I agree. I think the (albeit understandable) problem is that this means losing an awful lot of stuff we value and, even though we are going to lose it anyway one way or another, no one wants to tell people that.
Not quite. There’s plenty of people telling them that we are losing it all due to darky forrins, as opposed to a broken model that’s inadequately resourced.
It's why I filter.
But there's a strong boys ' club, old school tie, thing goes on here. Police culture is not unusually abysmal.
We also have growing anti-foreign sentiment, but the mask is off a bit, because they are also anti-Maori.
There's always opportunists. The broken model is the key bit, throwing more resources at it won't fix it, embracing limits (the opposite of our current culture) will.
It’s both, isn’t it. A large number of people that are looking for someone or something to blame for their perceived poor lot and who are fundamentally racist (or “otherist”). The people that should be blamed for the mess have managed to avert the popular gaze to a bunch of people who are largely innocent and, in many cases, helpless. They have been able to do this through the use of social media and (Russian-funded) bad actors.
People may have heard me bang on about this before so apologies for the rant. But the current state of overt racism in this country is as bad as it has been for 50 years. When I hear people talk about “it’s just a flag” it baffles me. I’m struck either by their naivete, stupidity or ingenuousness. Or some combination of all three. If I walked by a protest, I would get my head kicked in. They would not pause and go “hang on lads, he’s obviously an educated guy who has contributed to society and paid a lot of tax.” They do believe FACTS about asylum seekers and immigration that are plainly and demonstrably wrong. We have a problem that some of these people are so gullible that they will believe anything that fits the narrative and fact-based debate does not work. There are also supposedly intelligent people that cannot see anything other than their own privileged viewpoint so do nothing about it.
I have a lot white friends who tell me not to get so angry. If I don't get angry about this, what do I get angry about?
Absolutely. I was an active member of the Anti-Nazi League and the anti-apartheid movement back in the 70s. I thought this was a war we had won. Turns out it was just a skirmish and the bastards have been quietly regrouping. I hear a fair amount of (sometimes casual or unconscious) racism among white, middle-class, middle-aged or older folk that I don't imagine would be voiced if Guru was around. So it's quite likely a bit/lot worse than you know from first hand experience.
I think people just got better at hiding it or keeping quiet. But now feel empowered by racists all over social media.
At the Kettering v Harborough game earlier this season the black linesman was racially abused by a Kettering fan. As was the Asian Harborough media guy who was pitch side.
Kettering put out a weak statement saying they would investigate (they didn’t). Kettering fans said it didn’t happen (it did). FA said it did happen but would not take action as it was an individual and not a group. So the linesman who feels let down (he has been) has walked away from the game.
A win for the racists (Kettering fanbase are scummy). And this behaviour is just laughed at as people being offended by ‘hurty words’.
Update to this: the FIFA Peace Prize committee is being led by a man that the UN wishes to launch a criminal investigation into over his involvement in ethnic cleansing in Myanmar.
Sepp Blatter's PR team really did play an absolute blinder on this one.
I reported someone (a player) for ”racist” (nationality rather than skin colour) abuse at a game a year ago.
Clearly in earshot of the Lino, who claimed he hadn’t heard it when I reported it to the officials at the final whistle (comment was made by player as he offered to fight visiting staff and fans after being sent off).
Reported it online to FA when I got home that night. Heard nothing.
Contacted local FA three months later to see what had happened. Claimed no knowledge, could I tell them what happened again.
Did that, no response, followed up twice more, no response.
I don’t have a lot of faith in the process.