International News Black Lives Matter

[chuckbert]

I find it flabbergasting how this triggers people.

And all the people who say that what they’re really protesting about is that the BLM is a Marxist blah blah political blah blah are as off the mark as people who criticise folk wearing poppies for being colonialist, war monger apologists. Most people taking the knee are doing so because they acknowledge the systemic prejudice against black people throughout history and to this current day. Most people who wear a poppy are acknowledging the sacrifices made by ordinary people in the bloodbaths of wars caused by others.

Once you start complaining about people making these simple symbolic statements you are taking a very clear political stance, and revealing more about yourself than about them.

 

[Essexyellows]

I always thought football had a thing against political statements?
The BLM movement has pushed positive things like Kick it Out aside to further their own divisive agenda.
BLM seems to be saying if you don`t agree with us you are a racist and part of the problem and that is divisive.
Kick it Out and other more unifying campaigns are far better at changing behaviour and get far better traction and support.

 

[Scotchegg]

Indeed it was a stupid comment. I oppose the BLM political movement and if Dion thinks I'm racist. Then I don't really give a crap. They want to refund the police. They attacked the police in London tries to burn the cenotaph flag and committed acts of vandalism throughout the country. You could equally argue that those who support BLM are vandals and criminals.

I'm all for equality and football has a very high percentage of black players despite making up 2% of the population. Equality in football would be reducing the number of black players to increase the number of Chinese Indian other underrepresented groups. I'm not sure that is what I they want.

I honestly despair at the ignorance. This isn't about equality in football, it's about equality in all aspects of life. Football is simply a forum that brings this message out to the wider public. Is that too difficult to understand?? Did you think that Band Aid was set up because musicians were starving to death???

Any mass gathering, any political movement, any protest, will have idiots involved. You have football fans who get drunk, commit anti social crimes and fight with the police. They don't represent the hundreds of thousands who peacefully attend football games. But when you say "they" you are judging a huge number of people by the actions of a few.

I don't know you to know if you are racist or not, but you are clearly ignorant and that makes you part of the problem.

As for the other point, clubs agree whether they will engage in the taking of the knee before each game. It's not compulsory, and individual clubs and players will make their own decisions. However, once they decide to do so, fans should repect it. It's only about 5 seconds! You don't need to agree, but booing just makes you look like a t**t, and defending their action does exactly he same.

 

[chuckbert]

I always thought football had a thing against political statements?
The BLM movement has pushed positive things like Kick Out aside to further their own divisive agenda.
BLM seems to be saying if you don`t agree with us you are a racist and part of the problem and that is divisive.
Kick it Out and other more unifying campaigns are far better at changing behaviour and get far better traction and support.

How has BLM pushed kick out racism aside? Why can’t “taking a knee” exist comfortably alongside kick out? It’s like saying that Poppy Day weakens the UN.

 

[bashamwonderland]

I thnk most of

I think most people with any sense think differently to you... Out of order comment.

Well fortunately I'm not interested in thinking the same way as "most people" when it comes to BLM - so I'm not sure what the point of your comment was.

If you think my comment was out of order then report me to the mods. I believe everything I say on here is in accordance with the forum rules.

 

[Essexyellows]

How has BLM pushed kick out racism aside? Why can’t “taking a knee” exist comfortably alongside kick out? It’s like saying that Poppy Day weakens the UN.

Methodology, Kick it Out is a clear statement that racism will not be tolerated now and in the future.
BLM is far more divisive you are either "in" or a racist it seems.
So if you accept the fact that in the past lots of people profited from slavery you are "part of the problem".
No it`s happened, it is in the past and can`t be changed.
We (society) must ensure it doesn`t happen again.
The fact that there is a building, statue or what ever isn`t to rub peoples noses in it it is a reminder of what was.
Why not tear down Boudicca`s statue? Slaughtered loads of Romans.
Why not Winston Churchill? Sorted out a few Germans.
Why not Oliver Cormwell? Topped a few Royalists.

History is what makes us who we are today.......... better than what went before.

 

[UTM]

I had not seen it to this was pointed out , and it’s not just a few but the sound of it a big percentage of the crowd . I am shocked And was very uncomfortable to hear to be honest.

 

[unification]

The picture doing the rounds today has a Derby player giving the black power salute. Even Oxford players ( Rob Hall ) have done that in the past. How’s that not been commented on? Is that right?

Also, Middlesbrough have stopped taking the knee for weeks now, why’s that not made headlines?

QPR did it ages ago too. And it did make headlines. And discouraging it and comments regarding it came from Les Ferdinand, a prominent black former player in a DoF role.

(FWIW, Ferdinand’s comments echo mine. The gesture does nothing whatsoever. Only actions will. A pair of hands working does more than a thousand clasped in prayer.)

Taking the knee 'will not bring change'

QPR director of football Les Ferdinand says the impact of taking a knee in support of Black Lives Matter "has been diluted".

www.bbc.co.uk

I don’t know what your questions are trying to prove when these things have been in the headlines if you care to look.

