Post: #1

I was reading through a bunch of Tony Benn interviews the other day. I am reading through his diaries and wanted to look up his opinion about certain subjects such as the situation in Northern Ireland.

Anyway - in some of the interviews (which took place after he retired as an MP) - he says he does not support violence. But at times it is justified - as per the fight against the Nazis to give one example.

He then goes on to say that he actually supported the IRA's campaign of bombing the British. A pretty remarkable statement from one of the most famous politicians in British history. He actually said in one of his interviews that he could never be too forthcoming in his views since it would be impossible for an MP to be elected who had sympathy for those groups who were trying to blow up the very constituents who elected him!

He also said Chairman Mao was the greatest person of the twentieth century. So - he is pretty out there in some of his opinions.

Anyway - the question of Tony Benn's support for the IRA is one that he never quite clearly stated in any one interview. But is one that comes across in a number of his interviews.

I will just post this up so that you know I am not full of shit:





Anyway - I think Tony Benn's position is interesting. Since it reminds me that whilst countries never forget about the terrorist outrages that take place against their own country. We care very little about the many innocent people who are killed via drone attacks, stealth bombers and the launching of missiles against countries suspected of 'hiding terrorists'.

So - whilst at first I was pretty shocked at Tony Benn's support for the IRA. Since you don't expect such a famous British MP to have such sympathies. He has opened my eyes a little in terms of not being too quick to condemn. Since it ultimately comes down to the idea of one man's freedom fighter being another man's terrorist.

Anyway - I just want to mention this since I feel those on the left in the UK have no idea that there one of their heroes had sympathy for a group who aim was to blow up those very same people!

Post: #2

I should add that Tony Benn was ahead of his time in this area.

Here he is back in the early 90's standing in the House of Commons asking that Gerry Adams be allowed to visit the UK so that he can give a speech to British politicians.





Tony Benn was shouted down by many of the MPs present and not a single MP supported his motion.

Yet it was only a few years later before we saw these scenes at 10 Downing Street:





I respect Tony Benn. Because you know that whatever position he comes to has being thought through from first principles. And is a conclusion he has arrived at after much thinking.

As opposed to the other 99.9% of the political class who unthinkingly support whichever movement is in fashion that day (see 'The War on Terror' to give one example).

And of course - the problem with thinking for yourself in a field where everybody else acts like sheep is that you fall prey to Schopenhauer's dictum about the three stages of truth.

Quote:All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

Arthur Schopenhauer

Post: #3

That's precisely why I am fascinated by Gladstone. A lot of his beliefs were at odds with the sentiment of his peers and the public in general during his time. It was said that often he had to sit on beliefs for decades before the majority of people adopted his views.

I think men like Benn are a rarity in the political arena because, like the government itself, a politicians primary concern is always going to be self preservation. What better way to appease the ignorant masses than by telling them exactly what they want to hear? Pandering is what people want, even if they know it's utter bullshit. Maybe one day it might not be this way, but emotions are so much more powerful than logic. Today's 'intellectuals', especially those found in academia, focus more on demagoguery than they do on problem solving.

Post: #4

At least Benn was consistant if wrong. In the USA we've got a Congressman (Peter King) who used to raise money for the IRA who now rabble rouses about the Muslims.

Post: #5

I'm a huge fan of Tony Benn. Was going to make a thread on him when he died a few months ago.

IMO he was the last man standing from what the Labour party was meant to be all about (before its shift to the right)

I'm not going to bait for a political debate with anyone, but I will leave a video as I find the man incredibly easy to watch and eloquently spoken.

Post: #6

Tony Benn said that the experience of power, government and working closely with the captains of industry (as business secretary) shifted his thinking leftwards.

He didn't become more left wing because he picked up a few books. He actually became left wing on the basis of what he experienced at the top of society.

I always thought that was one of the many interesting things about Tony Benn.

Still it would have been hilarious to see him try to run for office whilst vocalising his support for the IRA's right to come and kill his constituents! :-)