Finnish neo-fascist at martial arts show in Poland

Niko Puhakka, a neo-fascist from Finland was allowed to fight at a martial arts show in Lodz, central Poland and show off his Nazi tattoos.

During bouts organized by KSW, the premiere mixed martial arts organization in Poland, Puhakka showed off his a naked chest with the neo-Nazi organization Blood&Honour tattooed on his chest.

The fascist organization, which calls for violence against “the enemies of the race”, is illegal in Poland.

“It’s a scandal that a neo-Nazi was allowed to participate in the show,” Marcin Kornak from “Never Again” association which fights against racism, xenophobia and intolerance told Polish Radio.

“Niko Puhakka is known for his neo-fascist views and for exposing his tattoos showing Celtic crosses, a racist symbol of “white power”. Yet, nobody, not even Polsat TV, which broadcast the show, asked him to cover them up,” said Kornak, adding that until recently Puhakka was sponsored by a clothing company which produces clothes with Nazi symbols.

http://www.thenews.pl/sport/artykul140068_finnish-neo-fascist-at-martial-arts-show-in-poland.html

OH NOES!!!! Why cant we just censor everything that offends? WHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYY

Yeah the promoters forbidding him to fight would totally be a violation of his civil rights.

Except it wouldn't and your lolcats argot makes me want to punch myself in the dick.

Well why not put him with thw bigest badest black guy there??? then lets see if the tats can save him

OH NOES!!!! Why cant we just censor everything that offends? WHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYY
A few thoughts:
1. Detesting the display of neo nazis doesn’t automatically make that person pro-censorship. I don’t think the government should intervene for that kind of stuff, but there’s nothing wrong with decrying an organization for dropping the ball on an issue. It’s up to the venues to not host neo-nazis if their fans are against it, and if nobody says anything they’ll never know.


2. This was in Poland, and if ever there was a place that should be ableto say ‘Fuck this nazi bullshit”, it’s Poland.

3. Slippery slope type statements like the quote above have been getting fascist assholes off the hook too many times.

I have no issues with censoring the symbols of a movement and way of life that espouses violence and the genocide of millions of people.

If you believe that this persons "right" to promote this belief is more important than stopping the proliferation of racial violence and the condemnation of the attempted eradication of an entire race, then either you need a history lesson or you have some serious gaps in your belief system.

Puhakka is "old school" mma guys here, and one of the reasons mma had a strong neo-nazi stamp here. Happy to say not anymore, at least not to same degree, thanks to everybody else in the sport.

Any ideas how to convince neo-nazis that ninjerism / _ing _hun is the way to go instead? Would make life easier.

Celtic crosses = symbol of 'white power'. Now that is racist ****. This ancient symbol has been appropriated and abused by fascists. If you must ban something ban them not the symbol. The celtic cross dates back to at least the 7th century and in modern usage in celtic parts of the world it is a religious and historical symbol. To ban it because of these idiots would deny me a part of my own heritage.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2368463585_0af7bb3d5f_m.jpg

Puhakka and his tattoos were discussed at length here after his M-1 bout where the covers he was asked to use slipped off during the match.

It's the organization's fault for not asking him to cover them, after all he has done it before.

It's also worth noting that Puhakka has denounced the white supremacist stuff as bullshit and misspent youth. Whether you believe him or not is up to you. I don't know why he hasn't removed the tattoos. It might be the cost, time it would hinder his training or the fact that he's just playing it down even though he's still an idiot racist.

Neoex is also correct in that for the longest time MMA had a tarnished reputation due to alleged or truthful neo-nazi connections. Things are getting better rapidly these days but I'm sure this was a big reason why MMA took so long to get more mainstream around here.

Celtic crosses = symbol of 'white power'. Now that is racist ****. This ancient symbol has been appropriated and abused by fascists. If you must ban something ban them not the symbol. The celtic cross dates back to at least the 7th century and in modern usage in celtic parts of the world it is a religious and historical symbol. To ban it because of these idiots would deny me a part of my own heritage.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2368463585_0af7bb3d5f_m.jpg
White supremacists ruined a bunch of old European symbols, like the valknut.

A few thoughts:
3. Slippery slope type statements like the quote above have been getting fascist assholes off the hook too many times.

Of course banning that which is offensive is just as slippery a slope. Hello, thought control.

Of course banning that which is offensive is just as slippery a slope. Hello, thought control.
What I’m suggesting isn’t that they should be banning what’s offensive, because I think that’s not the government’s job. I’m suggesting that people should be free to say what they want, but they can expect people to speak out against them if they’re, say, a neo nazi in Poland.

Oh, yeah. People are going to talk smack about a neo-nazi in Poland. No question about that. But even (read as 'especially' if you'd like) the government banning expression of ideas in the name of the public good is scary territory in my mind. Obviously if the neo-nazis are going around beating people, that should be illegal. But their ability to speak their mind, however reprehensible their twisted opinion is, should be protected.

Agreed. As long as they are not actively encouraging people to violence and so forth they should be free to speak their mind. Banning and marginalizing will only give them more legitimacy.

Don't you guys have racial vilification laws in your country?

we do.



It is unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if:
(a) the act is reasonably likely in all the circumstances to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or group of people, and
(b) the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or some or all of the people in the group. [4] (http://www.bullshido.net/forums/#4)

Don't you guys have racial vilification laws in your country?


Nope. The U.S.'s First Amendment generally forbids making laws against any kind of speech, even if it may incite violence. The only exceptions are when violence is imminent and broadcast media.

Edit: Unless the speech somehow violates some other kind of law. Harassment, slander, etc.