Leader – LD50 Gallery’s warped logic must be defeated by intellect, not bans
Has LD50, the alleged fascist gallery, incited violence? There appears to be no evidence it has. Are the people it has given platforms to dangerous? It seems so.
One LD50 guest, Brett Stevens, praised the child murdering, white supremacist terrorist Anders Breivik as “brave” – though he was quick to add: “No comment on his methods.” Stevens clearly knows how to stay just the right side of the law, but his comments are chilling.
The gallery presents a conundrum for liberals. It has given a platform to some repulsive views, but true liberals must conclude that it is undesirable – and futile – to attempt to ban ideas.
Self-styled anti-fascists who mobbed the gallery want it closed. What would that achieve? Would it eradicate the far right? No. It would drive them underground and make martyrs of them.
Better to allow them to operate openly so their activities can be checked, and so they can be prosecuted if they break the law.
Britain is a democracy. The extreme right can organise politically – so long as they remain within the confines of the law. Feelings, words even, matter less than acts.
If someone is advancing warped logic, this should be demolished through intellect, not through bans.
https://youtu.be/XMNUm1572dg
Early every year the seeds are growing
Unseen, unheard they lie beneath the ground
Would you know before their leaves are showing
That with weeds all your garden will abound?
If you close your eyes, stop your ears
Shut your mouth then how can you know?
For seeds you cannot hear may not be there
Seeds you cannot see may never grow
In January you’ve still got the choice
You can cut the weeds before they start to bud
If you leave them to grow high they’ll silence your voice
And in December you may pay with your blood
So close your eyes, stop your ears,
Shut your mouth and take it slow
Let others take the lead and you bring up the rear
And later you can say you didn’t know
Every day another vulture takes flight
There’s another danger born every morning
In the darkness of your blindness the beast will learn to bite
How can you fight if you can’t recognise a warning?
Today you may earn a living wage
Tomorrow you may be on the dole
Though there’s millions going hungry you needn’t disengage
For it’s them, not you, that’s fallen in the hole
It’s alright for you if you run with the pack
It’s alright if you agree with all they do
If fascism is slowly climbing back
It’s not here yet so what’s it got to do with you?
The weeds are all around us and they’re growing
It’ll soon be too late for the knife
If you leave them on the wind that around the world is blowing
You may pay for your silence with your life
So close your eyes, stop your ears,
Shut your mouth and never dare
And if it happens here they’ll never come for you
Because they’ll know you really didn’t care
how telling that the author chose to remain anonymous in their nazi sympathy
You’re a Nazi… Let’s call everyone we don’t like a Nazi, and smash them in the face. What a lovely world that would be, Bibble.
It doesn’t seem they were trying to ‘ban’ anything, where is your evidence for this claim?
The community organised to say their fascist views are not welcome and that they should leave the area. Quite right too.
How many protesting the gallery actually saw what was on display?
The “Speakers” actually delivered their talks through ridiculous looking virtual avatars. Hard to take any of it seriously, almost reminds me of the BBC Day Today sketch where Sinn Féin has to deliver his speeches after inhaling helium.
People today are far too sensitive and shouting Nazi at everything you disagree with just devalues what that word ACTUALLY means.
Nazis gone!!! Lucia Diego’s LD50 organisation has changed its name with companies house to Tiverse Limited (seemingly named after the multiverse). More than likely planning more stealth fascist activities to unsuspecting venues.
Maybe the world of science is next on her bucket list after failing miserably at arts.
Metaphysics talk venues, such as universities, watch out for fash infiltration.
NO PASARAN!
NAZI SCUM, OUT OF OUR GALLERIES!
What an atrocious effect postmodern relativism has had on some people’s thought processes. This editorial seems to perpetuate the myth that ‘all opinions are equally valid’. The idea that the rise of fascism can be ‘destroyed by intellect’ is laughable and demonstrates a terrifying lack of historical awareness.
Freedom of expression is not an absolute value; in this case it clashes with the freedom of those on the receiving end of fascist-advocated violence to live in peace. Surely that should trump the rights of those who ostensibly use ‘free expression’ as a platform for processes that seek to destroy it? There can be no sitting on the fence with fascism. One day you will have to take a side. Will you show solidarity on that of the oppressed or the oppressors?