lifestyle leader

Many of our readers will be familiar with the controversy in Britain over the appearance of the British National Party's (BNP) leader on the BBC's Question Time program. In short, the political and media establishment has rounded on the BBC over its decision to let Nick Griffin appear on the Thursday evening show, in my opinion the best political television program in the world. They argue that by granting the BNP a mainstream platform alongside the three most prominent parties (Labour, Tories and Lib Dems), the BBC is legitimizing the far-right party and providing its incendiary leader with a national audience to direct his 'fascist' message. The BBC has held its ground, and Griffin appeared on the program just hours ago while protesters clashed with police outside.

I have a few quick thoughts on this whole ordeal. One, Question Time is over and the constitutional monarchy stands (that was a close one!). Two, it is a slippery slope between between banning hate speech and repressing the legitimate political views of organized, well-supported parties. Griffin's views are despicable. But that does not mean he should be refused the opportunity to sit down at a table and debate those issues. That is what separates us from the animals. And as prehistoric as the BNP's views might be, they are a modern political party with a real, and growing, base of support in Britain.

Three, I recognize that there is a chance the BNP will incite violence or intolerance amongst its supporters or impressionable minds. But that is an insufficient test of whether they should be allowed on a program like Question Time. In my own country, members of the Republican Party have likened my president to Stalin, claimed he was a foreigner lacking the birthright to hold the office and warned that his government was coming to take away the guns of law-abiding citizens. There was a disturbing spike in gun purchases prior to Obama's inauguration. They have also labeled immigration over our southern border an 'invading army', leading private citizens to patrol that border with weapons (rhetoric likely to find a home with the BNP). But no serious political mind would argue that these elected representatives should be denied a chance to speak on any of our news networks. In fact, they have a whole network devoted to them!

Most representatives of the Republican Party wouldn't utter these words if they didn't resonate with their supporters. Likewise, the BNP's recent success at the polls is but a symptom of the growing resonance of its message. Disillusionment with Westminster has likely played a role in this as well, as the performance of smaller parties in the last elections demonstrated. If more and more people were not drawn to the BNP, there would be no demand for its leader to debate the political establishment on issues like immigration and European integration.

That is the real issue that the British establishment has conveniently ignored, instead directing their anger and insecurity at the BNP itself. I was disappointed that much of the panel debate and most of the audience questions this evening focused on the legitimacy of the BNP itself, as a political party, instead of forcing Griffin to openly debate its platform with members of the more established parties. It seems much easier, and more convenient, to attack the BNP than to debate why this party's support is growing. Those answers are likely far more difficult to deal with, and cut directly to the national character and social contract.

The BNP is a deplorable party. But Nick Griffin was on Question Time for a reason tonight. For his invitation, the BBC deserves enormous credit.