Letters: Who's to blame for the rise of the BNP? |

While I loath the BNP and everything they stand for, I would remind you of what Voltaire had to say on a subject such as this: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." This goes to the centre of the spirit of democracy itself. Tolerance of people with views we find abhorrent is absolutely necessary to the proper functioning of democracy. People with extreme views should always be exhorted to channel these views through the ballot box rather than the gun or bomb. Our own government, after decades of hatred and violence, persuaded republicans and loyalists in Northern Ireland to put aside violence and participate in democracy. It seems strange that we are so afraid because the BNP are doing the same thing.