Trinity invite BNP leader Nick Griffin over for debate on immigration

Wolfe Tone · 14-09-2011 05:30PM #1

The trinners have invited him over for a debate titled "This house believes immigration has gone too far"

What do you guys think about this? In my opinion the man is a complete fascist lowlife, a racist, an anti Semite and a general all round scumbag.

He maintains that as a result of immigration many British and English people have been "ethnically cleansed from their own country".

What does he think of the Irish?

‘We are certainly not going to shut the doors to the Irish, because the Irish, as far as we are concerned, are part of Britain and fully entitled to come here.’

Cheers Nick!

Are Trinity right to give him a platform for his bile? Should he be told to feck off back home? Or is it beneficial to hear from the likes of him, better than censoring and stifling his reprehensible views?

Personally I feel that if he is to be given a platform for his views it should be similar to his appearance on "Question Time" a while back. (for those who never saw it he was challenged and held to account at every turn by the other guests and was not given an easy ride by any stretch of the imagination)

Links:
http://comeheretome.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/youd-never-guess-who-is-coming-to-trinity-college/

http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/54666/bnp-leader-nick-griffin-given-debate-platform-trinity-college-dublin

Morlar · 14-09-2011 05:31PM

Free speech isn't just for people you approve of. So my vote is yes.

dlofnep · 14-09-2011 05:32PM

I believe in freedom of speech - so they have a right to invite him. I don't agree with his views, and recognise that he's a neo-nazi in sheep's clothing. However, everyone has a right to voice their views.

We have nothing to fear - his bigotry will be exposed. The issue of immigration itself requires a rational discussion at some point.

Bloody Nipples · 14-09-2011 05:32PM

There's no better tool for showing the world what a scumbag he is than giving him free reign to air his views.

Saila · 14-09-2011 05:32PM

ho-lee-fook

megaten · 14-09-2011 05:33PM

Sounds like it's going to be hilarious. Hopefully they'll have some one who can make as big a fool out of him as possible. Not that he needs help.

texidub · 14-09-2011 05:33PM

He should be free to speak his mind. Those opposed should be free to speak theirs. What's the problem?

shofukan · 14-09-2011 05:34PM

HE might be a complete dick but he has every right to speak his mind.

also inb4 ucd v trinity

The Scientician · 14-09-2011 05:34PM

Morlar wrote: »

Free speech isn't just for people you approve of. So my vote is yes.

I believe in free speech but giving fascists/racists a legitimising platform for their venomous bullshít could possibly backfire for Trinity. Anyway I'm planning on firebombing the venue.... WITH LOVE AND PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND.

By the way freedom of speech isn't equal to he must be allowed speak at a Trinity event. It's not a public place so it's entirely at the discretion of organisers whether he's allowed speechify. Freedom of speech doesn't come into it.

foxyboxer · 14-09-2011 05:35PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

The trinners have invited him over for a debate titled "This house believes immigration has gone too far"

Free speech and all that yeah, but I have a feeling I already know his views on this subject. Point is what's the point.

Hercule Poirot · 14-09-2011 05:35PM

I would let him have at it, some will say that we shouldn't give him a platform form which to spew his opinions, but I reckon, like Question Time, it will do him more harm than good.

Teddy_Picker · 14-09-2011 05:36PM

Hercule Poirot wrote: »

I would let him have at it, some will say that we shouldn't give him a platform form which to spew his opinions, but I reckon, like Question Time, it will do him more harm than good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwrdDs0nmyg

biko · 14-09-2011 05:37PM

Let the man speak, I'm sure there'll be equally crazy arguments coming from the far left.

crucamim · 14-09-2011 05:39PM

Nick is a great man - a man who, despite his priviliged upbringing and first class education, has not turned his back on the working class members of England's native race.

Be nice to Nick as he might one day be Prime Minister of the UK.

The Scientician · 14-09-2011 05:40PM

biko wrote: »

Let the man speak, I'm sure there'll be equally crazy arguments coming from the far left.

What does the house debate title even mean? Immigration has gone too far in Britain? in Ireland? Everywhere? Griffin isn't well placed to talk about the immigration situation in the Republic of Ireland and I can only think he was invited over as an edgy publicity stunt for the college debating society. It's a cheap move, will generate a bit of a stir, and he'll still be a racist, fascist cúnt at the end of it.

wes · 14-09-2011 05:43PM

He has the right to have his say. Personally, I think providing platfrom for his ilk, pretty much allows them to hang themselves, so to speak.

Also, clearly this isn't meant to be a serious debate on immigration as Griffin is an extremist. It smacks a bit of theatre imho.

Kev_ps3 · 14-09-2011 05:46PM

Trinity are about as Unionist as Mr Griffin

UglyBolloxFace · 14-09-2011 05:46PM

crucamim wrote: »

Nick is a great man - a man who, despite his priviliged upbringing and first class education, has not turned his back on the working class members of England's native race.

