Tom on January 9th, 2004
Why is Robert Kilroy-Silk not allowed to voice his own views? He didn't air them on 'Kilroy' so why has his show been taken off air? Repressing opinions will cause a resurgence in support for extremist political groups such as the British National Party. People are now reluctant to voice their opinions for fear of upsetting someone, and the only way they will feel safe about doing so is if they have the support of the majority - expressed through the ballot box.
thms on January 9th, 2004
i honestly can't stand this rude, arrogant and opinionated man. how dare he stereotype millions of arabs with his sweeping generalisation? The bbc are right to distance themselves from his racist views i fully support free speech but please remember free speech has many colours
M Gosling on January 9th, 2004
No he shouldn't be sacked it's about time someone spoke up about overruling, murderous Arabs.
SA on January 9th, 2004
Oh dear. The arguments in support of Kilroy fall into two categories: 1 - "he has the right of free speech": well, yes we all do, but if i say that all blacks are dirty rapists who carry knives and abuse children then i lose my right to free speech because i am, basically, slandering a whole people based on the colour of their skin. 2 - "everything he said was right": if you truly believe that then you know nothing about the Arab world and the people of the Arab world. How many Arabs are Christian, for example? Well 10% of Egyptian Arabs are Christian (yes, thats right, read the sentence again if it helps), in Lebanon its even higher: over 40% of Lebanese are Christian.
Matt Brennan on January 9th, 2004
Amazing, this was the same loud-mouthed Kilroy-Silk, that was castigated for saying in the 1980s that Ireland was a nation of 'priests, publicans and pixies' Now that was offensive, obviously the foul-mouthed bigot didn't learn his lesson then. It turned out that he had never been to Ireland. The right decision was to sack the bigot!
SA on January 9th, 2004
Its racism, pure and simple. If we are going to allow a racist to host a chat show about social issues, we are taking ourselves back to the dark ages. Interesting to note that he has been referred to the police for inciting racial hatred. His vitriolic, and highly inaccurate, rant could provide the bullet for an agressive bigot looking for a punch-bag. Goodbye Kilroy.
Neal Coady on January 9th, 2004
I think Kilroy should be sacked immediately. He has abused his position as a BBC presenter (by clearly being racist) as his comments wouldn't have been published if they came from a member of the general public. I agree with the free speech ideal, and he can rant as much as he likes from the dole queue.
phelings on January 9th, 2004
RKS was simply saying out loud what a lot of UK citizens think. But of course, free speech is a thing of the past over here
Julia Anthony on January 9th, 2004
Kilroy has in recent years lost the plot. He's run out of ideas to discuss and so seemingly wants to be seen as controversial, craving media attention perhaps. Whilst people should be entitled to have opinions, to use a national paper to attrack a whole race regardless of one's views is unforgiveable.
Dave on January 9th, 2004
Kilroy should not be sacked its ok for arabs & muslims to say they hate us because of our involvement in the war on terror & our support for the u.s i think the pc idiots have gone 2 far this time. What a waste of police resources if they have 2 get involved in this one. What the hell happened to freedom of speech?
iain smith on January 9th, 2004
I think he probably made the comments owing to stress over his mothers death and therefore after a brief suspension the matter should be forgotten and he should be allowed to return to his show, as i'm sure he will express regret for what he said. That having been said, it is certainly the case that a lot could and should be done in the Arab world to improve democracy/human rights etc,a nd i would like to think Arab people themselves would be the first to demand those progressive changes, and I would also hope that they would start to be more vocal in their denunciation of criminals like Osama Bin Laden, who after all do more to destroy the reputation of Arab and Muslim people than anything else.
kilroy lover on January 9th, 2004
NO !!!!! He should not be sacked, besides how do you sack a man who owns his own production company and the BBC buy his programs. GO ON KILROY MY SON TELL EM! leave kilroy alone you bullies he only speaks from a collective view.
Robert Alexander on January 9th, 2004
Here here Mr Kilroy!! If only more people had his courage and sense.
