Taking the Knee Bollox

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Originally Posted by wba13

So what you lot are all saying is taking the knee should never have been started.
Most black players took the knee the likes of Zaha are few and far between and he’s just arrogant he thinks he’s right with everything.
Can’t understand why some think it’s a joke and as for some being coerced into doing it is rubbish we are all individuals and have our own minds and if they didn’t agree with it they wouldn’t do it.
Cannot see what’s wrong if as a group they decide to keep doing it. If some individuals don’t want to do it don’t it’s not forced on anybody.

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Politics should have no place in sport. This gesture took place due to a crack head who was a thug in the USA. Many non blacks would be slaughtered if they decided not to take the knee. The woman’s football team are being unfairly targeted for not having enough black players. Recruitment should be for the best talent for the job in hand. When our team had 10 non whites who cared and rightly so!

There should be more done to combat racism and thuggery and harsher prison sentences but taking the knee - many laugh at it now!!

Seems more whites have issues with the continuation of taking the knee!! Probably the same whites who are moaning about too many whites playing in the girls football teams who just made the country proud!

A racist will always be a racist c unt and there’s racists in every ethnicity. Dele Ali racially abused a Chinese person but god help anyone who did it to him!

Perhaps looking at why no issues occurred in full capacity stadiums watching girls matches! No racism - no bad language - no violence - no drunks - no thugs - no smoke bombs or damage - no urine stench. What does this tell you?

'Taking the knee' is just a ritual. Attitudes and actions get rid of racism and not meaningless rituals. We showed football the way with Regis, Batson and Cunningham. They took a lot of flack but they were respected by us. That's the only way to get rid of racism. Judge each individual on their merits.

Personally, I have no issue with figures in sport (or music/entertainment etc) using their positions as a platform to raise awareness of "political" issues, especially ones around racism or inequalities. Just as long as they actually know what they are talking about and it doesn't completely overshadow the job they are paid to do. After all, political issues are not always going to be resolved if left to politicians themselves! Like others on here, I'm just saying that I think this particular gesture has run its course now and contributes very little towards actually ridding racism from the game.

The BLM organisation had $90million donated income in 2020 alone. It bought a Southern Californian mansion in October 2020 for $6m as reported in New York Magazine. It has a budget of over $8m and dispersed $21.7 million.

That is what we are supporting and publicising every time it gets prime coverage on tv. Nice work if you can get it!

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Originally Posted by Yarmbaggie

The BLM organisation had $90million donated income in 2020 alone. It bought a Southern Californian mansion in October 2020 for $6m as reported in New York Magazine. It has a budget of over $8m and dispersed $21.7 million.

That is what we are supporting and publicising every time it gets prime coverage on tv. Nice work if you can get it!

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Shocking! Good to get these facts Yarm!

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Originally Posted by baggieal

Politics should have no place in sport.

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I bet you won't be consistent in that view point around other political matters though Al.

Wearing a poppy on the players shirt and taking silence on Remembrance Day has nothing to do with football but it quite rightly exists in the game as a sign of remembrance and respect. But in reality, it means absolutely nothing and is just a gesture.

It feels like if it's not about white, straight folk then it's political.

And on the matter of BLM, which footballer or football association has said that they are kneeling for BLM? It's always been an anti-discrimination message.

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Originally Posted by wba13

So what you lot are all saying is taking the knee should never have been started.
Most black players took the knee the likes of Zaha are few and far between and he’s just arrogant he thinks he’s right with everything.
Can’t understand why some think it’s a joke and as for some being coerced into doing it is rubbish we are all individuals and have our own minds and if they didn’t agree with it they wouldn’t do it.
Cannot see what’s wrong if as a group they decide to keep doing it. If some individuals don’t want to do it don’t it’s not forced on anybody.

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Absolute b o l l o x.

People are not allowed their own minds, many players will have taken the knee due to knowing the flack they might get for not doing so.

You can bet your a r s e that plenty of racist footballers also took the knee as well.

People like John Terry would’ve been the first onto one knee whilst still abusing players like Anton Ferdinand.

All complete humbug and hypocrisy.

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Originally Posted by baggiematt

I bet you won't be consistent in that view point around other political matters though Al.

Wearing a poppy on the players shirt and taking silence on Remembrance Day has nothing to do with football but it quite rightly exists in the game as a sign of remembrance and respect. But in reality, it means absolutely nothing and is just a gesture.

It feels like if it's not about white, straight folk then it's political.

And on the matter of BLM, which footballer or football association has said that they are kneeling for BLM? It's always been an anti-discrimination message.

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Poor comparisons Matt. Wearing a poppy/remembrance day is celebrating the armed forces who fought to save our country and lost their lives and yes this should be close to everybody's heart whatever colour or religion. Best not to say " it means absolutely nothing" to a family who lost a loved one as this would be extremely in bad taste! If a person don't like the country or values then they could always do one!

