Do you agree with the bnp? campaigning for a Miners Memorial Day.?

Question

Well over a Million men have died doing their duty for their country in our coal mines.

Answer 1

Beneath the ground
Night and Day
Punishing work

And risking death
Risking injury
Entombed by stone

Remember their sacrifice
And consider their plight
Coal for our Nation
If you want to remember them
Steer clear of political parties
Talking in populist soundbite.

They don't care one
Hoot for the working man
Unless it's election time.
Getting disaffected votes is all they want
Support the miners, reject the BNP.

Answer 2

Where did you get the figure of 'well over a million men' who died in mines?

I know the British coal industry was a big employer and working practises where dangerous for many years, but I very much doubt that a million have died down the pits digging coal.

The most people employed by the Coal industry in the UK was 1.1 million in 1914, but the Industry only really took off after the invention of the coal fired steam engine in the mid 1800's, and was badly hit by the invention of the internal combustion engine which used oil, and became widespread in the ealy 1900's. So coal was only being dug at an industrial capacity for a little over 100 years. That would mean that 10,000 men a year where being killed underground. Even China with terrible track record for safety in mines can't get anywhere near this figure.

I would like to know the sources for this 1 million dead miners, a cursory Internet search makes this figure look astonishing at the very least.

I am not denying that mining is or was a dangerous job, but I would suggest that most men did it to put food on the tables not out of any patriotism. I would further suggest that many miners would be deeply offended that a political party would try to use the deaths of their colleagues to make some political point with figures that on inspection seem arbitrary at least.

I also wonder what miners would have made of a fascist organisation, abusing the memories of dead miners to further their warped political agenda. Many British miners lost their lives fighting fascism as part of the Tom Mann brigade during the Spanish Civil War.

Answer 3

If there is a Miners Memorial day, then what about the Dockers, Railway Navvies, Merchant Seamen, Farmers, Transport Workers, North Sea Oilmen and Divers, Trawlermen, Millworkers, etc, etc. there are a lot more people out there and workers who have died over the jobs and industry. Mayday in the UK is the Unions National Day of rememberance to all those workers who have lost there lives in industry no matter who they where and is recogonised as such by many people.
The BNP have jumped on a good band wagon for the Middlands Vote where many of the Mines existed and there is a growing power base for the BNP. Like many of the Political Parties, they have seen a spot they could exploit for more support.

Answer 4

I think the idea of a miners memorial day is a brilliant one, better still a "fallen workers memorial day", a tribute to all who gave their lives in nationalised industry
( Mines, docks,shipbuilding, railways, etc).
It would be a massivly popular bank holiday and would bring kudos to any political party that sponsored it.

The only objection i have is that it is proposed by the BNP .

The BNP is about as far removed in politics as you can get from the many who died underground. They were in the largest part socialists dedicated to fair distribution of resources with unity and fraternity at home and abroad not isolationaism, division and hatred.

Many of the dead would have opposed these facists on picket lines up and down the country and its indicitive of the BNP,s facile style that they would even appropriate their name.

Answer 5

Greetings! I'm really not sure if we should set up a singular holiday for the miners that have died doing their job.

What I would suggest instead is that they, police officers, firefighters, miners or any other vocation where humanity has given it's ultimate price be incorporated with military veteran's who have died for our country on Memorial Day.

It seems to me that it doesn't really matter how one gave their life...whether it was on the shores of Iwo Jima or the lobby of the World Trade Center or the mines of West Virginia and Utah (and all other places where people have died doing the work to better our nation). I think Memorial Day would be a perfect day and time to remember those selfless men and women who gave their lives for all of us. Take care.

Answer 6

I'd agree with almost anything which honours the working people of the United Kingdom.

But I'd support a legitimate political party in seeking this change, not a crypto-fascist thug bucket like the BNP.

Stop the BNP.

Answer 7

Seems like a weird thing for the BNP to be campaigning for. Why not the usual "kick all the immigrants out" rubbish that party seems to spout?

Answer 8

Sounds like a good idea to me. If over a million died making this country great then yes they do deserve a memorial day and good on the BNP for suggesting they should have one.

P.S Why whenever the BNP is mentioned do so many people ignore the question and instead decide to have a good rant at the BNP even when they are doing good?

Answer 9

No they were working not doing their duty and what about others who died in their jobs - seaman for example?.The BNP will say anything to try and divert attention from their true fascist aims.

Answer 10

Britain has never had a proper facist or racist leader i don't agree with us starting now. Miners do their job the same as me.....NO