Herb on January 9th, 2004
Of course Kilroy should NOT be sacked for his comments. Have any of the ranting do gooders even read the article? Free speech...What a laugh! Name one thing that was untrue in Kilroy's article? Political Correctness now rules the world and anyone going against the grain of the suppressors is dealt with as you see what has happened to Kilroy. Big Brother is WATCHING. As a sidelight, read Pat Buchanan's book DEATH OF THE WEST.
Jonny on January 9th, 2004
Way to go robert! Its about time someone had the guts to say what millions of us think. Rather than being sacked he should be applauded for his comments as this country and its citizens should stop trying to be so bloody PC and careful all the time.
Graham Terry on January 9th, 2004
Should he be sacked. NO! We all saw the pictures on television. So good on yer Robert. See you again on the box real soon...
jp on January 9th, 2004
free speech needs to be exercised, scour the daily broadsheets or tabloids and you'll find someone ranting about something, I don't think what he saud was accurate and I don't agree but maybe someone should check if his viewing figures have been dropping lately! Sacking him would be a bit much, maybe dedicate a weeks worth of his shows to the debate!!!!!!
Henry W on January 9th, 2004
He should not be sacked. We see numerous comments in the press from people who say The West is destroying the Middle East yet none of these commentators are sacked from their main jobs. The point being raised is that Saddam Hussein is/was not the only dictator in that part of the world who is/was in charge of an oppressive regime. Is the oppression and brutality of one regime more or less acceptable than another? And how does that acceptability relate to oil production? He spoke his mind. Yes, he over-generalised, but doesn't everybody?
scabby on January 9th, 2004
no, I think he has a right to express his own opinions in his own column. We should be allowed freedom of speech. He doesn't incite anyone to act against these nations, but he does provoke thought and hopefully debate about what people really think or would say if they were not bound up by political correctness. Had he said this about China, or certain African nations there may not have been such a reaction.
Just a guy on January 9th, 2004
It's true that we are entitled to our opinions and we have freedom of speach, however what most of you are forgetting is that we also have a responsibility to that right. Clearly Kilroy didn't take any responsibility while making that rant he just felt angry and typed whatever he had on his mind, not bothering with the proper research required of journalist.
Rob on January 9th, 2004
Kilroy has voiced his opinion. He should NOT be silenced or punished, but there are people out there who are trying to mute his voice just because he has different views to them. It reminds me of my student days, when the lefties sold Soicialist Worker papers outside student unions - they also tried to shout people down if there was a difference of opinion!
Alex Johnson on January 9th, 2004
I think that he should be sacked and made an example of by the BBC, that this sort of petty bigitory should not be tolerated by the vast majority of this country who are not racist and especially not tolerated by the BBC. People may say its freedom of speech but when it insights racial hatred it should not be published, that kind of speech should be kept to the privacy of your own home.
Rich on January 9th, 2004
In a country where we supposedly have the right to free speech, how can a man's views, be it racist or not, be reported to police to be investigated. I bet that there have been thousands of articles in the arab world branding the west, and its supporters, pigs and evil, and correct me if I am wrong but on September 11th, werent most of the terrorists arab. Even if the article says that all arabs are terrorists, do you think any sane person brand every person from a region the same?
Mark on January 9th, 2004
WELL SAID THAT MAN! That all that needs saying really, but I'll back myself up! While it may not be 100% accurate, its not far away - and it needed saying. If it had been the other way round, would there be this fuss. For the first time ever, I actually like Kilroy!
Chris on January 9th, 2004
At last somebody has had the guts to start the debate. The BBC's over-reaction just proves that we do not have the freedom of speech in the UK. Our government constantly tells us what to think.
Craig on January 9th, 2004
I think he is entitled to his view as everyone is however the way in which has written it is totally wrong. I don't think sacking him is the answer as this as has been commented previously is a country that allows freedom of speech. He won't probably work for the Squeekly clean Beeb anymore but a commercial network will snap him up.
