extremism but not quite there! They have governed this country more than any other party in modern times you know. (gonna cop huge flak from all parts here but meh, everyone knows I want David Cameron's babies)

Anyway, I don't really think that Flintoff should be blamed or criticised if BNP use his words for their own gain. Propaganda monkeys can pretty much do that with anything. If someone was stupid enough to vote BNP on the basis of what Flintoff said then I imagine the BNP leaflets would have already persuaded them anyway.

Finally, on a complete tangent, must say I'm fed up of all the anti-fascist leaflets I've received. Not because I disagree with the sentiment, but because I can't help but think that something like that would actually inspire people to vote for the BNP much more than any offhand comment from a guy like Flintoff. Will go into more detail if nobody gets where I'm coming from.

I'm fed up with the number of fascist leaflets I've received, which is probably due to the fact the candidate in question apparently lives a few doors down. I would have found having an anti-fascist one quite refreshing.

 

[GIMH]

I only got the one BNP leaflet tbh, the one with the solider on who was apparently fuming at being used. Most of the anti-fascist stuff I've received has been handed to me in Liverpool tbh, don't think there's much far-right support round here and as such there's not as much need for anti-fascist stuff.

 

[rivera213]

Seriously?

Ha ha, course not. I was being sarcastic,

Why?

You seriously can't work that out?

Both these comments ignore the matter of fundamental importance - the BNP is a dangerous organisation, one that threatens the security and wellbeing of this country; Labour and the Lib Dems (and even the Tories) aren't. There's no damage done if people who don't have a clue vote for the Lib Dems (sadly that doesn't happen much - if it did the country would be a much better place!!!!) but there certainly is damage done if they vote BNP.

The BNP is a nothing organisation. You sound like a writer for a tabloid newspaper or a lib dem councillor.

The BNP having done anything of real note to suggest they will be anything but a pocket. There's always going to be racism, sorry but that's the fact of life. There's no suggestion they'll be the Nazi party mk.2.

A 0.5% gain over 4 years is nothing. UKIP and even the Green party are more of a force.

I'm all for free speech and if people wnat to vote BNP, so be it, though I guarantee they will do absolutely nothing of note so it's as much a wasted vote as voting for another 1 of the small parties.

And btw, tell the millions of people who've lost their jobs and/or can't get work, a mortgage, a car on credit etc that a vote for Labour in the 2005 general election by those who have no clue didn't cause any damage.

You can forgive for 1997, and to an extent 2001 but not 2005.

Equally, Flintoff has to be aware of his responsibilities as a widescale popular public figure (or someone like Neil Fairbrother has to make him aware if he's too naive) and ensure that dangerous organisations simply cannot use his words as any form of propaganda. You should always bite your tongue if opening your mouth can do damage - Flintoff certainly knows this, because the cricket media have long since made it so.

That's bollocks.

Sorry, but if Flintoff thinks something which is a legit point, he's allowed to say it. Considering he's good friends with Muttiah Muralitharan, I think common sense would say he isn't racist.

He has said nothing wrong therefore has done nothing wrong. Just because a number of people **** themselves everytime something which isn't politically correct is said, that doesn't mean saying it is wrong.

And again, the BNP are a nothing organisation. I don't know why you're so scared, even in London they are a very small minority of people.

With the number of people who not only disagree with their pro-white views, their anti-homosexual views they have zero chance of being more than a pocket who gain 1 local ward every 4 years (and lose some at the same time so there wont be continual gains).