Attention: Please take a moment to consider our terms and conditions before posting.

A petition to ban racists from football.

1356716

Comments

  • Siv_in_Norfolk
    Siv_in_Norfolk Posts: 4,057
    Sorry... have just seen a half-explanation:

    Taking the knee is a political gesture that is uncalled for in English football.

    Black life’s matter, White life’s matter, All life’s matter.

    I go to football to watch the game, not for players to preach to me their political beliefs.

    ---------------

    But... I still don't get it. Why boo people standing up to racism?

    I don't really see how it's political. Is it political? Please explain that bit to me so that I can understand where you are coming from here (and stop me just dismissing you as a twat). I'd prefer to understand you than condemn you. 


  • Siv_in_Norfolk
    Siv_in_Norfolk Posts: 4,057
    Wilma said:
    Standing up to racism is not political

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-53098516

    People saying that it is are trying to cover up their own racism. 
    I note this quote from that article:

    But Gareth Southgate said the England team's actions were not in support of the Black Lives Matter organisation. He said: "We have got a situation where some people seem to think it is a political stand that they don't agree with. That is not the reason the players are doing it. We are supporting each other."

    That makes sense to me. 

    Really can't understand why anybody would boo that and am hoping for a reasonable explanation for why its OK to do so
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    Wilma said:
    Standing up to racism is not political

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-53098516

    People saying that it is are trying to cover up their own racism. 
    I note this quote from that article:

    But Gareth Southgate said the England team's actions were not in support of the Black Lives Matter organisation. He said: "We have got a situation where some people seem to think it is a political stand that they don't agree with. That is not the reason the players are doing it. We are supporting each other."

    That makes sense to me. 

    Really can't understand why anybody would boo that and am hoping for a reasonable explanation for why its OK to do so
    There isn’t one that any that boo could articulate 
  • iainment
    iainment Posts: 8,039
    Well, at least he’s brave enough to say what he’s going to do. He’s ill informed as to what he’s booing though and if he or anyone by my seat does that I’ll call them out.
  • I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
  • Is the coverage of the racist tweets in proportion to the problem? Does anybody know how many messages the boys got?

    And yes, one racist tweet is to many.

    Hopefully the lads abused are taking some comfort from the avalanche of support for them.
  • alan dugdale
    alan dugdale Posts: 3,076
    I don’t think it’s been touched on but one thing the players could have done during the Euros, was to have walked off the pitch when the opposition’s national anthem was being booed. 
  • Addickted
    Addickted Posts: 19,456
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Drown you out with applause.
  • stonemuse
    stonemuse Posts: 33,995
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    What a tough guy lol
  • stoneroses19
    stoneroses19 Posts: 7,218
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
  • Sponsored links:



  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,733
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
    He would curl up in a ball. Most racists are cowards and i suspect he's no different. 
  • orpingtonRED
    orpingtonRED Posts: 3,474
    I was listening to a Fulham player on the radio today, I cant remember his name sorry. He is behind the launch of a new social media channel that requires ID verification. OPON 
    I know not all will agree for certain freedom reasons, but I think its the best solution going forward.
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,728
    It isn't even a 10 second gesture. If you don't think it is the right way to make such a gesture against racism, just don't say or do anything for 10 seconds. If you are a racist, boo your players you have gone there to support. 
  • The_Organiser
    The_Organiser Posts: 3,999
    I don’t think it’s been touched on but one thing the players could have done during the Euros, was to have walked off the pitch when the opposition’s national anthem was being booed. 
    You’d hardly start a game. It might not be the nicest thing in the world, but as Gary Neville says, it’s pantomime stuff to try and unsettle teams/make it hostile. 

    Most don’t agree but I don’t personally get it vs Denmark etc, but no problem with it vs Scotland and Germany etc as it always works both way. 
  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
    He would curl up in a ball. Most racists are cowards and i suspect he's no different. 
    Bedsaddick you are a complete prick.

