Comments on: Post-election anti-BNP protest in Manchester kind of misses the point http://www.wordsdept.co.uk/2009/06/08/post-election-anti-bnp-protest-in-manchester-kind-of-misses-the-point/ <h2>A words-based weblog by Manchester journalist David Quinn</h2> Sun, 15 May 2011 15:42:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jade http://www.wordsdept.co.uk/2009/06/08/post-election-anti-bnp-protest-in-manchester-kind-of-misses-the-point/comment-page-1/#comment-16217 Jade Sat, 13 Jun 2009 07:30:44 +0000 http://www.wordsdept.co.uk/?p=404#comment-16217 It shows how people feel about the outcome. It shows how much people don't like the BNP. It shows the BNP that the people of Manchester do not accept their veiws and are aware of their policies etcc. It may not do anything after they have been elected but it raises awareness..and maybe it'll stop them getting re-elected in the future. && I hope it does. It shows how people feel about the outcome. It shows how much people don’t like the BNP. It shows the BNP that the people of Manchester do not accept their veiws and are aware of their policies etcc. It may not do anything after they have been elected but it raises awareness..and maybe it’ll stop them getting re-elected in the future. && I hope it does.

]]> By: Jaime http://www.wordsdept.co.uk/2009/06/08/post-election-anti-bnp-protest-in-manchester-kind-of-misses-the-point/comment-page-1/#comment-16123 Jaime Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:30:07 +0000 http://www.wordsdept.co.uk/?p=404#comment-16123 It was a Unite Against Fascism protest, I completely understand that it cannot change the outcome of the election but I think sitting around saying 'well it's happened now, no point doing anything really' is no more productive. People are angry with the outcome, the one thing the protest did was bring likeminded people together to discuss what can be done to stop this happening again in future. It was a Unite Against Fascism protest, I completely understand that it cannot change the outcome of the election but I think sitting around saying ‘well it’s happened now, no point doing anything really’ is no more productive. People are angry with the outcome, the one thing the protest did was bring likeminded people together to discuss what can be done to stop this happening again in future.

]]> By: Gustavo Kuerten http://www.wordsdept.co.uk/2009/06/08/post-election-anti-bnp-protest-in-manchester-kind-of-misses-the-point/comment-page-1/#comment-16117 Gustavo Kuerten Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:08:36 +0000 http://www.wordsdept.co.uk/?p=404#comment-16117 Hi, I'm the person on the phone in your photograph there - it's a good photo. I only have one point to make really, as one person who is against the BNP to another: I may not have reached anyone today or persuaded a BNP supporter that they were wrong or anything like that, but when you boil it down I could have been there or not been there and I am glad that I was there. Sure such demonstrations are detrimental in some ways and a little bone headed in their approach, but given the dismal electoral turnout and demoralising result I think it is important to stand in MORE OR LESS the right place, rather than debate where exactly one should stand, or how one should stand. Wouldn't it have been stirring if there had been thousands of people instead of a few hundred? That's the sort of effect we must aim for, especially in the next few elections and I am convinced that this will not be acheived by pointing out the shortcomings of a well meaning demonstration on a well meaning blog. I'd rather stand and listen to pretty meaningless chants and be counted than be on my own and completely right but not counted in any significant way. It might not be the best possible approach but at least someone's actively doing something. I just think it's important to not piss on other people's efforts, especially when they are against a very bad thing indeed. There ought to be a little more solidarity. Not beefing with you by the way, I just don't share your opinion of how important such demonstrations are: at least we agree that the BNP are aa bad thing, and at the moment, that's all that matters in my opinion. Hi, I’m the person on the phone in your photograph there – it’s a good photo.

I only have one point to make really, as one person who is against the BNP to another:

I may not have reached anyone today or persuaded a BNP supporter that they were wrong or anything like that, but when you boil it down I could have been there or not been there and I am glad that I was there. Sure such demonstrations are detrimental in some ways and a little bone headed in their approach, but given the dismal electoral turnout and demoralising result I think it is important to stand in MORE OR LESS the right place, rather than debate where exactly one should stand, or how one should stand.

Wouldn’t it have been stirring if there had been thousands of people instead of a few hundred? That’s the sort of effect we must aim for, especially in the next few elections and I am convinced that this will not be acheived by pointing out the shortcomings of a well meaning demonstration on a well meaning blog. I’d rather stand and listen to pretty meaningless chants and be counted than be on my own and completely right but not counted in any significant way. It might not be the best possible approach but at least someone’s actively doing something.

I just think it’s important to not piss on other people’s efforts, especially when they are against a very bad thing indeed. There ought to be a little more solidarity.

Not beefing with you by the way, I just don’t share your opinion of how important such demonstrations are: at least we agree that the BNP are aa bad thing, and at the moment, that’s all that matters in my opinion.

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