Documentary tomorrow on BBC 1 at 10pm- the KKK in the USA today

I do Maggiemaybe, they may not take a life but they can make life hell

You can't legislate against hate per se. Murder is a criminal offence.

Yes Ana,,I do know murder is against the law but this isn't about breaking laws it's about racism

Granjura please don't accuse me of wishing to ignore the slavery and abominations if the KKK. You are twisting my words.
You said
"HildaW- could you imagine the EDL going around in those costumes, with arms and burning crosses? It could never happen here (thank goodness)."

All I was implying was that it could happen here, if we are not very vigilant and if we are complacent.

We have to accept racism can cause a racist to do harm no matter British or American. Our police don't go around shooting as the Americans do but let us not forget it was British police officers who did not a thing for Stephen Lawrence as he lay bleeding to death, this caused Doreen much pain, they didn't even extend kind words to her son , passers by did

I noticed that they were using media to further their cause, and then got really upset when Anonymous did the same to them. They were quite happy to be filmed but did not want their names and addresses put on the internet.
The woman who complained about the photo of her children on the internet because they might be attacked did not see the irony in it.

I am sorry Jane- and I truly believe I was not twisitng your words. Of course racism could and does happen in the UK, and the BNP and EDL are representations of that- what could not happen is the wearing of hoods and masks and the burning of crosses- and the acceptation by a significant % of the population that it is legitimate- as happens in some parts of the deep south of the USA.

I'm just wary of thinking 'it could never happen here' gj.
I am afraid it could.

In a similar vein I watched the BBC2 programme last night about Slave ownership. Was unpleasant viewing and a timely reminder of our history. Yes, it all happened in the past but the effects are very much a part of our present.

Yes. Bit of a shock to think how the aristocracy got their wealth in the first place. Puts a new light on Britain's stately homes.

That's been known for a long time....what was interesting was that there were a lot of much less wealthy people who owned a few. Then there were the widows who had been left them in wills. Often the income from these few enslaved peoples were all their husbands bequeathed them.