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Robin's Blog - Euro Elections: To vote or not to vote?

1st June 2009

On Thursday those of us that have taken the trouble to register have a chance to elect MEPs or, like most of our compatriots, will opt to abstain. In the current climate, it would be all too easy to take the apathy option, but I'm hoping in this blog to make you think twice.

We in the Diaspora communities of African, Asian and Caribbean origin have every right to complain about marginalisation, but we have also to ask ourselves now, "what's the real worst case scenario?". My response is that if we do nothing on Thursday, and on Friday we wake up to find that a number of BNP candidates have been elected, not by popular vote, but as a result of mass apathy, are we not ourselves culpable?

Even our imperfect democracy deserves better, and we now need to take individual and community responsibility. If by doing nothing on Thursday, we contribute to giving the BNP not only unearned credibility, but also access to significant European funding to peddle their doctrine, we will as communities be the long term losers, and this time we'll have to accept our share of the blame.

My exhortation to all NBP members and fellow travellers for this week is, above all, vote. It doesn't really matter if you opt for Conservative, Labour, Lib-Dem or any other minor party, any vote cast is one more votre the BNP will have to win to get a seat. I know in the current climate of cynicism it would be easy not to, but if you don't, what might the long-term consequences be?
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Comment:
agree with you robin - 1st Jun 2009 23:50
hi i agree with what robin said people need to vote as it needs to make it one more seat heard for the bnp to fight for, so if you are disillusion with the main parties than vote for one of the smaller parties put not for a far right party. myself is disillusion with the party politics and that is why i am standing in the European elections as an independent candidate for the west midlands and i am also a member of the NBP as well
Democratic Way - 2nd Jun 2009 06:59
Democratic way is the best way Nasim Hasnie 2 June 3009
Mr - 2nd Jun 2009 08:21
I could not agree more. Remember, to be heard you must speak out and this is our opportunity to speak out loud and clear. I might also add that we must never be led by tabloid headlines to determine the way we vote. We must tnink of the parties that are more likely to listen to our concerns and have done so in the past or are doing something in our interest.
Mr Perrier - 2nd Jun 2009 08:21
Here, Here very well documented dont give the BNP A FOOT HOLD, as my esteamed collegue said "what might the long-term consequences be?
Goke - 2nd Jun 2009 09:23
I do perfectly agree with your views and the only way out is to go out there and make our votes count. Who knows what might happen to our generation coming if we fail to give this group thumbs downn now?
Stand up and be counted - 2nd Jun 2009 09:38
I feel that we should not waste the opportunity to vote as this is a luxury some people across the world don't have. We are lucky to be able to have an input into this whole political fiasco, so we should put it to good use by making sure the BNP don't get any more seats than they have already.
Too many died for Vote - 2nd Jun 2009 10:22
Too Many people of colour has died so that we can have the right to vote please, please, please do not waste your vote. As Robin has said if you do not vote, you may have to suffer the consequences and remember if you do not stand now be quiet later.
Use your vote! - 2nd Jun 2009 11:16
I fully agree with Robin on keeping the BNP as a small minority ineterest. We too, have a right to be part of the electoral/political process if we want real change, equal rights and justice. So please vote! Remember, there was a time when black people were not allowed to Vote.
Disappointed I may be - 2nd Jun 2009 11:20
Yes I am disappointed with the current state of political life but I will be voting for a party other than BNP. Agree with all the sentiments expressed so far.
Make a mark - 2nd Jun 2009 13:28
The best thing is to ensure we all make our contribution no matter how little. One vote could make a big difference. So folks, go out there and make an indellible mark
I agree, I disagree and confused - 2nd Jun 2009 21:05
What and who exactly, are we voting for? So are we to just vote for the sake of voting? Remember people died to be able to vote, and we are just going to throw it away, because we have limited options? People! It is about time we begin to look beyond the Big three. It is about time we use our hearts and minds to make better decisions. Do you for one moment believe this country as a whole will allow the likes of the BNP to gain power? The real question should be what do we stand for, and not just who should stand for us. Perhaps we should all be independents and simply vote for each other-if we the population want to make a protest, then make a protest, rather than this half stepping, we always seem to do, then when no one delivers according to our expectation we complain. How can we become an independent or a candidate? That is the question. The real problem is that politics has become elitist, for the smart, the rich and to an extent the down right deceitful. Go independent I say.
VOTE WITH A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN MIND - 3rd Jun 2009 17:51
After hundreds of years of struggle, we need to remember that our children will inherit the systems and societies we create or leave behind. Therefore, we must always keep our eye on the ball.
Today is Thursday...have you voted yet? - 4th Jun 2009 13:27
Did you cast your vote? Use your vote to make history for future generations! Every vote counts! Give no room to BNP, they do not deserve the unearned credibility! To those who have not voted yet, on your way from work, please pass through the polling stations and vote. Use your head and not your emotions...think about the past and the furture for your children. As Robin has said if you do not vote, you may have to suffer the consequences and remember if you do not stand now be quiet later.
That resonates with me - 5th Jun 2009 09:44
Hello and that resonates with me. I have gone through feeling cynical and pessimistic about UK politics towards a slow gradual recovery in faith that there will be an imprvement and throughout that I've never stopped voting. It can all too easy for a rise in facism and extremism to creep in the Europe as it has done in pockets. I believe a positive personal step is to vote and contribute to keeping that extremism at bay. Andry Anastasiou - Team Training

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