    If one of the players came over to me, I would tell him not to preach politics to me and concentrate on playing football.

    And as for curling up in a ball I can assure you that would be the last thing I would ever do.
    No doubt you’d be proud of your obnoxious behaviour. 
  • stoneroses19
    stoneroses19 Posts: 7,218
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
    He would curl up in a ball. Most racists are cowards and i suspect he's no different. 
    Bedsaddick you are a complete prick.

    If one of the players came over to me, I would tell him not to preach politics to me and concentrate on playing football.

    And as for curling up in a ball I can assure you that would be the last thing I would ever do.
    Goodness, what a nasty part of our community you are. 
  • Vincenzo
    Vincenzo Posts: 2,911
    You say you go to watch a football match, not hear about politics. What is stopping you? The football match will be played. You will watch it. Are you going to boo the Crossbar Challenge too? The Valley Gold draw? After all, you go to watch a football match and nothing else right? 
  • 4Real
    4Real Posts: 127
    Vincenzo said:
    You say you go to watch a football match, not hear about politics. What is stopping you? The football match will be played. You will watch it. Are you going to boo the Crossbar Challenge too? The Valley Gold draw? After all, you go to watch a football match and nothing else right? 
    Not sure that the Crossbar Challenge or having a Bovril at half time are Political statements.

  • bigstemarra
    bigstemarra Posts: 5,098
    As soon as I saw, what appears on the surface to be a laudable request, I knew that it would simply be another bait and switch tactic by the usual suspects.

    No right minded person would have a problem with racists being ejected from football grounds and banned or being prosecuted for their cowardly abuse on social media.  To a large extent, this already happens.  But that will not be enough - nothing will ever be enough when there is a grievance industry to be sustained and further division to foment (see how Stonewall achieved a tremendous amount for LGBT, but has now lost the plot).  So, once you have people on board, then you can safely move the goalposts.  A time honoured tactic used by left and right.

    'Support action against racists' becomes 'support action against those who will not abase themselves before BLM'; utterly predictable and utterly dishonest.  That is clearly the intention here, and may have fallen for it.

    Kick it out is an anti-racist movement in the spirit of MLK.

    However, BLM is a divisive, racist, violent organisation that represents division; the opposite to the legacy of MLK.

    Trying to conflate the two is disingenuous to say the least.  Just some examples:

    BLM UK want to abolish prisons:



    Dismantle capitalism and the patriarchy (whatever that is supposed to mean):

    'We’re guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy'

    https://uk.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund

    Abolish borders:



    Defund the police:

    https://blacklivesmatter.com/defundthepolice/

    Consider suffragettes as white supermacists:



    Considers the appointment of a Pakistani heritage women to a race relations panel as 'racist':



    So, BLM, as well no doubt consisting of a lot of well-intentioned people, unfortunately has more than a sprinkling of extremist nutjobs.  I don't like extremist nutjobs, so as far as I am concerned, they can get f**ked and take their divisive, racist nonsense with them.  Kick It Out? No problem with them as they don't appear to be steered by such divisive lunacy.

    Now, some footballers, unwisely IMHO, decided to reject the inclusive movement that was Kick It Out, and instead, because it was trendy and a bit edgy, they decided to adopt a cause from overseas.  As such, they have taken on all the baggage, both good and bad if they like it or not.  That's how it works - tough shit.

    Estimates of between 19-25 deaths (depending on who is deciding) are directly attributable to this 'benign' organisation, including the death of an 8 year old girl killed at a roadblock set up by BLM thugs to 'protect their community' because her mother was scared and did not stop her car.  Of course, very few of you will have heard of this because most of the mainstream media in this country has decided that anything that doesn't fit the narrative must be censored.  This was not mentioned at all by the BBC, despite being headline news in the US for several days; contrast this with blanket news coverage of everything BLM by the BBC up until this point, including every z list celebrity's views on it on social media:

    https://news.sky.com/story/secoriea-turner-eight-year-old-girl-among-several-children-shot-dead-over-independence-day-weekend-12022188