Darius on January 9th, 2004
We should all be able to express our views. Whether this shows us to be ignorant is another matter. His comments does not represent the BBC and it's opinions.
Dai on January 9th, 2004
While i wouldnt put all muslims or arabs into the same pigeon hole he has, he does make a fair point and i think he's brave to say what a lot of people are thinking. After liviing in various middle eastern countries most of my life i have to agree with some of his points. Some people in the muslim world tend to talk themselves and their religion up quite a lot with aboutsolutly nothing to back it up. I dont think he should be sacked, there's nothing wrong with expression your opinion even if he did it in a more foolish manner that your or I might.
Peter Taylor on January 9th, 2004
Oh dear Mr Hedley, it was the Arabs who were enslaving the blacks. The west transported them as instructed by the slave masters i.e. the Arabs.
fred on January 9th, 2004
why cant we say what we think these days without fear of offending? He is perfectly entitled to air his views, if you agree fine, if not dont buy the paper. he should stay on air as it has nothing to do with the bbc.
Peter Taylor on January 9th, 2004
Tony C seems to think that criticising people of a different race automaticaly makes them racist. Come in George Orwell with your thought police.
Darren Ruback on January 9th, 2004
I dont know about sacked but definately a good choice taking the show off the air. This matter needs to be investigated
Peter Taylor on January 9th, 2004
I thought we lived in a country that allowed free speech. He was not advocating any violence against Arabs. His views were not expressed on the BBC. No he should not be sacked by the BBC. If he is then what is being said is "there will be no criticism of the Arab world on the impartial BBC.
Peter J H on January 9th, 2004
Why is that no-one wants to listen until some-one go's slightly over the top. It's about time people not only in this country but around the world started to pay attention. THE MAN WAS TELLING THE TRUTH WHY IS HE BEING USED AS A SCAPEGOAT? The white people in this country have for years accepted the fact we are allowed to have black community centres muslim this indian that we live in a multi-cultural state but we are not allowed white clubs or english clubs or free speech as this proves. GIVE THE MAN A BREAK HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH.
aok_roolz on January 9th, 2004
Kilroy should be given the boot! I mean come on, that is an immature viewpoint and almost suggests that he is strait out of 1970's south United States!!
Robert on January 9th, 2004
Well if you thought FTA satellite will stop LOTR coming to BBC1, it definetely isn't now. The comments made by the actor who played Gimli last month to the media are comparable to Mr Kilroy-Silk's. So will the BBC ban the film from being shown because of this?
Kris on January 9th, 2004
I don't see why somebody should be taken off air for expressing his opinions in a country of free speech. Just because he has a TV show shouldn't make any difference to how people view him. There are many of writers who write racially predjudice pieces and get away with it - why should Kilroy be any different?
Ray Brown on January 9th, 2004
He should be sacked. We can't have public figures who appear regularly on a publicly funded broadcaster coming out with racist nonsense like that. I can't believe some of the comments posted here either. Would you have all said that you agree with his comments if he had said 'What have black people done for the world?' Has the BNP taken over the page?!!! The large contribution of the Arab peoples to humanity is clearly stated in any decent history book.
Alan Spencer on January 9th, 2004
I am 100% behind Robert in his views. Every word he has said is true. Unfortunatly because he is a major celebrity, he has voiced his opinions to the general public. Which is a no no. Even more so he has voiced his opinions and upset his bosses who are gutless and scared to back him up. Yet they show programmes about war and violence, and especially in the past ,programmes glorifying the IRA, which I find obnoixous. But nothing is ever said about those programmes. Correct?. Leave Robert alone. He has only voiced the real opinion of millions of peace loving people. Even yourselves.
googs on January 9th, 2004
no he should stay and voice his throughts, im muslim and hate the arab world too, there only think about number 1. and there oil. a nuclear bomb should bring theses people to the real world, to teach them not to kill just because of religon.
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