Student's View

The news that there are openly racist groups on Facebook inciting religious and racial hatred is despicable, particularly when viewing racist slurs such as ‘we need to stand up against those niggers and jews. No jew world order’ on a group entitled ‘The Neo Nazi Movement.’ However, while these comments and views are abhorrent they also raise important questions about the nature of free speech.  Should we ban extremist views and leave radical political parties and extremist religious factions to perpetuate their message underground?

The news that there are openly racist groups on Facebook inciting religious and racial hatred is despicable, particularly when viewing racist slurs such as ‘we need to stand up against those niggers and jews. No jew world order’ on a group entitled ‘The Neo Nazi Movement.’ However, while these comments and views are abhorrent they also raise important questions about the nature of free speech.  Should we ban extremist views and leave radical political parties and extremist religious factions to perpetuate their message underground? Or should we let them speak, and leave democracy to do its job – destroying their arguments and showing racism up for what it is – narrow-minded bigotry and cowardice? While conducting an investigation into racist groups on Facebook Student came across some horrifying groups and comments which were sickening to the stomach. However, that’s partly the point – they made us nauseous with disgust, and in so doing, exposed the BNP, and the other racist groups as shameful and vile organisations.

This debate was highlighted last year with the Oxford University debating society inviting BNP leader Nick Griffin and Holocaust denier David Irving to speak at the Oxford Union. While there were many objections, the talks went ahead leaving Luke Tryl, the President of the Oxford Union debating society to comment that "David Irving came across looking pathetic. He looked weak. The flaws in his arguments were exposed and I'm pleased that that happened." While it is right to condemn racism and discrimination we must do so with debate, because that’s the only way to defeat it. Complete censoring of racist views only sends the movement underground, giving parties like the BNP ‘victim’ status and fuel to use against mainstream government who they claim are ‘silencing their voices.’ Facebook should not have racist material on its site, because as a respected organisation in the public realm it must be shown to have a degree of intolerance to intolerance. However, with regards to exposing just how prejudiced and narrow-minded racists are, Facebook needn’t worry – the BNP and co are doing a fine job themselves.