RedTiger
Half mast
The photo has been deleted from the BF twitter feed unsurprisingly.
Yes, I would agree - a political assassination by a violent extremist, targeting Mrs Cox specifically, not simply a random person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Terrorists don't usually specifically select (or know anything about) their individual victims, except insofar as they represent something the terrorist opposes or are in a place with its own significance to their "cause".
No idea, but the fact BF had the picture on their twitter feed but now deleted it must mean something.Is there any evidence that's actually him?
I believe neighbours saw the photos and confirmed his identityIs there any evidence that's actually him?
Quite frankly, there are some in this thread who need to step back and think before they post. We've had snide remarks from the opening page, people looking for arguments over definitions, and now there is open politicisation in play. Above all, I simply cannot imagine that any of this would see approval from Jo Cox herself.
Yes, Nick, I guess we should be ashamed of ourselves; unlike the people who lit the fuse and then stood back while others bore the inevitable brunt of their incendiary rhetoric - they are now calling for dignity and respect when they themselves have shown precisely none, and urge us to show restraint in case the finger is rightly pointed at them.
How can you not politicise a discussion about the politically motivated murder of an active politician?
This/these.You're really going to use a staged photo posted by a UKIP MEP as an example of the moral high ground the Caf should aspire to?
What exactly stops this from being a similarly politicised act of misdirection from the side more obviously affected by the implications? At what point does Leavers saying "We shouldn't talk about this (because it might hurt our campaign)" somehow become less of a political power play than Remainers saying "We should talk about this (because it might benefit ours)?"
If anything it's a potentially more shameless act. Denying the woman her own politics in death, for fear of it damaging yours.
Assassination usually refers to the murder of political figures or leaders. Terrorists want to create fear, instability and unrest, and the random selection of the people who are killed or injured makes that more likely. Look at 9/11 as an example - the terrorists had no idea who they would end up killing in those attacks, but they knew their acts would have huge ramifications.The IRA did frequently.
Well put, especially the final paragraph.You're really going to use a staged photo posted by a UKIP MEP as an example of the moral high ground the Caf should aspire to?
What exactly stops this from being a similarly politicised act of misdirection from the side more obviously affected by the implications? At what point does Leavers saying "We shouldn't talk about this (because it might hurt our campaign)" somehow become less of a political power play than Remainers saying "We should talk about this (because it might benefit ours)?"
If anything it's a potentially more shameless act. Denying the woman her own politics in death, for fear of it damaging yours.
Assassination usually refers to the murder of political figures or leaders. Terrorists want to create fear, instability and unrest, and the random selection of the people who are killed or injured makes that more likely. Look at 9/11 as an example - the terrorists had no idea who they would end up killing in those attacks, but they knew their acts would have huge ramifications.
I'm not saying a terrorist couldn't carry out an assassination, but the definitions aren't that clear, imo. Whatever it is, people die who shouldn't die.
This/these.
You're really going to use a staged photo posted by a UKIP MEP as an example of the moral high ground the Caf should aspire to?
What exactly stops this from being a similarly politicised act of misdirection from the side more obviously affected by the implications? At what point does Leavers saying "We shouldn't talk about this (because it might hurt our campaign)" somehow become less of a political power play than Remainers saying "We should talk about this (because it might benefit ours)?"
If anything it's a potentially more shameless act. Denying the woman her own politics in death, for fear of it damaging yours.
Tommy standing with his brethren.
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Ross McWhirter was a political activist and knowingly set himself up as a target by offering reward money for information about bombers. Duran Duran - I have no idea!They killed that McWhirter fellow and targeted Duran Duran!
You're really going to use a staged photo posted by a UKIP MEP as an example of the moral high ground the Caf should aspire to?
What exactly stops this from being a similarly politicised act of misdirection from the side more obviously affected by the implications? At what point does Leavers saying "We shouldn't talk about this (because it might hurt our campaign)" somehow become less of a political power play than Remainers saying "We should talk about this (because it might benefit ours)?"
If anything it's a potentially more shameless act. Denying the woman her own politics in death, for fear of it damaging yours.
A timid loner acting all on his own without any outside influence on the actions and motivations that he absolutely developed alone, on his own, without anyone else, that just happen to reflect the exact views of the right-wing media and political entities.