    Even the massively woke NYT reported it and the predictable bloodbath that ensued when the police allowed communities to 'police themselves' in what has been a murderous disaster wherever it has occurred.

    https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/23/us/seattle-police-autonomous-zone/index.html

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/us/atlanta-mayor-8-year-old-killed.html

    That is just one example of the 'achievements' of BLM, or 'Burn, Loot, Murder' as it has become known to many.  
    So, it isn't as simple as black and white:

    'Meanwhile, despite BLM’s anti-police narrative, poll after poll shows most black Americans don’t support the movement’s radical ideas. Last summer, a much-publicized Gallup poll found that 81 percent of black Americans favored the same or higher levels of police presence in their neighborhoods. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, a poll in Minneapolis showed that reducing the city’s police force was more unpopular among black residents than their white counterparts.'

    Very interesting, the last sentence, and so typical of the age of the (usually white) woke warrior, who always knows better than those actually affected by the issues on which they sanctimoniously pontificate:

    https://nypost.com/2021/02/06/these-black-lives-didnt-seem-to-matter-in-2020/

    So, what has it actually, materially, achieved for black people to make their lives better and to protect them from violence? absolutely sod all, it's made things worse (apart from some of those in the movement who are considerably enriched, despite wanting to 'abolish capitalism':

    https://nypost.com/2021/04/10/inside-blm-co-founder-patrisse-khan-cullors-real-estate-buying-binge/

    Has it improved race relations?  Take a wild guess:

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/27/black-lives-matter-has-increased-racial-tension-55-say-in-uk-poll

    So, instead of virtue signalling on social media, maybe high profile footballers on social media could actually DO something about it instead, e.g boycott social media until they properly police hate speech online and stop making it easier for cowardly racists to anonymously abuse others online.  If they and all of those in football did this (and not just for one sodding day) then something might actually happen.  However, it does inconvenience some people, so it is unlikely to happen when empty virtue signalling is the other option and requires no actual action.  Twitter could solve this problem easily if they wanted to; they just need persuading in the only way that works for corporations - hit their profit margin.  But do people actually care enough to boycott Twitter for a bit?  I suspect not, but we shall see.

    Bin the toxic BLM knee bending sanctimony and re-adopt Kick It Out, a genuine anti-racist organisation with none of the negative connotations, condoning of violence and murder and loopy sixth form politics to taint it.  I am not denying that some will boo taking the knee for racist reasons, but others will have genuine reasons to do so; not least because North Korean type compulsory public displays of loyalty are distinctly suspect to many, and this is why I would also support the rights of individuals to resist compulsion to partake in anything from singing the national anthem to wearing the poppy.  It is our right in a free country to have our own opinions and not be prosecuted for them, which is what this petition, ultimately seeks to do.  We go down that road at our peril.
  • Sponsored links:



  • ShootersHillGuru
    ShootersHillGuru Posts: 50,619
    Vincenzo said:
    You say you go to watch a football match, not hear about politics. What is stopping you? The football match will be played. You will watch it. Are you going to boo the Crossbar Challenge too? The Valley Gold draw? After all, you go to watch a football match and nothing else right? 
    It’s got fuck all to do with politics.
  • Addickted
    Addickted Posts: 19,456
    4Real said:
    Vincenzo said:
    You say you go to watch a football match, not hear about politics. What is stopping you? The football match will be played. You will watch it. Are you going to boo the Crossbar Challenge too? The Valley Gold draw? After all, you go to watch a football match and nothing else right? 
    Not sure that the Crossbar Challenge or having a Bovril at half time are Political statements.

    They're not.

    But if you type them into Porn Hub, you'd be amazed.
  • The_Organiser
    The_Organiser Posts: 3,999
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
    I imagine he would say it’s because it’s undeniably entwined (even if Southgate says it isn’t) with an organisation and underlying movement that he utterly opposes.

