General British politics discussion thread

I’ve already given an example of the speech advocating for violence - at least try to be honest.
And I’ve never mentioned Hamas, or anti-semitism in any of the posts above. Why the need to strawman?

It’s perfectly possible to hold the view that Netanyahu is a war criminal, that Isreal are committting genocide and need to be stopped AND still criticise people who happen to share those views.

Absolutists like you who run around spouting conspiracy theories and who attack anyone who doesn’t blindly agree with every single extemist just make it easier for Israel to paint every critic as an extremist

My first knowledge of Hasan Piker was a few months back - December - he was interviewed by Second Captains while in Ireland, behind a paywall:

I wouldn't say he struck me as a great political thinker - there was a certain superficiality to his analysis and breezy assurance to his confidence that just oozed a man high on his own supply.

His schtick was his schtick, but, at the same time, he must have been on his best behaviour that day, as, despite his reputation, he didn't really say anything in that interview - to my ears - that was widely outside the norms of political discourse - that you hear here in an Irish context - concerning Israel and American foreign policy. Some of it was strident, but he wasn't saying anything I haven't heard people in the Dail occasionally saying publicly.

I did look into him more afterwards and, yes, he's got a fairly extensive rap sheet of saying stupid things. He's a bit of an ejit TBF. He plays fast and loose with facts and makes bank doing it. Wouldn't be a fan of the guy, but I'm surprised that they've gone as far as banning him tbh. Seems a bit OTT and you'd argue counter productive - as he'll get an even bigger platform now to talk about being banned.

They didn't do it any of the previous times that these two people came and spoke in the UK, so what have the individuals done since those visits to warrant this ban.

Both of them have been commentating on current affairs topics pretty consistently over the last 10+years. (maybe shorter for Piker) and came to the UK last year I think.

But now, the UK has decided to ban them. So it's not matter of course, is it? Or is this the new course.

I didn't mention Irish soldiers and yet you said I waved off them having been killed, so if you are against strawmanning, maybe don't use it yourself.

And you said Piker expressed support for murdering business people. Can you link to that, because anything I can see that he has said is clearly not advocating violence but rather expressing an understanding of how negatively impactful many corporations are, in various ways. And the nuance of these comments aside, he has spoken in a consistent manner for years, but now he is banned.

What has changed?

I'm no absolutist as a default position, but what we have been watching Israel do, and how they have been facilitated by western governments cannot be ignored or condoned in any way and they need no help in painting people as critics. The problem is that others who will call a spade a spade when it comes to moral conundrums on pretty much every other current affairs topics resort to navel gazing and shuffling their feet when it comes to this particular entity.

I've enough at watching that happen and "the establishment mindset" come together to protect them almost entirely from honest judgement and

The murdered Irish soldier was raised to you twice yesterday - and you hand-waved it away both times.

You are just utterly desperate to portray it in a particular light cause it suits you.

I'm utterly desperate to portray it as I see it because the key player is a rogue state who is making the world a more dangerous place, has butchered 10's of thousands of people over the last couple of years and is aided and abetted by western governments.

And you're utterly desparate to ignore those facts because why exactly?

Cenk here discussing his banning with Shelagh Fogarty. He identified and challenged her perfectly when she said no one in the country thinks you can't criticize Israel.

He's final point is one that is very relevant and particularly for those who claim to disagree with them but then don't publicly criticize them. The day will come when everyone has to ask themselves what did they do to stand up to Israel.