Is it better to ban the neo-Nazis, or to educate people on why they’re wrong?
Anarchists protest as police intervene in Liverpool to protect members of National Action [Image: Peter Byrne/PA].
It is in line with the new definition of anti-Semitism that the UK government has announced it is supporting, and that shows a certain amount of initiative to ensure that it is supported.
And it follows the conviction of Thomas Mair, the murderer of Jo Cox, with positive action.
But I would like to see the government introduce education on the reasons the opinions held by these groups are abhorrent.
You beat these people by proving them wrong, not by giving them the opportunity to make martyrs of themselves.
A neo-Nazi group that celebrated the murder of the Labour MP Jo Cox is to become the first far-right group to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the home secretary.
Support or membership of National Action, an antisemitic white supremacist group, will become a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act 2000, pending approval from parliament.
National Action has held demonstrations in UK cities with banners that say “Hitler was right”, and speakers have been filmed telling a small group of supporters about “the disease of international Jewry” and that “when the time comes they’ll be in the chambers”.
The group has also been filmed training supporters in hand-to-hand combat, and putting up posters across Liverpool and Newbury declaring them “white zones”. The slogan on its website is “Death to traitors, freedom for Britain,” which was the only statement given in court by Cox’s murderer, Thomas Mair.
Source: Neo-Nazi group National Action banned by UK home secretary | UK news | The Guardian
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Personally I believe that it is right that such appalling extremist organisations should be banned, but I also believe that education is also just as important.
If bans and sentencing occur I truly hope it covers all race and religious hate groups – otherwise government have just hammered the ‘hatred wedge’ further in and have harmed everyone!
These nazis should be swept of our streets. By all means try to teach them that their pernicious evil is wrong and that it’s completely based on lies and illogical conspiracy theories but unfortunately it’s my experience that no matter how much proof you offer and how you can demonstrate that what they’re saying is arrant nonsense they are never going to listen.
They are not interested in the truth, only wanting to peddle their intolerant evils and attempts to blame minorities.
It is necessary to prevent them spreading their lies to impressionable people especially youngsters and to counter their propaganda. So yes provide anti nazi education at school and other places where people can be victimised and make spreading these lies a criminal offence.
The argument that they should be tolerated under freedom of speech is inappropriate as there should be no freedom to twist impressionable minds or perpetuate lies that would disadvantage some groups due to their colour, religion or some other arbitrarily identifiable feature.
Divide and conquer, better to let the factions fight each other that way the tories keep control, educate people and as churchill said they will know what we do and want some of it
Would that one could similarly ban the Nasty Party!
In an ideal world such an educational solution could be possible and preferable.
Unfortunately, there are two factors standing in the way ….
1. This was simply a token gesture by a Government who want to be seen to punishing a far right group to prevent criticism when they start picking on the left-wing groups.
2. There’s an old farming expression “You can’t educate Pork” – is it really possible to talk reason and tolerance into such people?
Nobody should have the right to advocate violence against harmless individuals or celebrate the death of a wholly worthwhile person by an act of senseless violence. So, yes, in my opinion all such people should be banned as far as airing their poisonous views are concerned, and, in my opinion, punished if they then try to meet in groups or circulate their venomous beliefs and ideas in any way, shape or form in person or by means of any agency.
How can you educate people, especially young people, that such ideas are bad if you are seen to tolerate them when expressed brazenly on the nation’s streets?
This is much more insidious and worse than a mere clash of opinion.
I have always said , “education, not legislation” with regard to political Correctness. This attitude does nothing to solves the problem, it merely exacerbates it, by creating ill feeling and reinforcing the ideas of those with whom you disagree. We must have dialogue with these people and allow them to see for themselves that they are wrong.
Celebrating the death of another human being is abhorrent and inhuman, regardless of what they may done.
As for the anti-Semitism issue, I heard the definition, in preçis, on the News. To me, it is racism, pure and simple so, why have anti-Semitism at all? This, I am afraid, will not end the issue, by apparently treating Jews differently from all other peoples and making them a special case. I fear that this may cause as many problems as it solves.