    Ive heard many arguments from many people along the same vein and I find myself agreeing at times with both sides of the argument.

    At the Scotland game I saw a group turn their back on the knee taking whilst holding an anti-racism banner. I know a very prominent, articulate, well educated Eng fan who’s the most anti taking the knee person I’ve ever heard and as anti racism as they come.

    Excuse the pun, but it’s not a black and white issue and you can’t in my view accuse someone of being racist for their view on Taking the knee or BLM alone. He might be racist but his stance on that issue does not prove it either way in my opinion.
  • MuttleyCAFC
    MuttleyCAFC Posts: 47,728
    edited July 2021
    What is the politics of racial equality? Conservatives believe in it as well as Socialists. It seems to me that far right extremists are the ones that don't believe in it -members of parties like the EDF and National Front. It has been explained what the gesture means to those making it and the history around it starting so it shouldn't be for people to decide it isn't about what the people doing it have said it is about but some extreme group I suspect nobody on here is a member of and certainly no players are members of. 
  • I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
    I imagine he would say it’s because it’s undeniably entwined (even if Southgate says it isn’t) with an organisation and underlying movement that he utterly opposes.

    Ive heard many arguments from many people along the same vein and I find myself agreeing at times with both sides of the argument.

    At the Scotland game I saw a group turn their back on the knee taking whilst holding an anti-racism banner. I know a very prominent, articulate, well educated Eng fan who’s the most anti taking the knee person I’ve ever heard and as anti racism as they come.

    Excuse the pun, but it’s not a black and white issue and you can’t in my view accuse someone of being racist for their view on Taking the knee or BLM alone. He might be racist but his stance on that issue does not prove it either way in my opinion.
    Thank you very much.

    The first sensible reply to my original post.
  • Chizz
    Chizz Posts: 28,331
    I am a bit surprised at the grief that @Billericaydickie is getting.  This is a poster giving his honestly-held view on a demonstration taking place in front of him and sharing what his reaction would be.  It's someone being totally honest and expressing a view with which others are taking exception.  Someone who should be supported, encouraged and learned from.  

    There are only two reasons someone would boo an innocent, peaceful, anti-racist sentiment.  The first is that they are against anti-racism. They are, de facto, a racist.  Someone with a fundamental and abhorrent fear of foreigners.  I hope if that's the case, the poster is brave enough to give his or her details to the club so that he can be banned.  

    The second reason would be stupidity.  Unable to understand or appreciate what they are doing and why they are doing it.  Simple, unexpurgated, inexplicable stupidity.  Someone simply thick.  If this is the case, then the poster should have our sympathy.  Because life must be a very, very difficult struggle indeed when one's IQ is substantially lower than their height in metres.  

    I am guessing it's the first reason.  Because someone thick enough to qualify for the second reason would, I imagine, find remembering their password to CL very troublesome. 

    If so - that is, if you are simply an unashamed racist - can you please give your details to the club, so that they can do the right thing and stop you turning up and the club can continue to grow, with better people than you turning up?  Thanks. 
  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,733
    I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
    He would curl up in a ball. Most racists are cowards and i suspect he's no different. 
    Bedsaddick you are a complete prick.

    If one of the players came over to me, I would tell him not to preach politics to me and concentrate on playing football.

    And as for curling up in a ball I can assure you that would be the last thing I would ever do.
    I see you are not denying you are racist . 
  • kentaddick
    kentaddick Posts: 18,729
    As soon as I saw, what appears on the surface to be a laudable request, I knew that it would simply be another bait and switch tactic by the usual suspects.

    No right minded person would have a problem with racists being ejected from football grounds and banned or being prosecuted for their cowardly abuse on social media.  To a large extent, this already happens.  But that will not be enough - nothing will ever be enough when there is a grievance industry to be sustained and further division to foment (see how Stonewall achieved a tremendous amount for LGBT, but has now lost the plot).  So, once you have people on board, then you can safely move the goalposts.  A time honoured tactic used by left and right.