Spot the feck on.A timid loner acting all on his own without any outside influence on the actions and motivations that he absolutely developed alone, on his own, without anyone else, that just happen to reflect the exact views of the right-wing media and political entities.
We've had Cameron declaring the Labour party as a threat to national security, Farage standing in front of literal, Nazi propaganda, with BREAKING POINT plastered all over the place, and countless others constantly informing the people of Britain that remaining in the EU poses unavoidable risk to themselves, their families and their very way of life. We've had the likes of the Mail, Sun and Telegraph describing people so desperate to escape the conflict that rages in their home country that they are willing to risk their lives to get out, as "invaders", and a barrage of comments about terrorists slipping through the net ready to pounce and destroy our towns and cities. We've had the far-right parties, such as Britain First, issue a rallying cry to its followers to take direct action against Muslim elected officials, including the newly elected Mayor of London, direct action in the places that they live, work and pray. But no, this man came up with this idea completely out of the blue.
We hear nothing about mental health and support for those who need it, with those suffering left to deal with it on their own and stigmatised for it. We sit and watch as the Tory government does its utmost to dismantle the NHS and any other service that benefit, first and foremost, the most vulnerable in our society, because we apparently can't afford it, despite the fact that their own leader has been outed as a tax-evading waster, all whilst our attention is turned to some mum of 6 from a council estate who has the audacity to own a 40" TV, or how an immigrant family in Leeds is somehow scrounging literally all of the welfare whilst simultaneously taking jobs off poor Britons. But it's the health service that's let this man down.
And let us be clear about the implications of @Alex99's post:
A presumed neo-Nazi, long standing advocate of white supremacy (which seems to have been lost on a few here), is said to represent the views of the right-wing as a mass and Brexit movement more generally. Not only did this go unremarked upon, subsequent posters actually endorsed the remarks. Additionally, we saw crass opportunism, with this sad event being used as some mounting block for other unrelated agendas.
Do the roots of Mr Mair's extremism lie with this present campaign or even the past year? No, not in my opinion. But can we reduce the chances of the London Nail Bomber and Thomas Mair being succeeded by someone else in 10-20 years time? Absolutely.
Why has the discourse so degenerated, why is UKIP increasingly influential? Because, in one form or another, the traditional parties have fled the field. The impact is being felt right across the spectrum, and any improvement must be found in the same.
Stop talking sense Alex.I did not and do not believe that Mair represents "the views of the right-wing as a mass and Brexit movement," nor did I imply that to be the case.
Jo Cox's death, first and foremost, is a tragic and unnecessary loss of life, leaving a young family without its wife and mother. However, the context in which this tragic event occurred cannot be ignored, lest we allow the dangerous rhetoric surrounding it to continue to prevail throughout our political landscape.
The right-wing media (i.e The Mail, The Sun, The Telegraph, etc.) see no issue brandishing desperate refugees as "invaders" threatening the livelihood of the average Brit, yet regularly deflect attention away from the corrupt elite by targeting the poor and vulnerable when needed.
We live in a nation where mouthpieces such as Katie Hopkins are regularly given airtime on national television and column space in national newspapers, precisely because they're very willing to state that they'd rather gun down refugees than offer assistance, or that immigrants should wear a wristband to identify themselves as such, all in the name of entertainment.
Once upon a time, comments stating that the leader of the Labour party is a risk to national security, comments implying that the Labour candidate for Mayor of London is a member of a prominent terrorist organisation, statements warning us of impending war with the rest of Europe, and comparisons between the EU and Nazi Germany came from the far-right and those generally perceived to hold extreme political views. Nowadays our Prime Minister, and the man hoping to take over as Prime Minister once he steps down are freely delivering such comments to the media and within the House of Commons.
When the elected government is readily using such rhetoric, is it any wonder that those at the extreme end of the political spectrum use more extreme measures to make their voices heard?
Mair gave his name in court as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain" today. A prevailing message of the Leave campaign has been to free Britain of the apparent shackles placed on it by the EU. A key and common element of the British far-right is freeing Britain from outside influences. There is no crass opportunism at play when you draw comparisons between this man and his actions to the right-wing media and political entities in Britain, and I find it utterly remarkable that you not only refuse to see this, but in fact see those that point it out as somehow disrespectful to Jo Cox.
