Taking the Knee

[phild]

BLM are divisive they promote a false toxic narrative claiming all white people are responsible for everything negative that has ever happened and ever will happen to black people, they are anti white, anti jew - they do sound a bit racist to me.

[mickd1961]

BLM are divisive they promote a false toxic narrative claiming all white people are responsible for everything negative that has ever happened and ever will happen to black people, they are anti white, anti jew - they do sound a bit racist to me.

In a nutshell Phil.

More concise than my effort!

[OWV]

BLM are divisive they promote a false toxic narrative claiming all white people are responsible for everything negative that has ever happened and ever will happen to black people, they are anti white, anti jew - they do sound a bit racist to me.

Do they though? There might be some who push that absurd agenda, but to suggest the entire collective is like that is simply untrue. You're essentially using the same logic you accuse them of, you can't use sweeping statements as statements of facts.

[mickd1961]

Do they though? There might be some who push that absurd agenda, but to suggest the entire collective is like that is simply untrue. You're essentially using the same logic you accuse them of, you can't use sweeping statements as statements of facts.

Be honest OWV.......you’ve no interest here other than all the political stuff.

What’s your agenda?

[kettering_baggie]

Out of interest, what is the specific issue some of you have with taking the knee? I mean specifics, not the glib "keep politics out of football" clichés. What is it that actually causes offence? I'm not fishing, I'm actually interested.

To answer your question, see post by Woodlanswolf, #14, sums up BLM. If footballers say their gesture is not connected to BLM politically then they should stick to the ‘Kick it out’ campaign.

[OWV]

Be honest OWV.......you’ve no interest here other than all the political stuff.

What’s your agenda?

Not at all, these two posts piqued my interest as they're close to my heart. Anyway, what would it matter if I was? If we were politically aligned would you have made that comment?

[mickd1961]

Not at all, these two posts piqued my interest as they're close to my heart. Anyway, what would it matter if I was? If we were politically aligned would you have made that comment?

I find it interesting that you set up a username 8 years ago at a time when this forum was almost ruined by a political zealot, a person banned more times than Willie Johnston (he played for West Brom in the 1970’s by the way)

This person kept returning under various usernames, it was always politics, absolutely no interest in football or our club.

So you set something up in a football forum in 2013 and the first time you post is 2021 and immediately and exclusively it’s deeply political.

Maybe I’m just an old cynic but I smell a rodent called Roland.

How’s Spit the dog by the way?

[OWV]

I find it interesting that you set up a username 8 years ago at a time when this forum was almost ruined by a political zealot, a person banned more times than Willie Johnston (he played for West Brom in the 1970’s by the way)

This person kept returning under various usernames, it was always politics, absolutely no interest in football or our club.

So you set something up in a football forum in 2013 and the first time you post is 2021 and immediately and exclusively it’s deeply political.

Maybe I’m just an old cynic but I smell a rodent called Roland.

How’s Spit the dog by the way?

Oh I see you think I'm someone else. Well I can't change that so I'll leave you to that one. In terms of football, I've been a STH for years, born and bred in West Bromwich so my love for the Albion runs deep.

If we agreed on this BLM issue though, I very much doubt you'd have shifted the emphasis onto the fact that I've suddenly shown up and started to make some political posts. It's only because we disagree that you've taken exception. Does everyone on this board have to align in order to be welcomed?

In the years since I signed up to this board, I've occasionally come and read the posts and the one the other day piqued my interest, shortly followed by this one. I suppose the first one set me off and I thought I'd stick around to challenge opinions that were based in anything other than ignorance. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but clearly others do, which says more about them I'd say.

Im not some Scargill firebrand. If you read the last topic you'll find I agreed with some of KetteringBaggies points but obviously disagreed with BaggieAl's clear lack of understanding.

Moving onto this point, I've highlighted my own experiences with BLM, nobody else has (yet), and I've explained that I have never seen, heard or been exposed to any form of racism from BLM. So if I've had more personal experience with this movement than others commenting on here, I think I can help evidence that people perceptions of BLM being racist and anti-white are wrong.

[billsbest]

I am reading a lot about BLM. I don't connect seeing players taking the knee to BLM as an organisation/movement. I just see it as a reminder of the need for equality in a society where there has been a great deal of racial inequality. It is a very short gesture of just a few seconds. Is it effective? Probably not going to change people's minds but it could prompt useful discussion with our younger kids. I don't understand why people feel the need to boo as it can easily be perceived as racist even if the intention is quite different. However, it is their choice and as with any issue in life, there will be different opinions. It's great we live in a country where we can debate these issues and hopefully we can do so without insulting each other!

[WBA123]

Out of interest, what is the specific issue some of you have with taking the knee? I mean specifics, not the glib "keep politics out of football" clichés. What is it that actually causes offence? I'm not fishing, I'm actually interested.

I have no issue with players taking the knee, I respect their right to protest.

I just don't understand why they persevere with it, because its obviously not bringing people together to fight against inequality. And its divisive.

At the moment people see taking the knee as solidarity with BLM as a political movement. If people want to disagree with a political movement, they have every right to do that.

I don't know what it is, but they should do some other symbol or gesture which has a greater effect. This would also root out the racists.

So I guess, my point is that the taking the knee message is getting lost, because of its association with BLM. What do you think the solution is?