    'Support action against racists' becomes 'support action against those who will not abase themselves before BLM'; utterly predictable and utterly dishonest.  That is clearly the intention here, and may have fallen for it.

    Kick it out is an anti-racist movement in the spirit of MLK.

    However, BLM is a divisive, racist, violent organisation that represents division; the opposite to the legacy of MLK.

    Trying to conflate the two is disingenuous to say the least.  Just some examples:

    BLM UK want to abolish prisons:



    Dismantle capitalism and the patriarchy (whatever that is supposed to mean):

    'We’re guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy'

    https://uk.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund

    Abolish borders:



    Defund the police:

    https://blacklivesmatter.com/defundthepolice/

    Consider suffragettes as white supermacists:



    Considers the appointment of a Pakistani heritage women to a race relations panel as 'racist':



    So, BLM, as well no doubt consisting of a lot of well-intentioned people, unfortunately has more than a sprinkling of extremist nutjobs.  I don't like extremist nutjobs, so as far as I am concerned, they can get f**ked and take their divisive, racist nonsense with them.  Kick It Out? No problem with them as they don't appear to be steered by such divisive lunacy.

    Now, some footballers, unwisely IMHO, decided to reject the inclusive movement that was Kick It Out, and instead, because it was trendy and a bit edgy, they decided to adopt a cause from overseas.  As such, they have taken on all the baggage, both good and bad if they like it or not.  That's how it works - tough shit.

    Estimates of between 19-25 deaths (depending on who is deciding) are directly attributable to this 'benign' organisation, including the death of an 8 year old girl killed at a roadblock set up by BLM thugs to 'protect their community' because her mother was scared and did not stop her car.  Of course, very few of you will have heard of this because most of the mainstream media in this country has decided that anything that doesn't fit the narrative must be censored.  This was not mentioned at all by the BBC, despite being headline news in the US for several days; contrast this with blanket news coverage of everything BLM by the BBC up until this point, including every z list celebrity's views on it on social media:

    https://news.sky.com/story/secoriea-turner-eight-year-old-girl-among-several-children-shot-dead-over-independence-day-weekend-12022188

    Even the massively woke NYT reported it and the predictable bloodbath that ensued when the police allowed communities to 'police themselves' in what has been a murderous disaster wherever it has occurred.

    https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/23/us/seattle-police-autonomous-zone/index.html

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/us/atlanta-mayor-8-year-old-killed.html

    That is just one example of the 'achievements' of BLM, or 'Burn, Loot, Murder' as it has become known to many.  
    So, it isn't as simple as black and white:

    'Meanwhile, despite BLM’s anti-police narrative, poll after poll shows most black Americans don’t support the movement’s radical ideas. Last summer, a much-publicized Gallup poll found that 81 percent of black Americans favored the same or higher levels of police presence in their neighborhoods. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, a poll in Minneapolis showed that reducing the city’s police force was more unpopular among black residents than their white counterparts.'

    Very interesting, the last sentence, and so typical of the age of the (usually white) woke warrior, who always knows better than those actually affected by the issues on which they sanctimoniously pontificate:

    https://nypost.com/2021/02/06/these-black-lives-didnt-seem-to-matter-in-2020/

    So, what has it actually, materially, achieved for black people to make their lives better and to protect them from violence? absolutely sod all, it's made things worse (apart from some of those in the movement who are considerably enriched, despite wanting to 'abolish capitalism':

    https://nypost.com/2021/04/10/inside-blm-co-founder-patrisse-khan-cullors-real-estate-buying-binge/

    Has it improved race relations?  Take a wild guess:

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/27/black-lives-matter-has-increased-racial-tension-55-say-in-uk-poll

    So, instead of virtue signalling on social media, maybe high profile footballers on social media could actually DO something about it instead, e.g boycott social media until they properly police hate speech online and stop making it easier for cowardly racists to anonymously abuse others online.  If they and all of those in football did this (and not just for one sodding day) then something might actually happen.  However, it does inconvenience some people, so it is unlikely to happen when empty virtue signalling is the other option and requires no actual action.  Twitter could solve this problem easily if they wanted to; they just need persuading in the only way that works for corporations - hit their profit margin.  But do people actually care enough to boycott Twitter for a bit?  I suspect not, but we shall see.