Be nice to Nick as he might one day be Prime Minister of the UK.

Post count = 666 :eek:

KeithAFC · 14-09-2011 05:48PM

Why not? Is he not allowed an opinion? Surely he is entitled to speak?

Wolfe Tone · 14-09-2011 05:48PM

Morlar wrote: »

Free speech isn't just for people you approve of. So my vote is yes.

I agree, but this has nothing to do with freedom of speech, its a debate being held by Trinity and they choose who to invite, are they right to invite an extremist like him?

Why have they invited him? For the circus surrounding his appearance I bet.

Hopefully he will end up looking like a fool at the end of it and people will see through his "I'm not a bad guy" act.

stovelid · 14-09-2011 05:51PM

I'm old enough to have turned out against Irving in the same place all those years back but nowadays I don't necessarily believe in suppressing free speech of people like him.

Ban a rally in, say, a racially mixed area sure but not a debate in a university debating chamber.

It's almost a rite of passage for people involved in university debating societies anyway: invite the current fascist de jour for chat and watch the place erupt.

problemchimp · 14-09-2011 05:52PM

crucamim wrote: »

Nick is a great man - a man who, despite his priviliged upbringing and first class education, has not turned his back on the working class members of England's native race.

Be nice to Nick as he might one day be Prime Minister of the UK.

You're a funny bloke, love the sarcasm. I bet a lot of people thought you were serious, but they just don't get good humour.

KeithAFC · 14-09-2011 05:53PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

I agree, but this has nothing to do with freedom of speech, its a debate being held by Trinity and they choose who to invite, are they right to invite an extremist like him?

Why have they invited him? For the circus surrounding his appearance I bet.

Hopefully he will end up looking like a fool at the end of it and people will see through his "I'm not a bad guy" act.

Haven't Sinn Fein been given a platform to speak at Trinity?

Wolfe Tone · 14-09-2011 05:55PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

Haven't Sinn Fein been given a platform to speak at Trinity?

For fcuk sake Keith, wtf do SF have to do with this? Is this going to be another "look at me I'm a loyalist!!" performance from you? Its fcuking old.

If you want to hear Sinn Féin speak head up to Stormont.

spider guardian · 14-09-2011 05:56PM

Let him speak and let him be rebuked

Kev_ps3 · 14-09-2011 05:58PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

For fcuk sake Keith, wtf do SF have to do with this? Is this going to be another "look at me I'm a loyalist!!" performance from you? Its fcuking old.

If you want to hear Sinn Féin speak head up to Stormont.

Boards is run by loyalist mods, they are hardly going to punish him.

stovelid · 14-09-2011 05:58PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

For fcuk sake Keith, wtf do SF have to do with this? Is this going to be another "look at me I'm a loyalist!!" performance from you? Its fcuking old.

If you want to hear Sinn Féin speak head up to Stormont.

It's not a bad point even if he's got a loyalist axe to grind.

You're opposing a platform for Griffin on idealogical lines that have as much subjective basis as, say, innocent victims of IRA violence would have had about denying SF a platform during the Troubles.

Not that I would have opposed SF having a platform then or now, mind, but his analogy is solid enough if unfortunately based on an equally subjective idealogical basis.

KeithAFC · 14-09-2011 05:59PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

For fcuk sake Keith, wtf do SF have to do with this? Is this going to be another "look at me I'm a loyalist!!" performance from you? Its fcuking old.

If you want to hear Sinn Féin speak head up to Stormont.

Well I bring it up because it is a good example of something called free speech and democracy. Sinn Fein have people in its ranks far worse than Nick Griffin. So why is this story such a big deal?

It isn't and I don't see the big deal with this? He is just another person giving his opinion. They invited him, so obviously they agree with the view of free speech.

Wattle · 14-09-2011 06:02PM

I remember seeing him on Question Time. He was sweating like a newly released paedophile.

But he thinks we're alright so it's a big cead mihle failte to you Nick.

Wolfe Tone · 14-09-2011 06:03PM

stovelid wrote: »

It's not a bad point even if he's got a loyalist axe to grind.

You're opposing a platform for Griffin on idealogical lines that have as much subjective basis as, say, innocent victims of IRA violence would have had about denying SF a platform during the Troubles.

Not that I would have opposed SF having a platform then or now, mind, but his analogy is solid enough if unfortunately based on an equally subjective idealogical basis.

Its simply an attempt, as you can see in his reply, to derail this thread into a SF bashing exercise.

"much worse people in SF" Tell me thats not an attempt to derail the thread.

I'm not opposing, I was asking if people think its right, sure I said in my first post that I feel its OK as long as he isn't given an easy ride.

ItsAWindUp · 14-09-2011 06:03PM

Bit ridiculous having a debate without inviting two sides of the argument.

Trinity invite BNP leader Nick Griffin over for debate on immigration

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