Jo Cox was a politician for all of the right reasons. She wanted to help people and to make the world a better place for anyone and everyone. We cannot let the likes of the Mail and Telegraph absolve themselves of any accountability for the rhetoric they have so eagerly published and instead place the blame on 'mental health issues' and NHS psychiatrists for failing to deal with them. Likewise, we cannot let the likes of David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, with their warnings of impending war, comparisons to Hitler, and constant references to Britain reaching "Breaking Point" make out that they are any better than the likes of Paul Golding and his belief in "militant direct action".
Utter, utter nonsense. This man very clearly has extreme mental health issues. That's it, his actions were rooted there. Nowhere else.I did not and do not believe that Mair represents "the views of the right-wing as a mass and Brexit movement," nor did I imply that to be the case.
Jo Cox's death, first and foremost, is a tragic and unnecessary loss of life, leaving a young family without its wife and mother. However, the context in which this tragic event occurred cannot be ignored, lest we allow the dangerous rhetoric surrounding it to continue to prevail throughout our political landscape.
The right-wing media (i.e The Mail, The Sun, The Telegraph, etc.) see no issue brandishing desperate refugees as "invaders" threatening the livelihood of the average Brit, yet regularly deflect attention away from the corrupt elite by targeting the poor and vulnerable when needed.
We live in a nation where mouthpieces such as Katie Hopkins are regularly given airtime on national television and column space in national newspapers, precisely because they're very willing to state that they'd rather gun down refugees than offer assistance, or that immigrants should wear a wristband to identify themselves as such, all in the name of entertainment.
Once upon a time, comments stating that the leader of the Labour party is a risk to national security, comments implying that the Labour candidate for Mayor of London is a member of a prominent terrorist organisation, statements warning us of impending war with the rest of Europe, and comparisons between the EU and Nazi Germany came from the far-right and those generally perceived to hold extreme political views. Nowadays our Prime Minister, and the man hoping to take over as Prime Minister once he steps down are freely delivering such comments to the media and within the House of Commons.
When the elected government is readily using such rhetoric, is it any wonder that those at the extreme end of the political spectrum use more extreme measures to make their voices heard?
Mair gave his name in court as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain" today. A prevailing message of the Leave campaign has been to free Britain of the apparent shackles placed on it by the EU. A key and common element of the British far-right is freeing Britain from outside influences. There is no crass opportunism at play when you draw comparisons between this man and his actions to the right-wing media and political entities in Britain, and I find it utterly remarkable that you not only refuse to see this, but in fact see those that point it out as somehow disrespectful to Jo Cox.
Jo Cox was a politician for all of the right reasons. She wanted to help people and to make the world a better place for anyone and everyone. We cannot let the likes of the Mail and Telegraph absolve themselves of any accountability for the rhetoric they have so eagerly published and instead place the blame on 'mental health issues' and NHS psychiatrists for failing to deal with them. Likewise, we cannot let the likes of David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, with their warnings of impending war, comparisons to Hitler, and constant references to Britain reaching "Breaking Point" make out that they are any better than the likes of Paul Golding and his belief in "militant direct action".
Utter, utter nonsense. This man very clearly has extreme mental health issues. That's it, his actions were rooted there. Nowhere else.
He was a normally-functioning adult, whose behaviour aroused no suspicion amongst family or neighbours in a community he'd lived in for 40 years - except to say he was "quiet" and "a loner". He did jobs for old people, he visited his mum and did her shopping, he did some voluntary work. People mention that he was/had been depressed. No-one who knew him has suggested he was severely mentally-ill.Utter, utter nonsense. This man very clearly has extreme mental health issues. That's it, his actions were rooted there. Nowhere else.
No it's not. It's the act of someone seriously mentally unstable. don't try to make political capital out of it.This was a vulnerable person who was pushed to commiting a terrorist act based upon the battlefield rhetoric being pushed by the right wing media. He believed outsiders were the enemy and that "our services are flooded" etc… you cannot absolve these messages that have very publicly been passed to someone who committed a terrorist attack from any blame.
This is a terrorist act, no question.
In that case it's similarly hard to say his actions were brought about by right wing propaganda, which is being claimed by people seeking to use the tragedy for political purposes.He was a normally-functioning adult, whose behaviour aroused no suspicion amongst family or neighbours in a community he'd lived in for 40 years - except to say he was "quiet" and "a loner". He did jobs for old people, he visited his mum and did her shopping, he did some voluntary work. People mention that he was/had been depressed. No-one who knew him has suggested he was severely mentally-ill.