    Bin the toxic BLM knee bending sanctimony and re-adopt Kick It Out, a genuine anti-racist organisation with none of the negative connotations, condoning of violence and murder and loopy sixth form politics to taint it.  I am not denying that some will boo taking the knee for racist reasons, but others will have genuine reasons to do so; not least because North Korean type compulsory public displays of loyalty are distinctly suspect to many, and this is why I would also support the rights of individuals to resist compulsion to partake in anything from singing the national anthem to wearing the poppy.  It is our right in a free country to have our own opinions and not be prosecuted for them, which is what this petition, ultimately seeks to do.  We go down that road at our peril.
    are we really using one twitter handle to represent an entire decentralised movement? 
  • CAFCsayer
    CAFCsayer Posts: 10,223
    As soon as I saw, what appears on the surface to be a laudable request, I knew that it would simply be another bait and switch tactic by the usual suspects.

    No right minded person would have a problem with racists being ejected from football grounds and banned or being prosecuted for their cowardly abuse on social media.  To a large extent, this already happens.  But that will not be enough - nothing will ever be enough when there is a grievance industry to be sustained and further division to foment (see how Stonewall achieved a tremendous amount for LGBT, but has now lost the plot).  So, once you have people on board, then you can safely move the goalposts.  A time honoured tactic used by left and right.

    'Support action against racists' becomes 'support action against those who will not abase themselves before BLM'; utterly predictable and utterly dishonest.  That is clearly the intention here, and may have fallen for it.

    Kick it out is an anti-racist movement in the spirit of MLK.

    However, BLM is a divisive, racist, violent organisation that represents division; the opposite to the legacy of MLK.

    Trying to conflate the two is disingenuous to say the least.  Just some examples:

    BLM UK want to abolish prisons:



    Dismantle capitalism and the patriarchy (whatever that is supposed to mean):

    'We’re guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy'

    https://uk.gofundme.com/f/ukblm-fund

    Abolish borders:



    Defund the police:

    https://blacklivesmatter.com/defundthepolice/

    Consider suffragettes as white supermacists:



    Considers the appointment of a Pakistani heritage women to a race relations panel as 'racist':



    So, BLM, as well no doubt consisting of a lot of well-intentioned people, unfortunately has more than a sprinkling of extremist nutjobs.  I don't like extremist nutjobs, so as far as I am concerned, they can get f**ked and take their divisive, racist nonsense with them.  Kick It Out? No problem with them as they don't appear to be steered by such divisive lunacy.

    Now, some footballers, unwisely IMHO, decided to reject the inclusive movement that was Kick It Out, and instead, because it was trendy and a bit edgy, they decided to adopt a cause from overseas.  As such, they have taken on all the baggage, both good and bad if they like it or not.  That's how it works - tough shit.

    Estimates of between 19-25 deaths (depending on who is deciding) are directly attributable to this 'benign' organisation, including the death of an 8 year old girl killed at a roadblock set up by BLM thugs to 'protect their community' because her mother was scared and did not stop her car.  Of course, very few of you will have heard of this because most of the mainstream media in this country has decided that anything that doesn't fit the narrative must be censored.  This was not mentioned at all by the BBC, despite being headline news in the US for several days; contrast this with blanket news coverage of everything BLM by the BBC up until this point, including every z list celebrity's views on it on social media:

    https://news.sky.com/story/secoriea-turner-eight-year-old-girl-among-several-children-shot-dead-over-independence-day-weekend-12022188

    Even the massively woke NYT reported it and the predictable bloodbath that ensued when the police allowed communities to 'police themselves' in what has been a murderous disaster wherever it has occurred.