 

[ZeroTheHero]

The reaction of those racist numbskulls at Millwall shows *exactly* why 'taking the knee' is still needed.

 

[UTM]

The reaction of those racist numbskulls at Millwall shows *exactly* why 'taking the knee' is still needed.

It felt like a step back to a very nasty time .

 

[Paul Cannell]

No it`s happened, it is in the past and can`t be changed.
We (society) must ensure it doesn`t happen again.
...

History is what makes us who we are today.......... better than what went before.

The past is continually being changed, when I was at school history was very much slanted at rulers, wars and themes, a social and non-ruler view was in it's infancy at school level; it has changed. And that has made more people aware of bad things (slavery, indentured labour, people-trafficking....) and how the political and social structures of society supported (and continue to support) prejudice against people who are darker-skinned than me.

If we are better than we were as a species, BLM is a movement that points out how structures and behavior confirm prejudice and will help us become better. As an aside, I'm quite surprised that anyone, even on this forum, seriously believes that Black Lives Matter is only for people of African descent, I suppose it's a way of throwing mud. It would be more positive to point out how indentured labour works in the Middle East through agents and sponsors, talk about oppression of Uighurs in China or discuss how people are trafficked into the UK to work in sex, agriculture and domestic jobs.

 

[chuckbert]

Methodology, Kick it Out is a clear statement that racism will not be tolerated now and in the future.
BLM is far more divisive you are either "in" or a racist it seems.
So if you accept the fact that in the past lots of people profited from slavery you are "part of the problem".
No it`s happened, it is in the past and can`t be changed.
We (society) must ensure it doesn`t happen again.
The fact that there is a building, statue or what ever isn`t to rub peoples noses in it it is a reminder of what was.
Why not tear down Boudicca`s statue? Slaughtered loads of Romans.
Why not Winston Churchill? Sorted out a few Germans.
Why not Oliver Cormwell? Topped a few Royalists.

History is what makes us who we are today.......... better than what went before.

And none of that is about people taking a knee at a football game. You’ve just piled on all the other baggage. There is zero reason why kick out shouldn’t be amplified by players taking a knee, not pushed aside. None, other than people who have some political antagonism bundling all that baggage together.

 

[Scotchegg]

As for the "black power salute", a raised fist is a universal sign of solidarity and support for a cause and has been used by socialists, feminists, and a multitude of nations, religions, cultures and ethnic backgrounds.

To see that when displayed by someone who happens to be black that it represents something more sinister shows the bias of those highlighting it.

This is an internet forum, the same internet where it takes seconds to find this information. There is no excuse for the levels of ignorance shown by some, but sadly nothing said by the sensible majority will get through their thick heads!

 

[SteMerritt]

Taking the knee isn't a BLM thing, which is what people like to forget. You can support players taking the knee against discrimination without supporting the BLM official movement.

 

[Shropshire U]

Well fortunately I'm not interested in thinking the same way as "most people" when it comes to BLM - so I'm not sure what the point of your comment was.

If you think my comment was out of order then report me to the mods. I believe everything I say on here is in accordance with the forum rules.

Then maybe the forum rules need changing to get rid of haters like you.

 

[Marked Ox]

Taking the knee isn't a BLM thing, which is what people like to forget. You can support players taking the knee against discrimination without supporting the BLM official movement.

Yes. it has also started to be turned into a left Vs right issue by certain media when it isn't that.

 

[Marked Ox]

Then maybe the forum rules need changing to get rid of haters like you.

While I disagree with his viewpoint on this, he has a right to make it and hasn't broken any rules from what I've read.

 

[bashamwonderland]

Then maybe the forum rules need changing to get rid of haters like you.

If you're interested in only listening to opinions with which you agree, then I suggest Twitter is maybe a better forum for you. You can block opinions which hurt your feelings and arguments which upset you.

I think you can also choose to ignore me on here and you won't see my posts.

Your fragility shouldn't impact on the ability of others to have a reasoned discussion about current affairs.

 

[Kamal]

Taking the knee isn't a BLM thing, which is what people like to forget. You can support players taking the knee against discrimination without supporting the BLM official movement.

And to add to this - do people not listen to the commentators on the TV when players take the knee? Nearly all the time they explicitly say something along the lines of "the players take the knee to show that discrimination has no place in society, and to pass on the message that Black Lives Matter".

It has nothing to do with the official party or any of the Marxist crap people are spouting.

 

[SteMerritt]

While I disagree with his viewpoint on this, he has a right to make it and hasn't broken any rules from what I've read.

This is my view also. I may disagree with a lot of the views held by bashamwonderland, but the posts are put up in a generally non-aggressive manner.

Speaking in a personal capacity, not as a Mod, it is important to have a wide range of views to challenge your own beliefs and to allow you to challenge those of others. There have been some really complex issues over the last few years which has massively divided opinion, but as a whole the forum has remained a place where you can discuss and argue without it turning aggressive and personal.

I guess that is down to the fact we all have one very important thing in common, OUFC.