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0 pointsmijoharas7mo ago0 comments

Ahhh, sorry, I was focusing on the rascist side.

In the article he supports Tommy Robinson[0], who I think most people in the UK would consider a fascist. He started the EDL (english defense league) which was a more violent extreme version of the BNP (british national party), which the ADL article I just linked describes as "fascist".

I only found out about his views the other day too, so can't say I've noticed any articles that are explicitly fascist, but given what I've read and his support for fascist figures I wouldn't necessarily be surprised at the moment to be honest.

You do raise a fair point though.

[0] https://www.adl.org/resources/article/tommy-robinson-five-th...

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AOE97mo ago

I am from the UK and know about Tommy Robinson in passing. I read the ADL article and am struggling to see how he is a fascist, he is anti-islam and anti-immigrant but how does that translate to wanting a dictatorial leader, autocracy, forcible suppression etc like Russia?

frozen_tomato7mo ago

So you at least agree he's racist then?

AOE97mo ago

Sure, just struggling to understand how to get to fascist.

projectazorian7mo ago

The EDL is basically a union of street thugs, fascist politicians who split off from the BNP, and political opportunists like "Tommy Robinson".

Fascist is an accurate enough term for their politics, the stated political positions may not align 100% to historical fascism, but given all the fascist associations most objective observers would say that's likely to be a product of political positioning rather than any genuine ideological differences.

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mijoharasOP7mo ago

you don't think of Tommy Robinson as fascist? that's surprising to me. Ok, so I've grabbed a random definition of fascism[0] (first thing that came up googling).

> a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition

now, let's think about tommy robinson and the EDL.

* exalts nation and often race above the individual - check.

* wants a centralised autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader - check.

* by forcible suppression of opposition - I mean... it's the EDL, big check.

[0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism

AOE97mo ago

> you don't think of Tommy Robinson as fascist? that's surprising to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of the British public don't think he is either. Which is why I am asking how he is one.

> Ok, so I've grabbed a random definition of fascism[0] (first thing that came up googling).

Yeah that is the same definition I was using.

> now, let's think about tommy robinson and the EDL. > * exalts nation and often race above the individual - check.

Sure I agree.

> * wants a centralised autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader - check.

Where did this come from? I don't think that article said anything about this.

> * by forcible suppression of opposition - I mean... it's the EDL, big check.

I don't know much about the EDL & what they have done so I couldn't comment on this.

mijoharasOP7mo ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Defence_League#Relatio...

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AOE97mo ago

frozen_tomato7mo ago

So you at least agree he's racist then?

AOE97mo ago

Sure, just struggling to understand how to get to fascist.

projectazorian7mo ago

The EDL is basically a union of street thugs, fascist politicians who split off from the BNP, and political opportunists like "Tommy Robinson".

1 more reply

mijoharasOP7mo ago

you don't think of Tommy Robinson as fascist? that's surprising to me. Ok, so I've grabbed a random definition of fascism[0] (first thing that came up googling).

now, let's think about tommy robinson and the EDL.

* exalts nation and often race above the individual - check.

* wants a centralised autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader - check.

* by forcible suppression of opposition - I mean... it's the EDL, big check.

[0] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascism

AOE97mo ago

> you don't think of Tommy Robinson as fascist? that's surprising to me.

I wouldn't be surprised if a majority of the British public don't think he is either. Which is why I am asking how he is one.

> Ok, so I've grabbed a random definition of fascism[0] (first thing that came up googling).

Yeah that is the same definition I was using.

> now, let's think about tommy robinson and the EDL. > * exalts nation and often race above the individual - check.

Sure I agree.

> * wants a centralised autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader - check.

Where did this come from? I don't think that article said anything about this.

> * by forcible suppression of opposition - I mean... it's the EDL, big check.

I don't know much about the EDL & what they have done so I couldn't comment on this.

mijoharasOP7mo ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Defence_League#Relatio...

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse