[LeatherTrumpet]

Superb article in today's Telegraph

The trouble with double-standards in the age of mass communication is that everybody can see them. Where once an individual, institution or movement might have hoped to conceal their hypocrisies, now they are there for everyone to witness. So it is with the case of Maxine Peake. This week, the actress made headlines because of an interview in which she alleged that the Israelis taught the US police how to kill George Floyd. The problem is that it is a lie. Even the far-Left, anti-Israel group Amnesty – widely alleged to be the source of the story – has denied that it is true. It is simple anti-Zionism reheated to suit the current moment.

So perhaps it isn’t surprising that a Jeremy Corbyn protégée like Rebecca Long-Bailey should have retweeted the interview in which Peake made this claim. Apart from its racism, the interview included the standard actress stuff about the wonders of Corbynism and the importance of bringing down capitalism. They aren’t fools, these actresses. They know that if there’s one way that their profession will be reinvigorated, post-lockdown, it will be through the obliteration of the market economy. But Labour is now in new hands. And Keir Starmer swiftly sacked Long-Bailey. While his predecessor said there was no place for racism at the top of Labour, Starmer has done something to prove it.

But the question I want answered is: where is Equity, the actors’ union? Earlier this year, after the actor Laurence Fox appeared on Question Time, the union (of which he is not even a member) denounced him. Fox’s crime was to say that he didn’t think Britain was a racist country. For this, Equity branded him a “disgrace”. Actor after actor lined up to condemn him and lobby to make sure he never worked again. After Fox took legal action and forced an apology out of Equity, the entire “race equality committee” of the union resigned.


Perhaps this is why Equity have been so silent on Peake. Because there is no one left to do the full witch-dunking denunciation act. Or perhaps the silence is explained in another way. The same way that one might explain the silence of the actors and celebs who clambered over each other to denounce Fox. Could it be that most people in the acting and celebrity worlds are happy with someone who promotes conspiracy theories, so long as it is wrapped up in the fashionable idiot language of anti-capitalism and “equality”?

I suspect so. In which case I would strongly recommend that Peake and her colleagues mull on something. What Fox said on Question Time reflects the sentiment of the vast majority of the British public. What Peake said reflects the views of a small group of malcontents who the public has rejected at the ballot box every time we have had the chance. So here is the thing, my actor-y friends. It’s not the public who are living in some hyper-partisan, out-of-touch bubble. It’s you. And we can see you very well.

[LeatherTrumpet]

. What Laurence Fox said on Question Time reflects the sentiment of the vast majority of the British public. What Peake said reflects the views of a small group of malcontents who the public has rejected at the ballot box every time we have had the chance. So here is the thing, my actor-y friends. It’s not the public who are living in some hyper-partisan, out-of-touch bubble. It’s you. And we can see you very well.

[The Slim Reaper]

Maxine came out herself and said she'd got it wrong. Did Laurence?

What are the policy goals of this "extreme left" you keep referencing? Help me understand how extreme they really are.

[Oliver_W]

It's a pretty new country, so it's still at the same point that other countries were several hundred years back. Just like how islam was invented a few hundred years after Christianity, which is why as an ideology it inspires about similar violence as other religions had in the middle ages. Neither can be held accountable for their actions

[MB.]

"Israel is still a relatively new country so the IDF can do whatever they want with zero accountability" is certainly a take

[arista]

Originally Posted by The Slim Reaper

Maxine came out herself and said she'd got it wrong. Did Laurence?

What are the policy goals of this "extreme left" you keep referencing? Help me understand how extreme they really are.

He stands by what he said
he is not a Racist.

[The Slim Reaper]

Originally Posted by arista

He stands by what he said
he is not a Racist.

There's the fundamental difference then. Close thread, as LT has his answer.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Laurence certainly has spooked the far left

And they do not like it

[Oliver_W]

What did Laurence Fox say that annoyed people?

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Laurence certainly has spooked the far left

And they do not like it

Aye sis. He ****ing terrifies me.

[Tom4784]

Israel have committed continual human rights abuse that the right often ignores for their own agenda.

[Marsh.]

Laurence Fox was denounced for saying Britain is not racist? Erm no. Let's not make up fairy stories.

And LT defending an actor for their political stance is a joke considering that when they don't agree with him he's telling them to shut up and get back to reading lines other people wrote. A joke.

[Brother Leon]

Maybe because they don’t support War Crimes, Violation of Human Rights, Apartheid amongst a list of disgusting actions.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

Maybe because they don’t support War Crimes, Violation of Human Rights, Apartheid amongst a list of disgusting actions.

Then they shouldn't support Palestine either

A two state solution shouldn't even be given a speck of consideration until Hamas and Hezbellah are ousted.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Maybe Keir is going to root out all the anti-Semitism entrenched in the left?

[Nicky91]

calling us Left extreme


when we're not the ones who are racist

[Livia]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Maybe Keir is going to root out all the anti-Semitism entrenched in the left?

Impossible, I reckon. They're fanatical… I don't hang around any threads to do with Jews or Israel because anti-Semitism has been allowed to stand on this forum and now people are beginning to think it's acceptable.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

calling us Left extreme


when we're not the ones who are racist

He didn't say that. He meant the extremes from the Left. Lefties and Righties have their extremes.

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Maybe Keir is going to root out all the anti-Semitism entrenched in the left?

Too big a task. All he can do is make a visible effort to tackle it within Labour, to turn around the presented narrative from Corbyn's time as Labour leader.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

He didn't say that. He meant the extremes from the Left. Lefties and Righties have their extremes.


Too big a task. All he can do is make a visible effort to tackle it within Labour, to turn around the presented narrative from Corbyn's time as Labour leader.

the only ones extreme are the Far Right


not in the Left, but this is just a typical case of shoving blame on opposition from extreme right wing, accusing left of extremism without having any proof or evidence

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

the only ones extreme are the Far Right


not in the Left, but this is just a typical case of shoving blame on opposition from extreme right wing, accusing left of extremism without having any proof or evidence

With respect Nicky, I'm pretty sure this is about the UK. And there is a long history here of the far Left hating Jews. The far Right and the far Left are pretty much the same meat with different gravy.

[The Slim Reaper]

Personally, I'd be upset that one of my friends only used it as a troll, rather than to contribute to any discussion, but we're all different.

[Liam-]

Once again criticism of Israel is being conflated with antisemitism, which really isn’t helpful in any sense of the word

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Once again criticism of Israel is being conflated with antisemitism, which really isn’t helpful in any sense of the word

You didn't even read the OP, did you.

[Liam-]

Yep

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Yep

I'm surprised.