The BNP list - the reaction

[muriel_volestrangler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUNUuqlG1a0

via Liberal Conspiracy

[T_i_B]

1. This is the best Hitler Downfall video

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8dpZ4BPsLZI

Mind you, I am biased on this point.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. I don't know - it's a bit more fitting that he'd be a BNP member

than a Sheffield Utd. supporter.

[fedsron2us]

3. The most significant thing about the BNP listy is that there were nearly 10000 names on it.

That is a lot of people for a fringe party. Even the two biggest main stream parties have only about 200,000 members a piece. Most of the Marxist and Trotskyist groups I used to encounter in my Union days would have struggled to fill a snug bar in a pub with their supporters. It makes me wonder how accurate or reliable this leaked list may be or whether the far right might not behind the whole escapade as it gives them quite a lot of publicity and makes them out to have far more activists than may be the case in reality..

All those who think its is a great opportunity for a witch hunt against fascist sympathizers need to remember that documents circulated on the internet are not secure or fixed. There is nothing to stop names, addresses and telephone numbers of anyone being added. It would not take too many incidents of attacks or harassment of innocent people to drum up some very undeserved sympathy for the BNP itself amongst the general public. Needless to say a lot of idiots on the left have fallen for this ploy hook, line and sinker.

[moggie]

4. Hah, activists

Like (I suppose) everyone, I looked through the list for names I recognise. There are only two members in my ethnically diverse London postcode, neither of whom I know, but the very white village I come from has a family of "activists" I remember of old. But since activism, to me, implies more, well, activity than propping up the bar and fiddling the social, I'm rather sceptical about the label in this particular case.

I don't think it's particularly surprising if the BNP has a lot of members. People of every political stripe are hungry for change, but the BNP hasn't had real power yet, so their supporters still think that party membership can achieve something. Supporters of the mainstream parties have learnt that party membership is good for little more than networking. I tore up my Labour card under Blair, but even if the party lurches left again and I support them, I can't see myself rejoining.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Good points

Also the BNP are not known for always being in touch with reality, and might be listing a number of people whom they only *tried* or *wished* to contact or *hoped* might join them. Wishful thinking or plain confusion may well be a factor. Left-wingers need to be careful not to emulate the vigilantes who attacked the home of a paediatrician because they confused her job title with paedophile!