Taking the knee started due to a dangerous crack head who was a violent thug - sadly he lost his life but many would have no tears for the kind of person he was. Unlike Lee Rigby who helped serve the country and was an innocent victim.

I repeat for the 10th time more should be done on racism and heavier prison sentences imposed but most are sick of taking the knee including non white, and players themselves. Seems more whites are bothered!

Why is there no racism, thuggery, drunks, violence, urine stench, smoke bombs at the girls matches in full stadiums?

Why is there no gesture for gays or non gender? It's these people ( not blacks ) who will be persecuted in places like Qatar!

Even the girls football team are now being questioned on too many white players!

Shocking!

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Originally Posted by baggieal

Poor comparisons Matt. Wearing a poppy/remembrance day is celebrating the armed forces who fought to save our country and lost their lives and yes this should be close to everybody's heart whatever colour or religion. Best not to say " it means absolutely nothing" to a family who lost a loved one as this would be extremely in bad taste! If a person don't like the country or values then they could always do one!

Taking the knee started due to a dangerous crack head who was a violent thug - sadly he lost his life but many would have no tears for the kind of person he was. Unlike Lee Rigby who helped serve the country and was an innocent victim.

I repeat for the 10th time more should be done on racism and heavier prison sentences imposed but most are sick of taking the knee including non white, and players themselves. Seems more whites are bothered!

Why is there no racism, thuggery, drunks, violence, urine stench, smoke bombs at the girls matches in full stadiums?

Why is there no gesture for gays or non gender? It's these people ( not blacks ) who will be persecuted in places like Qatar!

Even the girls football team are now being questioned on too many white players!

Shocking!

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But that's the thing though Al, there is room for huge societal issues to be present in popular sport. Football is for everyone but historically and today black players are being abused appallingly. The only sport in the world where you can miss a penalty in an important match and get 100's of racist messages. Even us, lowly Albion have had players racially abused.

Everything has a catalyst. George Floyd was the start of a movement for social change as it embodied what was happening in the world, as the perception was that he was a black vagrant but it wouldn't have happened to a white vagrant. That could be right it could be wrong but when racism has been so open in the world, how could you not come to that conclusion.

Frankly, I think it's high time footballers came out with a positive message after years of footballers showing poor behaviours around race. Suarez, Terry, Ron Atkinson to name a few.

As I said though, I do agree it's ran it's course...probably a while ago.

What I hate in the world is the Anthony Joshua's, preaching about equality and then fighting in Saudi Arabia. Literally, a place where he has limited rights and is treated like a second class citizen. If you're going to stand up for something you believe in, wear it on your shirt and stand by it. That bloke is coward and too into his money. He's not fit to lace Ali's gloves.

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Originally Posted by baggiematt

But that's the thing though Al, there is room for huge societal issues to be present in popular sport. Football is for everyone but historically and today black players are being abused appallingly. The only sport in the world where you can miss a penalty in an important match and get 100's of racist messages. Even us, lowly Albion have had players racially abused.

Everything has a catalyst. George Floyd was the start of a movement for social change as it embodied what was happening in the world, as the perception was that he was a black vagrant but it wouldn't have happened to a white vagrant. That could be right it could be wrong but when racism has been so open in the world, how could you not come to that conclusion.

Frankly, I think it's high time footballers came out with a positive message after years of footballers showing poor behaviours around race. Suarez, Terry, Ron Atkinson to name a few.

As I said though, I do agree it's ran it's course...probably a while ago.

What I hate in the world is the Anthony Joshua's, preaching about equality and then fighting in Saudi Arabia. Literally, a place where he has limited rights and is treated like a second class citizen. If you're going to stand up for something you believe in, wear it on your shirt and stand by it. That bloke is coward and too into his money. He's not fit to lace Ali's gloves.

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Not disagreeing Matt with anything you say and in your own words too - taking the knee has run its course. Harsher prison sentences and hammering those who cause problems needs to be the starting point. As I have mentioned no trouble or discrimination happens at girls matches so must be uneducated male morons! Sadly, there will always be uneducated male morons!

Some players don't help themselves getting p issed like Grealish rolling in the gutter and Dele Ali racially abusing a Chinese person. Would Dele Ali accept racist abuse? Do the girls roll around in gutters smashing cars acting like the big I am? No!!

Some campaigns or gestures don't help themselves. Take Pride - many don't want views rammed down their throats. I have a lot of sympathy for gays as worked with many for many years in the holiday/airline business and dread to think about Qatar. Still say as a country, we are very tolerant but there will always be injustice sadly with many of the types who go to football games. Throwing a huge smoke bomb on the pitch by the players at Boro for example was outrageous!

We are on the same page! Just don't like the knee as doing more harm than good but would back stronger messages to combat racism/abuse and prison sentences. Southgate p isses me off too by saying those that boo the taking the knee are racist! How stupid when some who boo just feel it does not belong/run it's course or are actually non whites!

That's my point.