Make no mistake, I despise the politics of the three most recent #Milkshake targets, Nigel Fraudage, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon and the other right wing Numptie (UKIP Euro election candidate, Carl Benjamin) but I firmly believe the short-lived joy and laughter at seeing these snake-oil peddlers of hate and division humiliated, embarrassed and annoyed at having to don new clothes for their next public engagements is simply not worth the potential longer term consequences.
There is a fine and honourable tradition in most countries across the world of standing physically against fascists and their supporters who wish to use public spaces and access to public discourse to then achieve enough power to snuff out such democratic rights for everyone else.
Those unable to learn from history are doomed to repeat the biggest mistakes. Hitler did not appear to be the inhumane monster he was until after he had used his powers of oratory, skilful manipulation of poverty and unemployment for his own ends and financial support from rich backers to secure elected office. He was named Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1938 before going on to become the most ruthless mass murderer of the century, so never be fooled by mainstream media assessments of character.
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So although Farage, Yaxley and UKIP may deny they are in the fascist mould of the British National Party or National Front, the reality is their anti-immigrant tirades, jingoism, xenophobia and deliberate attempts to stoke divisions, exploit fears and scapegoat those with different coloured skins and cultures are all strands of Nazi and Fascist DNA.
Many argue the right to free speech is an inalienable right without conditions. That the Voltaire line of not supporting anything someone has to say but defending their right to say it should be our underlying principle:
"I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it."
I disagree. Those promoting overt racist and fascist views are guilty of hate speech in my opinion. They are abusing a human right because their use of it is designed to deny that same right to others and encourage actual bodily harm on minorities and other scapegoats.
All human rights should be promoted and defended but none of them come without conditions. Human rights irresponsibly used pose real threats to the human rights of others. Those promoting violence against any Muslim for the heinous crimes of the tiny minority of Muslims involved in acts of terrorism are abusing their right to free speech to infringe the human rights of others to live in safety.
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If we endorse, encourage and cheerlead milkshake attacks against right wing politicians who draws the line? What constitutes harmless fun/appropriate chastisement compared to unacceptable conduct?
Jeremy Corbyn was egged quite violently last year and the same muppets like Tony Bliar bemoaning the milkshake thrown over Fraudage were conspicuous in their silence. No condemnations or expressions of outrage were to be seen or heard. But we should not judge ourselves by the same inconsistent and hypocritical standards of Bliar and the mainstream media.
If it was a legitimate egging I think it was unhelpful and unnecessary. Murphy and his unionist lies should have been opposed verbally not physically.
In 2001 New Labour's Deputy Leader, John Prescott, was egged by a protestor. He reacted angrily and threw a punch at his attacker. It was only an egg so was he justified in throwing a punch? The right wing press attacked him for losing his temper but I defended his action. I opposed Prescott politically for being a puppet of Blair's New Labour Tories but I supported his reaction to being egged. Jeremy Corbyn's reaction last year was less intemperate. That's fine. We all have different temper levels. But how quickly can a milkshake or egg become a stone or bottle?
I was the egg thrower many years ago in the mid-1980's. I despised Margaret Thatcher and what she did to working class communities. I was tipped off to a secret visit she was carrying out to the Volvo factory in Irvine, on Scotland's west coast. Alongside other political activists I boarded a train to Irvine and before making our way to the factory we purchased some eggs. We hated her and resented the secretive nature of her visit.
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The young man who was arrested in Newcastle for #Milkshaking Nigel Fraudage was motivated by good intentions. His stunt was more honourable than mine aimed at Thatcher. He has also claimed and admitted his actions with a degree of dignity:
"It's a right of protest against people like him. The bile and the racism he spouts out in this country is far more damaging than a bit of milkshake to his front".
Defending our communities and minorities from fascist and racist bile and hatred will sometimes require physical action and responding to a physical attack with a physical defence is justified in my book but cheerleading and encouraging a "common assault" against the likes of Fraudage and Yaxley-Lennon, even though they are deceitful and vile individuals, can easily and quickly escalate and get out of hand. I urge caution.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.