    https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/23/us/seattle-police-autonomous-zone/index.html

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/us/atlanta-mayor-8-year-old-killed.html

    That is just one example of the 'achievements' of BLM, or 'Burn, Loot, Murder' as it has become known to many.  
    So, it isn't as simple as black and white:

    'Meanwhile, despite BLM’s anti-police narrative, poll after poll shows most black Americans don’t support the movement’s radical ideas. Last summer, a much-publicized Gallup poll found that 81 percent of black Americans favored the same or higher levels of police presence in their neighborhoods. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, a poll in Minneapolis showed that reducing the city’s police force was more unpopular among black residents than their white counterparts.'

    Very interesting, the last sentence, and so typical of the age of the (usually white) woke warrior, who always knows better than those actually affected by the issues on which they sanctimoniously pontificate:

    https://nypost.com/2021/02/06/these-black-lives-didnt-seem-to-matter-in-2020/

    So, what has it actually, materially, achieved for black people to make their lives better and to protect them from violence? absolutely sod all, it's made things worse (apart from some of those in the movement who are considerably enriched, despite wanting to 'abolish capitalism':

    https://nypost.com/2021/04/10/inside-blm-co-founder-patrisse-khan-cullors-real-estate-buying-binge/

    Has it improved race relations?  Take a wild guess:

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/27/black-lives-matter-has-increased-racial-tension-55-say-in-uk-poll

    So, instead of virtue signalling on social media, maybe high profile footballers on social media could actually DO something about it instead, e.g boycott social media until they properly police hate speech online and stop making it easier for cowardly racists to anonymously abuse others online.  If they and all of those in football did this (and not just for one sodding day) then something might actually happen.  However, it does inconvenience some people, so it is unlikely to happen when empty virtue signalling is the other option and requires no actual action.  Twitter could solve this problem easily if they wanted to; they just need persuading in the only way that works for corporations - hit their profit margin.  But do people actually care enough to boycott Twitter for a bit?  I suspect not, but we shall see.

    Bin the toxic BLM knee bending sanctimony and re-adopt Kick It Out, a genuine anti-racist organisation with none of the negative connotations, condoning of violence and murder and loopy sixth form politics to taint it.  I am not denying that some will boo taking the knee for racist reasons, but others will have genuine reasons to do so; not least because North Korean type compulsory public displays of loyalty are distinctly suspect to many, and this is why I would also support the rights of individuals to resist compulsion to partake in anything from singing the national anthem to wearing the poppy.  It is our right in a free country to have our own opinions and not be prosecuted for them, which is what this petition, ultimately seeks to do.  We go down that road at our peril.
    BLM as a political organisation are anarchist scum, with a tendency to be pretty racist too. Taking the knee in football matches is nothing to do with them and I would wager 99.9% of those doing it don't align with the political organisation. Could I agree that it is overdone now? Potentially, as it has done a great deal of good raising awareness, but you could question what it is achieving months on. Would I ever boo it, no chance... I totally agree with the message, anyone booing is thick as pig shit and a racist
  • I intend to boo if I see any players taking the knee at the Valley next season.

    I believe that I am simply expressing my rights under the freedom of speech laws. But I am sure some other fans will call me a racist.

    Therefore I will delay signing this petition until I see what the reaction is to my booing.

    I hope for your sake you are sitting nowhere near me . Idiot 
    Oh I am really afraid.
    Please explain.
    What do you intend to do when I start booing?
    Why are you so proud of wanting to boo these players? It’s pathetic.

    What would you say to one of our players if they came over to you after the booing and asked why you did it? 
    He would curl up in a ball. Most racists are cowards and i suspect he's no different. 
    Bedsaddick you are a complete prick.

    If one of the players came over to me, I would tell him not to preach politics to me and concentrate on playing football.

    And as for curling up in a ball I can assure you that would be the last thing I would ever do.
    I see you are not denying you are racist . 
    You don’t have to be racist to disagree with taking the knee.
This discussion has been closed.