It's about time: common sense prevails in Britain
Too bad it took the death of 52 people to do it, but this announcement seems to be nothing more than simple common sense. As Tony Blair put it, without his usual eloquence:
"They come here and they play by our rules and our way of life," Blair said at his monthly news conference. "If they don't, they are going to have to go."
So, foreigners who preach hated or sponsor violence can be deported after a hearing. As usual, those who would be affected by such a ruling are planning to fight back, using the justice system of their host country the better to allow themselves to feed off that system and perhaps to destroy it:
A spokesman for Hizb ut Tahrir Britain, Imran Waheed, said Blair's comments were "most unjust," and the group would fight any ban through the courts.
Somehow, I don't think they will succeed this time in getting the courts to assist the government in committing suicide. As the old saying goes: the Constitution is not a suicide pact. In Britain, the same could be said of the legal system and its human rights protections.
(NOTE: Is my spellcheck psychic? It wanted me to replace the name "Tahrir" with the word "terror.")
posted by neo-neocon @ 9:50 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Common sense indeed and I'm glad to see it. Carting off those who advocate and incite terrorism is mild in my opinion, but I abide by the Laws of the land and always will.
"They come here and they play by our rules and our way of life... If they don't, they are going to have to go."
I wish critics would understand that Blair is really talking about a limited situation: Those who violate laws should go. Those that don't can stay. Notice there's no talk about those who don't believe in their (the British) way, system, or society, he's singling out those who refuse to "play by our rules and our way of life...". I read that as singling out those who break the law (I read "our way of life" as referring to citizenry agreeing with the rule of law, not a more narrow interpretation of living by western religious values. Others may disagree, but that's my take). This is precisely the distinction courts make in the US (or at least try to): Thought, impulse, opinion, and/or belief cannot be subject to regulation, but action sure can. As much as what I'm about to say makes bile rise in my throat, I have to admit this: Belief and even sympathy with the Islamofacists is untouchable by government. I hate admitting that vile philosphies cannot be addressed by government, but the trade off is worse. Therefore, rightly so, I voluntarily and enthusiastically agree with this: Government cannot regulate what people believe. No matter how vile. However, government is perfectly within it's authority to regulate action. To me, that's precisely what Blair is saying. Play by the accepted rules, and it doesn't matter what you think; you're behaving legally, even if you're behaving atrociously. Refuse to, and it doesn't matter who you are, you're behaving illegally, no matter what excuses you make or what "higher authority" (God, political causes, or just plain belief) you appeal to as a defense of the behavior. Break the rules and you're gone.
Granted, there will be those who view his statement as evidence of racist attitudes or an excuse for racist actions on the part of the government... aside from stating that there's nothing singling out race in the argument above, I don't really know how to respond to that. Guess I'm not quick enough of a thinker to be a politician.
E.M.H. wrote: To me, that's precisely what Blair is saying. Play by the accepted rules, and it doesn't matter what you think; you're behaving legally, even if you're behaving atrociously.
No, I watched this announcement and Blair said a lot more than that. In particular he said -- and this comes under the heading of "better late than never" -- that the so-called "accepted rules" were changing. Here's a list of the proposed new measures -- note that they target not just those who plant the bombs, nor just those who directly incite the killers, but those who advocate and justify violence to further beliefs, and those who advocate or justify terrorism anywhere.
I do think we need to be careful and watchful with these kinds of measures -- especially to make sure that they remain clearly targeted on the people, organizations, and belief systems that are behind these terrorist acts and supporting this assymetric war. I'd be happy to see them include the likes of this guy, however.
I disagree with the PM only on the word 'deporting.' I think there's plenty of room in Club Gitmo. If not, we can put them to work making more.
Oh my... your spell checker is engaging in PROFILING!
This story outlines and important FIRST step: take on the haters and throw them out.
What to do about those like British born Anthony Green, a blond haired blue eyed Islamo-fascist is another matter.
See Jihad Watch: http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007536.php
We're going to need to get serious about the issue in this country too. I'm going to dig a bit deeper into the Saudi Arabia Accountability Act which would prohibit hate funds from getting into the country:
http://mikesamerica.blogspot.com/#112154361190120186
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