Taking the Knee

[baggieal]

For me there are two issues here, racism and Black Lives Matter.

On the first I firmly believe racism is wrong and we need to do what we can to overcome it. However, it is so inbred in people that I don’t expect it to disappear in my lifetime. I worked in Edinburgh for two years and know full well that racism is not confined just to the colour of ones skin. One of my best mates is Indian born and arrived in the UK from Kenya. He tells me even now the racial hate between most Indians and Pakistanis is extreme and again colour is not the issue. How we control and communicate those intolerances or biases are what defines us as individuals and unfortunately some do it a lot worse than others.

As to Black Lives Matter and taking the knee I really don’t like the way this is being used in England. Other multi cultural and multi ethnic footballing countries such as France, Germany, Holland, Belgium all have highly mixed race teams but BLM seems not to dominate the game anywhere near as much at club or national level. In many at best it is given lip service. Some of the predominately white countries such as Spain, Italy, Scotland, Greece also don’t seem to be following what BLM want them to do either.

I am far from convinced taking the knee and BLM is a problem for football. It seems to me BLM and taking the knee seem to be far more a problem for English football rather than football in general. Maybe something that my Asian friend always says, which is you English are the most tolerant and accommodating country he knows anywhere in the world and he has travelled a fair bit!

Good points Yarm. Do most parents who take children to a sporting event really want to see this week in week out - No! Would most people like to see more billboards - more announcements on united against racism - Yes!

Some black players which I have mentioned a couple of times refuse to take the knee! Good for them as they are individuals with their own minds! Do we really believe if a white player stands up and does NOT take the knee nobody will say anything just like those black players! We know that white player will be slaughtered - called a racist - could lose their career etc etc.

So in summary so many are jumping on to the slightest thing said or done by a white person but turns a blind eye to a non white. To ban cricketers for what they have said in their post school years is outrageous for God sake - the world has gone mad! Everybody and I repeat everybody has said something in the past whether it be deemed racist, anti gay or completely s exist!

Does a black player really get upset when a supporter boos - tut tut! How must Sian Massey who runs the line feel when thousands of supporters are singing - get your t its out for the lads! Far worse me thinks and humiliated but she just gets on with it!