It's therefore hard to conclude that mental health problems were the sole cause of his actions. Obviously, we don't know at this stage, but that's just my first impression.
No it's not. It's the act of someone seriously mentally unstable. don't try to make political capital out of it.
Apparently not if you agree with Mr death to traitors, freedom for Britain (or if you want to vote leave)An active politician was murdered for political reasons. That's pretty political.
It's a murder motivated by an ideology. It's terrorism plain and simple.No it's not. It's the act of someone seriously mentally unstable. don't try to make political capital out of it.
Or if an eu migrant had shot doug carswell for example...If a proponent of leaving the EU had been the victim, that side would have been all over it.
Utter, utter nonsense. This man very clearly has extreme mental health issues. That's it, his actions were rooted there. Nowhere else.
Utter, utter nonsense. This man very clearly has extreme mental health issues. That's it, his actions were rooted there. Nowhere else.
What were your thoughts on the Lee Rigby killing?Utter, utter nonsense. This man very clearly has extreme mental health issues. That's it, his actions were rooted there. Nowhere else.
What were your thoughts on the Lee Rigby killing?
Consider Jo Cox's political actions on behalf of the citizens of nations other than Britain; consider her actions regarding ethnic diversity in her constituency and elsewhere; consider Thomas Mair's known political views; none of these things add up to mental illness being Mair's driving force for the murder. This incident was not like, say, the attack on MP Nigel Jones in 2000, in which it was obvious that mental issues were the prime mover.Utter, utter nonsense. This man very clearly has extreme mental health issues. That's it, his actions were rooted there. Nowhere else.
Alex, you're encapsulating my POV perfectlyI did not and do not believe that Mair represents "the views of the right-wing as a mass and Brexit movement," nor did I imply that to be the case.
Jo Cox's death, first and foremost, is a tragic and unnecessary loss of life, leaving a young family without its wife and mother. However, the context in which this tragic event occurred cannot be ignored, lest we allow the dangerous rhetoric surrounding it to continue to prevail throughout our political landscape.
The right-wing media (i.e The Mail, The Sun, The Telegraph, etc.) see no issue brandishing desperate refugees as "invaders" threatening the livelihood of the average Brit, yet regularly deflect attention away from the corrupt elite by targeting the poor and vulnerable when needed.
We live in a nation where mouthpieces such as Katie Hopkins are regularly given airtime on national television and column space in national newspapers, precisely because they're very willing to state that they'd rather gun down refugees than offer assistance, or that immigrants should wear a wristband to identify themselves as such, all in the name of entertainment.
Once upon a time, comments stating that the leader of the Labour party is a risk to national security, comments implying that the Labour candidate for Mayor of London is a member of a prominent terrorist organisation, statements warning us of impending war with the rest of Europe, and comparisons between the EU and Nazi Germany came from the far-right and those generally perceived to hold extreme political views. Nowadays our Prime Minister, and the man hoping to take over as Prime Minister once he steps down are freely delivering such comments to the media and within the House of Commons.
When the elected government is readily using such rhetoric, is it any wonder that those at the extreme end of the political spectrum use more extreme measures to make their voices heard?
Mair gave his name in court as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain" today. A prevailing message of the Leave campaign has been to free Britain of the apparent shackles placed on it by the EU. A key and common element of the British far-right is freeing Britain from outside influences. There is no crass opportunism at play when you draw comparisons between this man and his actions to the right-wing media and political entities in Britain, and I find it utterly remarkable that you not only refuse to see this, but in fact see those that point it out as somehow disrespectful to Jo Cox.
Jo Cox was a politician for all of the right reasons. She wanted to help people and to make the world a better place for anyone and everyone. We cannot let the likes of the Mail and Telegraph absolve themselves of any accountability for the rhetoric they have so eagerly published and instead place the blame on 'mental health issues' and NHS psychiatrists for failing to deal with them. Likewise, we cannot let the likes of David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, with their warnings of impending war, comparisons to Hitler, and constant references to Britain reaching "Breaking Point" make out that they are any better than the likes of Paul Golding and his belief in "militant direct action".